Posts Tagged ‘“case studies”’
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By vJoe 20th September 12
Paul Clewett, 22, is a young social activist from Plaistow, Newham.
For the last five years Paul has volunteered with his local youth centre The Swift Group.
He has now been awarded a vInspired Cashpoint grant to run his own social action project – Newham Language Swap, to promote different community languages spoken in Newham.
We recently caught up with Paul to talk about this project. Here’s what he had to say…
Hi Paul. First of all, tell us a bit about your Cashpoint project….
My idea is the Newham Language Swap, for using languages as a tool for promoting cultural identity. It’s all about giving people the skills to pass languages and information on in their community – resulting in empowering different groups to feel that their language is valuable.How did you come up with the idea?
I’m a language student and my last paper focused on minority languages in Spain and Luxembourg. There’s currently a lot of discussion in the European Parliament about how the exclusion of certain languages excludes some cultural groups and disempowers communities. This got me thinking about different languages spoken in Newham and how I could address the issue locally.In what ways to do you hope your project will impact others?
There’s a lot of young talent in the area. I want to capitalise on that. The project will let young people see that their community languages are important and influential and can lead to employment opportunities. I hope that as a result of this project, language tandems in Newham will be set up where people can regularly come together and exchange cultural information.Do you think your project could have a positive impact on your own future?
It will hopefully allow me to add another dimension to my degree and help me with activities such as debating. I also feel that it will bring me closer to people in my community, with more direct contact and face to face interaction with Newham residents.So do you think the experience will help you to achieve your career goals?
Yes, my career goals are internationally and culturally motivated so my project will complement that. It will help me with my degree and allow me to adopt a different perspective that may not be considered by my lecturers and other students. It could definitely improve my employability prospects and the entrepreneurial aspect of the project in particular will allow me to develop great transferable skills that I can take into the workplace.
How do you feel young people are viewed by the general public?
I’ve found that in Newham the public are quite supportive – but with the general public, opinions are harder to pin down. Post-riots, there are negative perceptions. The general public has a mixture of views; there is definitely some ignorance – but also a lot of positive expectations for young people.What would you say to encourage other young people to sign up to try volunteering or apply for a vInspired Cashpoint grant?
I would say that applying for a Cashpoint grant and launching your own project is not as hard as it may seem and it is definitely worth a try. Volunteering itself helps you to think through things in a pragmatic way and develop valuable skills for the future.
Inspired? Find out more about vInspired Cashpoint, get further inspiration with our top 10 Cashpoint project ideas, and apply for funding over on vinspired.com.
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By vHannahM 5th April 10
Last week we launched of our new research report, An Anatomy of Youth, in partnership with Demos. Over the past year Demos have analysed the attitudes of 16 – 25 year olds and some of the key trends they are living through. The research brings together original data from v’s Voicebox survey, expert essays, and portraits of young people to reveal a generation that is creating social change rather than simply experiencing it.
The report identifies the failure of the current political debate to adequately discuss long term problems like economic recovery, climate change, the care gap and communities under strain, this is turning youngsters away from politics altogether, despite evidence that many are passionate about politics and social issues. The Times ran a pre-election feature on the Anatomy of Youth, and describe young people’s political engagement as; ‘Young, cool, indifferent: digital generation finds it hard to connect‘.
v volunteer, Rui Jorge Octavio. Photography: Graham Turner
The report shows young people across Britain are keen to contribute to society, but see little evidence that mainstream politics tries to include young people in decisions outside of ‘youth issues’. At v, we’re committed to understanding more about young people through our research programme.
Terry Ryall, Chief Executive of v, said: “The report helps us understand the big challenges young people are facing, now and in the future, so that we can effectively strengthen their role in society. The findings identify the gap between those young people who are hyper-engaged and those who are disengaged with society. At v, we’re committed to supporting every young person to take action on the issues they care about”.
The research sets out five major challenges young people will inherit, and the extent of the sacrifices they will be forced to make in future:
Citizenship – Young people have lost sight of why traditional politics matters. Only 36% voted at the last election. Politicians must engage young people’s passions, or they will go to express their politics elsewhere – as consumers, donors to charity and in grass roots movements.
Climate Change – Young people know that climate change will affect them, but are unsure how government intervention to de-carbonize the economy will affect their personal freedoms. Governments need to be honest with young people.
Care and families – Young people surveyed placed family at the top of their priorities, but over the decades ahead families will face acute pressures to provide more care, and support with fewer resources. Their families will struggle to cope with an ageing population without big changes in flexible working and state support.
Digital identity – The first generation to be called ‘digital natives’ face unprecedented challenges online between balancing internet freedom and privacy and control their personal information. Governments need to consider how they protect this generation’s digital rights.
Community – Young people are inheriting local communities under strain and low on trust and they feel lower levels of belonging to their local area than other age groups. Local and central governments will need to invest in spaces that can foster inter-cultural and inter-generational exchange between people.
The report includes a foreword from David Willets MP and new essays from Zygmunt Bauman, dana boyd , Katherine Rake , Peter Madden, Stuart White; and Rachel, Sabiha, Kit, Kelvin and Rui provide examples of how they as young people are already taking action.
The report concludes by posing six questions, which are examples of the type that should be asked of all political representatives on behalf of the next generation of voters, whether at a local, central, or international level. The responses to these questions will help us to describe a political future for the next generation and establish a different contract with citizens, which are both essential in creating a healthier political alignment for youth in the decades ahead.
An Anatomy of Youth has started a debate on how we can work together to bridge the gap between politics and young people. The event last week brought together key thinkers, politicians and young people to further explore the research findings and possible solutions. Our v20 advisory board reviewed the report and provided their responses via our blog on digital identity, effective citizens, new families, changing communities, and climate change.
The event was very well attended, indeed at one point we had to operate a one-in-one-out policy! The conversations around the room echoed the same sentiment – we urgently need to consider how we can best support young people transitions through to adulthood in view of the new challenges posed in the next decade. The new coalition government will be tasked with addressing these challenges and we must support young people to become part of the solution.
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By Jemima Jordan 28th October 09
Seja obtained a vcashpoint grant to fund her Cosmetic Hives project, designed to deliver make-up application workshops to young people interested in gaining the skills and experience necessary to enter the fashion and media industry. Seja has been a committed volunteer for many years, and in 2007 visited Iraq where she delivered humanitarian aid.
‘Volunteering is character-building, and you learn how determined you are as a person. People respect you. It’s a great way to learn who you are. Ultimately it’s about getting to know yourself and other people. I’m proud to be part of v’s Good For Nothing campaign and hope to show that there’s more to young people than meets the eye.’
Seja’s Story
Seja had her first taste of volunteering at the age of sixteen when she was elected as student governor of the City of Westminster College. Attending training events, exhibitions and performances were part of the role, as well as contributing to meetings. Seja’s volunteering continued when she was elected to join the law society at Brunel University where she was a law undergraduate.‘The year I spent working with lecturers and other prominent members of the law society gave me great experience, and made me passionate about volunteering and getting involved in all kinds of issues’.
Seja started the Cosmetic Hives project in order to help young people gain the skills and experience needed to get into the fashion industry.
‘There are a lot of young people who want to get into fashion and media – it can be a lucrative business – but they may not have the skills to do so. In our sessions we teach them how to apply make-up on professional models, a professional photographer takes shots, and a production company records the workshops, so at the end the participants have a portfolio they can show to prospective employers’.
Each student attends three workshops, which were held in a studio in Fulham.
‘I wanted to give them an idea of a proper working environment for this type of work, rather than holding sessions in a community centre without any atmosphere’, says Seja. ‘This way they could get an authentic feeling, a proper vibe of what it’s like, with lights, mirrors, cameras, and so on, which will help them when they go to interviews. As well as the portfolio, at the end they will have a little experience and a taster of working within the industry’.
• Seja’s thoughts on the good work young people are doing in their communities
“Young people have a lot of imagination, creativity and energy – something which communities really benefit from. It really gives you a sense of pride to know that your fellow peers are making a difference in their community and empowering themselves. Because of their good work they’re challenging the sterotype and adding a heart to the community which may not be there. All they need is a little bit of funding and support from their community to unleash their talents.”
Copy written by Caroline Pearce
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By Jemima Jordan 28th October 09
Rosie Kilburn set up her volunteering project, ‘The Knock On Effect’, following a cancer diagnosis in February 2008 Rosie decided to raise money to help support those affected indirectly by cancer. She put on a successful art auction, raising over £9,000 to fund a business designing and selling t-shirts, the proceeds of which are donated to cancer charities.
‘The messages [on our t-shirts] are designed to be positive, and I know they are also controversial. I didn’t want to shy away from telling people about cancer. Volunteering is a great way to help your community and I wanted to be part of Good For Nothing to send out a positive message about young people. I’m fed up of all the negative press we get.’
Rosie’s Story:
Rosie considers herself to be an unremarkable girl, with an unremarkable life. She is a seventeen-year-old sixth form student studying for A levels. Her family consists of her parents, Jo and Chris, her brother Callum and her sister Sylvie. Rosie says her parents and her boyfriend, Toby, are ‘amazing people, who really keep my days entertained’. Rosie has a part-time job at Tesco, and volunteers at her local Red Cross shop.Rosie’s diagnosis of a rare liver cancer, prompted her to start a campaign, the ‘Knock On Effect’, to raise money to help and support those affected indirectly by cancer.
After her diagnosis, Rosie began to think about those closest to cancer sufferers, or as she prefers to think of them, survivors:‘There’s plenty of support for patients, but there’s not nearly as much for the people around them, who have to take care of them’, Rosie says. ‘Also, I heard so much that was negative and depressing and I was fed up with people saying (even with the best of intentions) “sorry to hear about your illness and your life”.
So I decided to put those two things together by starting my own business selling t-shirts with positive messages about cancer to raise money for the families and friends of survivors’.
Slogans on Rosie’s eye-catching t-shirts include The C Word, All Cancer Is Not Created Equal, Survivors Not Sufferers, and Cancer Survivor.
‘The messages are designed to be positive, and I know they are also controversial, but I didn’t want to shy away from telling people about cancer and wanted to get past the taboo’.
Rosie has acquired additional skills while managing her campaign.
‘I learned about money, and budgeting. I’ve also learned about branding and public relations. Many people understand the brand we’ve created for the business, ‘The Knock On Effect’, because so many people are affected by cancer’.
Rosie plans to print out a thousand limited edition t-shirts, another part of her marketing strategy. She is realistic about the reaction to her art auction.
‘I had a strong background story. Without the cancer, the advertising and the blog, there wouldn’t have been such a good response. The messages on the t-shirts are an easy way to reflect and project my feelings’. Rosie believes the messages can also help survivors. ‘Positive thinking is so important to survivors. It has such a positive impact on your well-being’.
Rosie remains positive when considering her future career.
‘I have no idea where I want to be in five or ten years’ time. I’m considering a mixture of career choices, ranging from owning a theme park to being a wedding planner’. She adds: ‘Think big!’
• Rosie’s perception of how young people are portrayed in the media
“Young people generally only really get bad press and I don’t like how it is always focused on the negative. It’s a small minority of us who cause trouble; why not look at the good things?”
Copy written by Caroline Pearce
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