Getting Ready for V

As part of it's on going relationship with Connexions South Yorkshire, The Campaign Company recently worked to organise a reception for the public and non-profit sector in South Yorkshire called 'Getting ready for V'.

The purpose of the event was to introduce organisations to V, the new charity which is replacing Millennium Volunteers as the national framework for youth volunteering. Vs goal is to work in partnership with the public and private sector and with voluntary and community sector organisations to develop and share best practice in and increase opportunities for youth volunteering, particularly in deprived communities. The charity is launched with £50 million of funding to help organisations build new volunteering projects and extend existing ones.

David Miliband MP, the Minister for the Third Sector was the key note speaker at the event, in his address he commented that:

'Youth volunteering is a huge part of the solution to many of the problems in our society, it builds bridges between generations'

and

'V represents a huge opportunity to build up our communities'.

Rod Aldridge the chair of V commented that:

'V will be trying to change the attitudes of young people to volunteering and to rebuild communities'

Philip Udah a young trustee of V also outlined the 'youth fund', a section of funding specifically available to young people to set up their own projects. Through involving young people continually in the development of the charity and it's on-going management as well as through initiatives such as the 'youth fund' V is striving to be youth led and innovative.

V represents a new and substantial injection of money, energy and political impetus into youth volunteering nationally. The only question left to those of us working in public or private organisations around the country is do we rise to this challenge and make use of this great opportunity?