Co-op partners with UK Youth to give young people a voice through social action in Scotland and Northern Ireland
05 July 2022
A new partnership between Co-op and UK Youth will see young people in Scotland and Northern Ireland be given opportunities to make a difference through social action in local communities through the #iwill movement. The #iwill movement is a collaboration of over 1,000 organisations and 700 young #iwill Ambassadors & Champions from across the UK, supported by charities UK Youth and Volunteering Matters.
Co-op is partnering with UK Youth to grow the #IWillScotland and the #iwill movement in Northern Ireland, working with YouthLink Scotland and Volunteer Now in Northern Ireland. The £250,000 investment from Co-op, funded by Co-op Members through the Co-op Community Partnerships Fund, will be used to recruit , train and support new #iwill Ambassadors across the nations. The 10-25 year-olds will work together to make a difference in their communities through social action.
Ambassadors will receive training and mentoring, supporting them to drive change at a local, national and UK-wide level. In addition, 150 new #iwill Champions will be recruited, who will help spread the word and develop their own social action initiatives. More than 2,000 young people in Scotland and Northern Ireland will benefit from Co-op’s investment in #iwill.
Social action can have a life changing impact on young people and their communities, helping them develop essential personal and social skills such as self-confidence, resilience, leadership and motivation. Research has shown that 77% of young people say volunteering has improved their mental health and 84% said it increased their confidence.
Rebecca Birkbeck, Director of Community and Membership at Co-op, said: “Creating fairer opportunities for young people to take action on the issues they care about is crucial in empowering them to make a real difference in local communities throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland.
We are delighted to be partnering with UK Youth to grow the #iwill movement so that even more young people can access support and make positive change, whether that’s supporting fairer access to food, improving mental wellbeing services, or creating even more opportunities for young people to get involved in their communities.”
“Volunteer Now is delighted to have the support of the Co-op to develop a peer network of young people who are taking action in their communities” says Denise Hayward, CEO. “We know that peer encouragement to become involved in social action is important for young people. We also know that volunteering and social action makes a difference to the lives of others and themselves. Our present ambassadors are a diverse range of amazing young people and we look forward to supporting more ambassadors and champions within Northern Ireland and witnessing the positive change that they will make through the Co-op’s support.”
“I’m thrilled with the support of the Co-op! As one of the 1st #iwill ambassadors in NI I know how important it is to have peer support, to be part of something local but also to have the network and opportunities that come from being part of a UK movement. I’m looking forward to volunteering alongside the local Co-op branches and being part of the journey for the year ahead.” said Tim Hancock, #iwill ambassador, Northern Ireland
Cian Gullen, Co-Chair of the Scottish #IWill Advisory Group & 2016 #IWill Scotland Ambassador commented: “This funding from Co-op is so valuable to the #IWill movement in Scotland. It really helps us, as young #IWill Ambassadors, to grow the #PowerOfYouth across the nation and reach even more young people who want to create change in their communities.”
Tim Frew, CEO, YouthLink Scotland commented: “We are delighted with this new funding from Co-op and to work alongside UK Youth and our partners in Northern Ireland and Scotland on this exciting new chapter for #iwill. “It’s vital we do all we can to channel the talent and energy of our young people, and encouraging them to volunteer is a great way to do this. Not only does it benefit their local communities, it empowers young people to make lasting change in their lives and the lives of others and develop skills for life.”
We’re looking for young changemakers to join the #IWill movement. If you are aged between 12 – 25 and have a passion for making a difference, we want to hear from you! #IWill Ambassador recruitment is open until the 17 July 2022. Find out more and apply here: https://www.iwill.org.uk/were-recruiting-iwill-ambassadors
ENDS
Notes to Editor
For more information about #iwill, visit iwill.org.uk
About Co-op Co-op is the UK’s largest consumer co-operative, owned by more than four million active members.
We’re a major food retailer and wholesaler, we’re the largest funerals provider in the UK, a major provider of regulated consumer legal services, particularly probate and wills, and a major provider of life planning and insurance products.
Employing over 60,000 people, Co-op has an annual turnover of over £11 billion. As well as having clear financial and operational objectives, the Co-op is a recognised leader for its social goals and community-led programmes. Co-op exists to meet members’ needs and stand up for the things they believe in.
In partnership with the Youth Endowment Fund and the #iwill Fund (a joint investment between The National Lottery Community Fund and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport), Co-op has created the Peer Action Collective to give young people the chance to take the lead, so that they’re shaping the solutions they want to see in their communities.
Together with our partners, we’ve invested £5.2 million to build a network of over 120 peer researchers (aged 16-25), who are designing their own research projects. The researchers are working with around 5,000 other young people (aged 10–20) to find out about their experiences and what they want to see change in their communities.1,500 young changemakers will then take the lead on delivering social action to bring about long-term change on the issues.
Find out more at www.coop.co.uk
About UK Youth UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of over 8000 youth organisations and nation partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we are focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, visit the UK Youth website. For more information please contact communcations@ukyouth.org
About Volunteer Now Volunteer Now is the lead organisation for promoting and supporting volunteering across Northern Ireland. We build recognition for volunteering and celebrate the contribution volunteers make. We provide access to opportunities and encourage people, of all ages, to volunteer. We are a resource for volunteer involving organisations providing support on involving volunteers, governance and safeguarding.
About YouthLink Scotland YouthLink Scotland is the national agency for youth work. We're a membership organisation representing more than 100 youth organisation members across Scotland, both voluntary and statutory. We champion the value of the youth work sector, challenging government at national and local levels to invest in your development.
Our vision A nation which values its young people and their contribution to society, where young people are supported to achieve their potential.
Our values We believe in young people and are focused on their needs We consult and represent our membership with integrity We are ethical, equitable and non-discriminatory We promote learning, innovation and forward thinking We are committed to the highest standard of protection and safety for young people
Our mission YouthLink Scotland strives to be the collective voice of the youth work sector. We represent the interests, policy and practice needs of the youth work sector to government and other stakeholders. We achieve this by:
• Supporting the sector to demonstrate the impact and value of your work • Promoting a positive image of young people and youth work • Helping the sector to identify new sources of sustainable funding and make effective use of existing resources • Representing the range of views and interests of the sector to all levels of government • Being key partners with government in workforce development • Encouraging more adults to volunteer or consider a career in youth work • Providing information and support to the youth work sector and other partners • Undertaking research that will contribute to a better understanding of the role of youth work and of the needs of young people in Scottish society • Campaigning for equality of access to youth work for all young people • Maintaining an independent approach to the prosecution of our mission