GOVERNMENT SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS’ WORK TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES

 

Students from a pioneering project which has helped tackle social cohesion, homelessness and deprivation have shown the government how they are uniting communities.

 

The young people were invited to the House of Commons after the success of the ground-breaking Voltage initiative, which has brought together student volunteers to help children from different religions and backgrounds improve their communities and enhance their own life chances.

 

The summit, at Parliament was be attended by Justice Minister Jack Straw and Schools Minister Vernon Coaker, who were keen to learn more about what has made the scheme so successful. 

 

The Voltage project, involving youngsters from nine to 21, is run by the award-winning Lancaster University Volunteering Unit (LUVU) and is funded by youth volunteering charity V, which is providing £273,000 over three years.

 

The pioneering initiative encourages youngsters, helped by the student volunteers, to set up social enterprises, aiming to make a real difference to their communities and is the first of its kind in the country.

 

The scheme was praised by Prime Minister Gordon Brown for 'inspiring the students of tomorrow' when volunteers visited 10 Downing Street earlier this year.

 

The children involved in the scheme range from students at a Burnley sixth form college who worked together on a recycling scheme to help the local community to youngsters from a primary school who made badges to raise money for the homeless.

 

Blackpool and Fylde College student Debbie Wilkie, 17, used her experiences of being homeless to become MD of her Voltage team’s business and raising cash for Streetlife Trust, a charity for young homeless people.

 

Jack Straw said: "Young people often get a bad press but what Debbie and the Voltage project are showing is that if we focus on unlocking their talent they can find ways to improve their communities and our society.

"Debbie's focus and desire to improve, showcased today at this Lancaster University Volunteer Unit event, is inspirational."

Debbie said: "Meeting Jack Straw was fantastic and I hope he and the government do everything they can to help the work projects like Voltage do to help the homeless and needy people in our community"

 

Ben Matthews, LUVU director, said: “We believe we are delivering a social enterprise project like no other in the country and we are thrilled and honoured that the government wanted to learn more about what we are doing.

 

“Our aim is to build on our success, identify the opportunities to involve more and more students in community activity that leaves a lasting impact on the people we work with.

 

“Young people have the skill and vision to make a difference in their communities. Voltage gives them the help and experience they need to turn their ideas into reality.”

 

LUVU aims to expand to have 800 students a year working and making a difference to local communities by 2012. Voltage will play a key role in that vision.

 

LUVU’s work has been recognised at a national level. This year it was named Best Work Experience Provider – Charitable Sector at the National Council for Work Experience Awards.

 

CASE STUDY: DEBBIE WILKIE