YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT (YEP)

The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) is a 3 year co-operative initiative that aims to empower London’s young people to influence policy and practices that affects them through a support programme, evidence based research and advocacy. YEP engages its young volunteers in activities that correspond to their interests and develop skills, boost confidence and create active citizens. The project aims to build bridges between young people from difference communities (BAME, LGBT Refugee etc) and encourage them to find out what unites rather than divides them. It also builds bridges between them and regional decision makers and policy. Through the volunteering opportunities, YEP enables young people to come forward to develop their leadership skills, become role models and get direct experience of the Third Sector by engaging in activities that address social injustices and inequality. 

YEP is carried out in partnership with the following charities:

• Law Centres Federation

  

• Children Rights Alliance for England

• Race on the Agenda

• The LGBT Consortium

• London Civic Forum

• The Women's Resource Centre

• Scarman Trust

• Institute for Global Ethics

The YEP Volunteering Opportunities:

The London focused YEP offers 5 types of high quality part-time and one-off volunteering opportunities. These are open to young people between the ages of 15-25 particularly those from marginalised communities. In particular:

• Events & Networking- Recruiting Now! In May 2008 a group of young people organized and led IARS’ first conference event ‘Youth into Policy’. To read the event report from click here . The next youth-led conference event will be held in early 2009 with opportunities for organising the event, designing the advertising, presenting at the event and leading workshops. IARS is also involved in helping other organisations to put on events so if you are interested in this kind of volunteering then get in touch: a.burch@iars.org.uk.
• Research & Policy – Recruiting now! Currently IARS’ volunteers are carrying out a youth-led research project investigating the factors of ethnicity and religion on cohesion amongst young people. The project is currently in the desktop research and methodology development stages but also needs volunteers to help with the ‘fieldwork’ in 2009. To take part please e-mail Alexandria at a.burch@iars.org.uk, or ring 020 7067 1248.
• Campaigning  & Awareness Raising: [To commence 2009-2010] These opportunities will require volunteers to publicise the Youth Empowerment Project and IARS’ research projects via events, communications with policy makers, taking part in policy forums and accessing the media. This will also involve the creation of a website to disseminate the information.
• Creative & Art- Recruiting Now! IARS are looking for young people to contribute to an artistic showcase project that will collate art contributions and create a short film that will be disseminated on the internet and at an event. The theme of the film is ‘Celebration, Collaboration and Reconciliation’ for London’s week of Peace in September 2008. If you are aged 16-25 and wish to volunteer or contribute your work (i.e digital designs, photographs, short silent animations, poetry etc) please email a.burch@iars.org.uk or e.strudwick@iars.org.uk
• Creative & Art: [To commence 2010-2011] Young people are invited to make their own film highlighting the youth issues that need to be addressed by policy makers. These issues will be based on the research project, its progression and recommendations.
• Ambassadors & Champions: [To commence 2010-2011] Opportunities that will require young people to act as ambassadors for the Youth Empowerment Project by doing outreach work and visiting a variety of organisations to increase general knowledge about volunteering and youth empowerment.

 To find out more about the above opportunities contact  the Youth Empowerment Project Officer, Alexandria at a.burch@iars.org.uk

The Support Programme:

• Human Rights Training covers the origins of human rights, the Human Rights Act 1998 and how this relates to case studies and young people’s everyday lives. The training is delivered by IARS’ experienced trainer.

• Ethical Fitness© Training covers moral awareness, tough decision making and the resolution of dilemmas. This training is delivered by the Institute for Global Ethics.

• Research Methods Training covering models such as carrying out qualitative fieldwork, data analysis and data presentation.

Awards and Accreditation:

Through volunteering with IARS young people can work towards achieving awards and accreditation:

• The ‘v50’ award is given to those volunteers who build up 50 hours of volunteering in less than a year.

• The ‘Youth Achievement Awards’ come in bronze, silver and gold are based on portfolios of work which are internally moderated and accredited through IARS and ‘UK youth’.

• IARS will soon be introducing educational accreditation for the completion of a ‘volunteering activities set’.

Volunteer Entitlements:

• Expenses: IARS covers volunteer expenses through the vinvolved project funding; up to £5.10 for London travel expenses and £3.00 for lunch up to three times a week.  

• Training: IARS offers free training to Youth Empowerment Project volunteers.

Current YEP Volunteers

Joey Ansah (18) Mikayla Henry (16) Edward Strudwick (22); Tahani Mustafa (19) Marian Ogun (24); Mahmed Omer (17);  Ahmed Munir (20); Jamexis Christian (23); Diana Medina (23); Sheetal Kumar (23);; Gayatri Bhasin (23);; Sau Driscoll (22); Jeremy Farr (20); Rochelle Sampy (20); Alice Dyke (23); Shruti Morzaria (21); Sana Rasoul (20); Chiara Van Gils (22); Marta Cooper (22); Sophie Waight (23).