Opportunities to get involved

Opportunities for young people to get involved

Youth Endowment Fund

The Peer Action Collective (PAC) is a national network of peer research and social action in areas with high levels of serious youth violence. Young people will be supported to use their unique access to research what is happening in their community, how it is affecting young people, and what young people think needs to change. They will then be supported to conduct social action locally and nationally to address the issues that they identify, utilising the relationships they have built with local decision makers during their research. Since 2021, over 6,800 young people have been taking action on the big issues leading to serious youth violence. With a further £7.5 million investment from the Youth Endowment Fund, #iwill Fund (a joint investment between The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) and Co-op, PAC will now impact the lives of more than 11,000 young people aged 10 to 25. Going to new locations across England and Wales, young people will conduct further research and take social action on three key themes:

• positive activities
• education
• trusted adults

The Peer Action Collective is now in the delivery phase.

If you would like to find out about the work of PAC in your area please contact YEF on YouthVoice@youthendowmentfund.org.uk and they can direct you to your nearest PAC Delivery Partner. Find more information about their work at the Youth Endowment Fund.

Join the #iwill Movement

Volunteering Matters in partnership with UK Youth, have been awarded £1,175,909 funding for the #iwill Movement, co-ordination hub, Ambassadors and Champions hub, and evidence and insights hub with the focus of creating a society that understands and champions the power of youth, and where all young people are enabled to lead change in their own lives and communities.

Are you involved in social action? Or are you already a young leader? Join the #iwill Movement - a network connecting young people engaged in social action, from the grassroots to a national level, across the UK. If you’re 10 to 25, sign up to become an #iwill Champion. Or if you’re 26 or over, sign up as a general #iWill supporter. Each year, the #iwill Movement recruits around 50 young people aged 10 to 25 as #iwill Ambassadors. They come from a variety of backgrounds across the UK, but all have one thing in common – a passion to make positive social or environmental change. Ambassadors are selected because they demonstrate a strong commitment to social action and have stories to tell that can inspire their peers to take part in social action. Next applications will open in spring 2025.

Check the #iwill Movement webpage for updates on activity and events.