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initiativesyouth inaCtion

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YOU in aCtionDesign: Navig8.co.uk Photography © Patrick Klein Printed on paper sourced from fully sustainable managed forest.

aCt noWIf you want more information please contact:Youth in Action Programme, British Council, Connect Youth, 10 Spring Gardens, LondonSW1A 2BN, United Kingdom T + 44 (0)20 7389 4030 F + 44 (0)20 7389 4033Email connectyouth.enquiries@britishcouncil.org

Applications are also sent to the above address.

Youth Initiatives are part of the Youth in Action programme, which is funded by the European Commission.

The British Council is the UK National Agency for the Youth in Action programme. 1.2

nationaL oreuroPean?There are two types of Youth Initiative projects:

Transnational – community based projects withat least one partner group from another Europeancountry, dealing with the same theme or topic.

National – projects that benefit your group or thecommunity with no partners but dealing with atheme or topic that is common across Europe e.g.climate change or unemployment.

Main Criteria:• A minimum of 4 young people aged 15–30• projects must last between 3–18 months.

Funding:• Transnational projects up to 10,000 euros activity

costs (+ 1000 euros for a coach + travel support costs)

• national projects up to 8,000 euros activity costs (+ 1000 euros for a coach).

www.britishcouncil .org /connectyouth

Visit our website:Youth Initiatives

Want to Make a Change? Want to Make a differenCe? YouTh INITIaTIVEs arE all abouT YouNg pEoplE workINg TogEThEr aNd makINg a dIFFErENcE IN ThE commuNITY aT a local, rEgIoNal, NaTIoNal or EuropEaN lEVEl.

as a start, all you need is: • A minimum of four young people

between 15 and 30 * • some project ideas • creativity and • a lot of enthusiasm!

*Young people between 15 and 17 must be supported by a named coach or youth worker

for young PeoPLe by young PeoPLeYouTh INITIaTIVEs arE abouT You aNd Your commuNITY!

It’s about learning new skills and making a difference while you and your group design, plan and deliver a project which might involve:• Improving facilities in your local

community • creating a youth forum or a website• running workshops or• holding an exhibition.

What you Can aChieve Youth Initiative projects are all about YOU! Your self expression and participation. This experience can: • Make you more confident• give you leadership skills• improve your communication skills• make you a team-player• help you be creative• give you basic project management

skills like managing money, time and activities.

all of which can look very impressive on your cV!

reCording yourexPerienCeAll young people involved ina Youth Initiative project can receive a Youthpass certificate after the project has been completed.

The certificate is recognised across Europe and will briefly describe your project and highlight the skills that youhave gained.

1.2Interested butneed some help? Before you apply: youth Initiative Coaches can showyou how to: • Turn your ideas into reality• choose a topic• explore your topic through different

activities• put together a project plan • do a risk assessment if its needed and

help you with your grant application.

During and after your project Coaches can show you how to:• Work as a team• resolve problems• manage your grant• evaluate your experience • and what to do next.

If you don’t know a youth leader oryouth worker who could be your Coachyou can find a list of trained Coaches on our website.

Some project ideas from young people:• A group from Scotland started a

newspaper and website to promote positive stories of young people.

• A group in Birmingham created a soap opera series on issues of crime that affect young people.

• A project in London promoted the Youth in Action programme at various young people’s events around the UK.

for more project ideas please visit our website.

Visit our website:

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www.britishcouncil .org /connectyouth