Social action drive aims to double young volunteers

The Step Up 2 Serve initiative will bring together employers, educators, and voluntary and community groups as part of a nationwide campaign to develop the youth social action movement and recruit 1.7 million additional young volunteers so that by 2020 half of all 10- to 20-years-olds will be participating.

Although an independent organisation, Step Up 2 Serve will link with government youth social action funding initiatives including the Youth Social Action Journey Fund.

Rather than delivering or funding programmes, Step Up 2 Serve aims to build local networks of young volunteers, gather evidence of what works in social action delivery and advise organisations on youth social action opportunities.

In advance of the initiative’s launch, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has published a report highlighting the benefits to young people and businesses of being involved in youth social action programmes.

The report, Youth Social Action and Transitions into Work: What Role for Employers? found that young volunteers involved in projects run by businesses gained confidence and developed skills that would help them find work. A separate CIPD guide released today advises young people how volunteering can give them work experience opportunities.

The report also highlights the benefits to employers: almost 50 per cent of new recruits to EDF Energy cite its community work as a factor in joining; while involvement in youth social action programmes were seen as a good opportunity for employees to develop their leadership and people management skills.

The CIPD also found that 97 per cent of adults engaged in a youth social action programme run by the Co-op said their involvement had challenged their perceptions of young people.

Step Up 2 Serve is to be launched by Prince Charles at an event on Thursday at Buckingham Palace that will also be attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and opposition leader Ed Miliband. They will make a public call for people across the UK to pledge what they will do to support young people who are active in their communities.

The campaign will be governed by an independent board of trustees and supported by a small team of staff who will to seek the active involvement of key stakeholders who have helped shape the initiative to date.

It is the result of a 2012 review by Dame Julia Cleverdon and Amanda Jordan, which concluded that an initiative to unite organisations and the public around a national drive to increase opportunities for young people be set up.