Young people stand up for the small things to change the world

We Are What We Do, the organisation behind the best selling book, Change the World for a Fiver, Anya Hindmarch’s "I'm NOT a Plastic Bag” and the forthcoming Change the World book for and by children has joined forces with national volunteering charity, TimeBank, on a programme empowering young volunteers to spread the word that small actions x lots of people = big change.

After training this summer, 200 16-25 year olds from London and the North West will go into primary schools and community groups to make presentations aimed at inspiring a whole new generation of young activists.

The presentations will be based on small actions from the new ‘Change the World’ children’s book such as ‘teach your granny to text’ and ‘talk rubbish to your parents’. They will connect the young audience to some of the biggest issues we are all facing such as climate change, racial divide and social injustice. 

Eugenie Harvey, one of We Are What We Do’s co-founders says:

“Over the past four years, we have found that one of the most effective ways of engaging people in the need for change is simply to talk to them about the things they can do to make a difference, the impact of loads of people doing these things and share with them some of the inspirational stories we hear everyday about the ways in which people are taking action.

“With the Young Speakers programme, we believe that we are taking one step further by equipping young people with the means to talk to other young people on their own terms.

“It is a principle of our work with young people that we hand the power over to them. By partnering with TimeBank we’ve been able to create a volunteering offering that really does give young people a voice and a chance to be heard by the people who are the future of social change.”

The Young Speakers programme is funded by The Aldridge Foundation with match funding from v, the youth volunteering charity. The current programme is operating in London and the North West but there are plans to extend the initiative to other areas of the country in 2009 and beyond.

--END--

For more information contact Helen Platt on 020 7785 6386  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Notes to Editors

• WAWWD is the organisation behind the Anya Hindmarch “I’m not a Plastic Bag” and the international best seller, Change the World for a Fiver. The movement, which began in 2004, aims to inspire people to use their everyday actions to change the world. See www.wearewhatwedo.org
• TimeBank tackles social issues by finding ways for people to give their time that inspire them and match their lives. We know it’s a lot to ask people to give up their time and so we are committed to finding ways that suit how people live and that addresses the needs of the world we live in. Registered charity no. 1073831. See www.timebank.org.uk
• Rod Aldridge OBE, is an entrepreneur who founded and was then the Chairman of the Capita Group plc. Since retiring from Capita in 2006, Rod has established the Aldridge Foundation which is committed to supporting and working with projects and initiatives which tackle social exclusion, and promote entrepreneurship and public service reform. Rod is sponsor of an Academy school in Darwen, Blackburn, specialising in entrepreneurship, which will open in September 2008. He is also the Chairman of v, the charity promoting youth volunteering and of the Lowry, in Salford. See www.aldridgefoundation.com
• v is an independent charity set up in 2006 to champion youth volunteering. Its aim is to inspire a new generation of young people aged 16-25 to volunteer. To do this v is working to increase the quantity, quality and diversity of volunteering opportunities available to young people. It is supported by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office. www.vinspired.com
• The actions featuring in the Young Speakers presentation were thought up by children for We Are What We Do's national competition that asked: "What simple action would you ask one million people to do to change the world?"