The Diana Award unveils Covid-19 recovery plan for young people
Joe Lepper
Thursday, August 12, 2021
The Diana Award, a youth charity set up in memory of the Princess of Wales, has published its five-year strategy, offering a blueprint for Covid recovery for young people.
The Future Forward strategy has been released on International Youth Day (August 12) and pledges to support action to “empower young people and make positive change” as the UK recovers from the pandemic.
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This includes working with young people on inclusivity amid recovery and focusing on creating opportunities “regardless of background”.
“Young people deserve a seat at the table to shape decisions about our shared future. Their voice enriches decision-making and inspires us all to do more and do better,” it adds.
Plans are in place to develop a global network of young people as well as enable a “youth led, peer-to-peer anti-bullying movement”. This will have a particular focus on tackling bullying in schools and online.
Mentoring organisations for young people will also be backed. The Diana Award wants to see a focus on social mobility among young people “through a range of mentoring initiatives”.
Lobbying for policy that tackles bullying and inequality will also take place over the next five years.
Introducing Future Forward, an ambitious plan that sets out how we will empower young people to make positive change over the next five years.
— The Diana Award (@DianaAward) August 12, 2021
Visit the link to learn more about #FutureForward: https://t.co/WYCo8mgS2Z pic.twitter.com/zSIFoDyJ8V
“The lives of thousands of young people have been impacted by the global pandemic with education interrupted, work opportunities disrupted and social connections strained, said the Duke of Cambridge, who is backing the strategy.
“Yet many of the young people who I have been fortunate to meet over the last year have shown an enormous passion and commitment to helping their communities recover and rebuild - and beyond that, are working hard to tackle the social inequality and injustice that they see in the world around them.”
Diana Award chief executive Tessy Ojo added: “We know young people are often closest to society’s problems with many at risk of poor mental health and low social mobility. In the shadow of the pandemic, we need to take action now. Who better to lead that change than young people?
“We know young people have the talent, passion and insight to shape the future and lead the recovery.”
