Over recent years there have been negative messages about young people and volunteering.

The 1997 National Survey of Volunteering spoke about the sharp reduction in volunteering among 18 to 24 year olds.

In 1992, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation also published a report saying that young people have a clear perception of what charities do, and believe they are more effective than government and business, in helping society. But there is a cycle of participation - whilst 11- 18s do engage in volunteering opportunities, there is a large fall between the ages of 16 to 24 years, before becoming involved in social and formal networking at the ages of 30 plus..

As an organisation which has worked with disadvantaged, hard-to-reach young people (with the aid of volunteer workers), for the last sixteen years. We have ideas about what might work to encourage young people to volunteer time and energy in their communities. When the Russell Commission* were tasked to develop ways to transform the way young people become in volunteering activity, we welcomed this proposal, and wanted to be involved in developing this new national framework which;

> brings together all youth volunteering activities with a shared sense of purpose
> creates more opportunities to volunteer, and
> makes it common place for young people to volunteer.

This "Making Time" research project has enabled us to talk to young people generally, young people and older age groups already volunteering, youth and project workers, possible placement organisations and referral agencies, to get their views on what they think will help to engage young people, and what won't.

Following the research the Coalition has expanded the "Making Time" project further by pairing up young people interested in volunteering with a volunteer mentor who will accompany them until they have sufficient confidence and self-esteem to carry out the placement on their own.

To read the full research report CLICK HERE (pdf file - 448k).

To download the accompanying appendices (pdf file - 776k) CLICK HERE.

* Please note that the Russell Commission now operates under the name 'V' - see www.wearv.com.


Northumbria Coalition Against Crime, Northumbria Police HQ, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 0BL
Telephone 01661 868 424, Fax 01661 868488, E-mail info@thecoalition.org.uk