Get your organisation involved with vschools

Do you engage with young people from local schools? Would you like to explore the possibility of working with young people age 14-16?

You may be already aware of the work that the vinvolved teams carry out in helping to develop opportunities and support young people age 16-25 into volunteering.The vschools initiative seeks to extend this support to students in our local schools. As part of the Youth Community Action Programme launched in March 2010, their aim is to inspire all 14-16 year olds to give their time and get involved in activities that will benefit the community.

Many young people already enjoy giving their time to their school or community, learning new skills, gaining experience and having fun. The vschools programme seeks to build on this enthusiasm by enhancing existing community action opportunities in schools and helping to create new projects to inspire students to lead positive change.

The vinvoled team are here to help schools and community and voluntary organisations come together wherever possible to benefit their communities.

This can happen in a number of simple ways:

• Talk to young people about the work of your organisation to raise awareness of what you do;
• Have pupils to promote your organisation in school newsletters or perhaps by developing promotional material for you;
• Schools already ‘adopt’ charities and can help to fundraise;
• Young people could support your campaign or work with you to develop a campaign; for example, aiming to improving the local environment
• Young people can bring energy, enthusiasm and a new perspective to community action and we would certainly like to receive any thoughts and comments you may have.

For more information about vschools and how your organisation can get involved, contact Paul Hodson, vschools adviser (Bolton) on 01204 546142 or 07790654918, or email paul.hodson@vinspired.com.