Big interview: Sexier ways to volunteer - Neil Almond, chief executive, Kikass

Young people from the group in Shoreditch, east London, will be facilitating meetings with the Government's Russell Commission as part of its Youth Advisory Group. The commission, headed by Ian Russell, chief executive of energy provider Scottish Power, was launched last week by the Home Office to look at ways of increasing volunteering opportunities for young people.

Its nine-month inquiry will involve youth groups, the statutory and the voluntary sector, to find out what does and doesn't work in youth volunteering.

The plan is to develop a national strategy for youth volunteering by this time next year.

Giving young people the opportunity to get the most out of volunteering is a specialty of Kikass. Neil Almond, the organisation's chief executive, founded the group four years ago to give under-30s a chance to campaign on social issues. He says: "I think volunteering works best as a win-win situation, both to make a difference for the community and also to help take life forward for the young person, build their confidence, and give them enormous breakthroughs in their lives. Our job is to create a space for those young people who would not otherwise think about volunteering."