vinvolved – youth volunteering programme « Greater Manchester Youth Network

vinvolved – youth volunteering programme

vinvolved was the national youth volunteering programme that started in April 2008, as a successor to the Millennium Volunteers scheme, and ran until March 2011. vinvolved was co-ordinated by youth volunteering charity v, which was set up specifically to change the face of youth volunteering in England. v received government funding and distributed some of this to vinvolved teams and projects around the country – each local authority in England had a vinvolved team.

Greater Manchester Youth Network managed the vinvolved teams in Bolton, Bury, Manchester and Oldham. Each team supported 16 to 25 year olds to volunteer and helped capacity build organisations in order to increase the number of voluntary opportunities in their area.

Over the three years that the vinvolved teams were in place, GMYN supported over 3500 young people to take up volunteering. In order to have supported this many people into an activity we engaged with over 5000 young people in terms of making them aware of the programme and the opportunities available. The vinvolved teams also supported over 500 organisations to create new and innovative volunteering opportunities in order to attract more young volunteers.

Prior to vinvolved, GMYN delivered the Millennium Volunteers scheme and, in our first year of operation, we engaged with over 1000 young people.

Unfortunately, when the funding for vinvolved ended, GMYN had to greatly reduce the level of support offered to young people who are looking to volunteer but we continue to advise and refer people to alternative support agencies where possible, plus deliver a number of projects that include volunteering activities.

v continue to promote youth volunteering and have an awards scheme for young volunteers. They are a partner in the delivery of the National Citizen Service, a Government funded summer scheme for young people that offers the opportunity for personal and social development and involvement in social action projects. For more information visit www.vinspired.com