We have loads of info on competitions, volunteering, funding for youth projects, awards available for active young people, work placements and loads more.

 If you would like BYC to email you 'The BYC Project', our fortnightly update on the most exciting opportunities, you can sign up here. You never know when the right thing for you might land in your inbox!

Below that on this page, we have listed a load of links to other great organisations, campaigns, actions and opportunities that you might be interested in.

Opportunities

Full-time volunteering opportunity at Brook

As a full-time campaign volunteer at Brook you will have the opportunity to develop your skills, knowledge and understanding of media campaigns and young people’s sexual health.

We are looking for creative and energetic 16-25 year olds to assist in Brook’s campaign work. Brook is committed to making this volunteer opportunity exciting, innovative and rewarding.

There are placements available which:

• are four days a week
• last 44 weeks
• are based at Brook's London offices
• pay expenses/subsistence allowance (up to £100/ wk).

Start date: 27 September 2010.  End date: 28 July 2011

For an application pack contact Jessica.Burnett@brook.org.uk 020 7284 6057. Closing date: 1 September 2010

Have you got a great idea for a project?

 v, the national young volunteers service, are looking for young people’s new and exciting project ideas inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It’s not all about sport – the project can fit into any of the Olympic and Paralympic Games themes which are: Culture, Education, Environment, Health and Sport.

Projects must be devised and run by an individual or group of 16-25 year old volunteers, independently of any organisation. They must be a new, distinct project, funded only by vcashpoint, which runs for up to four months.

For more information and for the full criteria, see the v website. The deadline is Monday 6th September 2010.

Calling all Young Disabled Leaders

RADAR, the disability network, and CSV, a leading volunteering charity, are looking for young disabled applicants aged 13-19 to prepare for and present at events in three UK regions, London, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and Humberside (covering the North of England).

The young leaders will help run workshops at three events looking at ways to break down the barriers that exist for young disabled people in becoming leaders in their local communities.

It’s a great opportunity for you to get yourself noticed, gain valuable experience and most importantly to make a difference.

So if that’s you, or someone you know go to the website to find out more.

The deadline is 6th September 2010.
 

NCVYS Young Partners Award 2010 - Open for nominations

Are you aged 11-25?
Are you involved in making decisions within a youth organisation or project? 

If yes, then why not nominate the organisation or project for a NCVYS Young Partners Award and be in with the chance of wining great prizes!!

All shortlisted organisations will be invited to attend the lavish ceremony in December and the closing date for all applications is Friday 17th September 2010.

For further information and to make a nomination please click here.
 

YOUNG MUSLIM BEACON AWARDS 2010

Nominations are now open for the Young Muslim Beacon Awards 2010. The Young Muslim Beacon Awards, organised by the Muslim Council of Britain and its Youth Committee, are set up to recognise and celebrate projects or organisations that have made a significant contribution to the lives of young Muslims in the UK. 

There are three categories: local, regional and national. The project does not necessarily need to be a Muslim run.

The awards will be presented to the winners at a reception at the House of Lords on 11 October 2010. Deadline for nominations is Tuesday 31st August 2010.

For the Nomination Form and further information visit the website. 

Could you represent the voice of young people?

The Office of the Children's Commissioner and the Diana Award are setting up a Children and Young People Advisory Group. It will advise Maggie Atkinson, Children's Commissioner, and her office on young people’s views on all aspects of their work.

Applications are open to anyone aged 8-18 (up to 21 for those in care or who have learning disabilities) and eighteen people will be selected from across England. You will get training in public speaking, media and research skills and the opportunity to influence decisions that affect the lives of children and young people.
For more information go to the website.
 
The deadline for applications is Tuesday 31st August 2010.
 

Do you have something to say about sustainability?
Do you think it’s about time that your ideas were heard?

UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) is working with IBM and The Prince’s Charities initiative, ‘Start’, to gather young people’s ideas on how we can create a cleaner and healthier future.

IBM Start Young for a Sustainable Future is happening on Sunday 12th Sep-tember, 9.30am – 4.30pm at Lancaster House in London. If you are aged 16-21, have bags of creativity and are passionate about building a sustainable future then this is the event for you. It is a chance to discuss your ideas with key figures from the world of business and your work on the day will then be presented to some of the country’s most influential leaders.

Places for this event are limited, for your chance to attend, apply today! 
 

Picture the Change Needs YOU!

The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) has asked young people all over Scotland to picture what they would like to change to make Scotland a better place. They now need YOU to check the picture is right.

From policies on purchasing alcohol, to lowering the voting age to 16, this is your chance to say how you want Scotland to be run. As a bonus for taking part there is a prize draw to win a year’s supply of free shoes! What are you waiting for?

Head to the website before the 30th September to have your say!

You can also follow SYP on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news on Picture the Change, and all the hottest discussions from SYP!

Aged 21 and under? Got a job? Feedback on your experiences and win a £50 Amazon voucher!

We want to know about your experiences so we can present a true picture to the Government of how young people work, how much they get paid and what they think about their pay.

This survey is being supported by the British Youth Council, Children's Rights Alliance for England, National Union of Students (NUS) and YWCA England & Wales.

We're interested in hearing about the experiences of young workers aged 21 and under because currently you are only paid the full adult rate of the Minimum Wage (the minimum amount per hour that most workers in the UK are entitled to be paid) after you turn 22.

Take part for the chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher in the survey’s prize draw!

Take part here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/youthpay

Parents/carers of young workers can also take part too!

The deadline to enter the survey is Sunday 22nd August.

Tell me your Mpinions!

 Do you wonder who your MP really is? Then take a look at Catch21’s new viral video campaign called Mpinions. The short and snappy videos allow newly elected MPs to introduce themselves and share their thoughts about the new Government. Consider it the speed dating of the political world! The videos will be released daily from July to August, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to actually see the faces behind the names. 

 

Get recognised
Philip Lawrence Awards 2010

The Philip Lawrence Awards Network (PLAnet) celebrates young people who are taking a lead and making a difference. From tackling issues like bullying and racism to improving their communities and having fun, young people are a force for good.

If you’re aged 11-20 and working with others to change things for the better, then you deserve recognition and PLAnet want to hear from you! Last year, ten fantastic groups were rewarded for a range of inspiring work including an anti gangs project, a youth music festival and a play challenging homophobia. Maybe this year you’ll be amongst them.

To be in with a chance of winning an award for your group, along with £1000 towards your project and an invite to the glittering awards ceremony in December, visit the website and fill in the simple nomination form.

Every young person is capable of greatness – PLAnet want to find you!

Closing date: 15 September 2010

Find us on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Take part in the Sexunzipped questionnaire

A team of researchers at the University College London are currently running an online survey on sexual health for young people aged 16 to 20. The questionnaire will take you around 30 minutes to complete and contains detailed questions about sex and relationships.

The first 400 to complete the entire questionnaire will receive a £10 voucher in the post. All information you provide will be kept confidential.

Take part at: http://survey.sexunzipped.co.uk/

Doesn't everyone have the right to a safe home? 

Over 70% of people fleeing persecution to the UK are refused a safe home. And the 30% who settle here face poverty and prejudice.

Join young people from Woodcraft Folk in the Right to Refuge campaign, supporting the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Right to Refuge aims to raise awareness of what life is like for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, and encourage communities to make them feel welcome and safe. Right to Refuge also demands that the government provide better support for these vulnerable people, by listening to them as individuals and providing them with better, more consistent accommodation and access to education. 

You can help by: offering support to young asylum seekers or refugees in your school or youth group; explaining what the terms 'asylum seeker' and 'refugee' mean to people who don't know; asking your MP to support the rights of refugees and asylum seekers and by joining the Right to Refuge Facebook group. 

Tell Us TV – seeking young people’s views on activites you enjoy

Creativity, Culture & Education (CCE) has launched a website Tell Us TV and we want to hear about your experiences of the hobbies and activities you enjoy, whether that's being part of a drama group, playing in a band, going to the theatre or trying out street dance. If you are aged between seven and 19 we want you to create and upload videos about the activities you enjoy doing and those you wish you could do but don't get the opportunity. We want to hear about what you like about these activities and why they are important to you. 
 

Between 25 June and 25 July, CCE will be going out on the road in a double-decker bus to meet and talk to thousands of young people about their experiences, and upload some of their thoughts onto the website. The results of the Tell Us Bus tour will be collated into a report prepared by young people, which will be announced in October 2010. 

So get filming and check out the website for more info.

Support a youth-led campaign for fairer and more accessible media

The UK Youth Media Council has returned from the World Summit on Media for Children and Youth and have launched a new campaign for better media for young people. Thank you for all your responses to their survey - they took all the responses and worked together with groups of young people from all over the world to come up with six key issues to campaign on.

Please have a look and sign their petition (it takes just two minutes) - Are you with us?

Find them on Facebook too - UK Youth Media Council

BBC Blast offering free workshops nationwide

BBC Blast is a creative service for 13-19 year-olds, check out the website for more info and opportunities to get creative including loads of video resources to help get you started.

Also find out about opportunities for work experience across the BBC, including working as a reporter, and on tour.

 

Are you up for a Big Challenge?

It's your turn to Imagine, Inspire and Involve now! If you are aged 16 to 25 and you can think of a project that inspires other young people, then submit your idea to Big Challenge before 6th July to be in with a chance of winning part of the £65 000 prize fund to make it happen.

The Big Challenge Youth Leadership Team are looking for original project or campaign ideas that will have a big impact and inspire other young people. This is your chance to make a difference!

You can apply on your own or in a group with other young people.  All applications will be shortlisted by our Youth Leadership Team before going on to a final online public vote. If you win part of the Challenge Fund, you will receive cash and support to help make your ideas a reality.

Find out more about this year's Big Challenge and apply now!

Volunteer overseas with Raleigh – 300 bursary awards still available

The Raleigh Graduate Bursary Award for Volunteering Overseas is an initiative aimed at recent graduates and final year students who are looking to develop key employability skills, explore new cultures and make a real difference to the world they live in. The Award assists those graduates who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to undertake a 10 week overseas expedition with Raleigh where you’ll work on much needed community and environmental projects, plus undertake a challenging adventure phase.
 

If you’ve done Raleigh, you’ve actually acquired and honed a lot of the skills that you need in the workplace, in terms of leadership, management, project delivery…it’s a pretty phenomenal thing
Richard Reed, Co-founder, Innocent Drinks

Raleigh still has 300 bursary awards available, each one worth £2000.

Visit their site www.raleighinternational.org

Or check you are eligable here 

Be a Savvy Citizen about culture with Facebook ap

The Savvy Citizens campaign launches its latest topic, Culture, on Monday 12th April.

The campaign, brought to you by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, will cover Accessing Culture (online museums, galleries, libraries, archives and so on) and Cultural Expression (creating and publishing material online such as blogs, music, films, photography etc).

The topic kicks off with a guest blog post from the Victoria and Albert Museum - one of the first museums to allow access to their collections online. There’s also a signposting blog highlighting other must-see online collections from museums and galleries.

There will be a number of ‘how to’ guides on creating materials online, from blogs to videos and photo galleries. 

The new topic sees the launch of a brand new Facebook quiz. You can also follow the new topic on Twitter @SavvyCitizens.

Think Big programme launched!

On the 9th March, O2, working with UK Youth and the National Youth Agency, launched Think Big - a new social action programme supporting young people who want to make a positive difference in their communities. 

Think Big wants to hear from young people with bright ideas for projects that will bring people together and benefit communities. Successful applicants will receive a £300 grant towards project costs and a day's training with UK Youth in the skills they will need to get their idea up and running. If this project is a success, they will then have the opportunity to apply for an additional grant of up to £2500, and four days' leadership training. O2 employees will support the projects by volunteering as on-line helpers and mentors. The aim of the project is to fund at least 500 projects this year alone - an investment of £3 million from O2.

Find out more at http://www.o2thinkbig.co.uk/ or by emailing 

Could you be a social entrepreneur?

The International Youth Foundation (IYF) is in search of 20 young social entrepreneurs from around the world for its YouthActionNet® Global Fellowship Program.

Sponsored by Nokia, the YouthActionNet® Global Fellowship Program recognizes young social innovators for their outstanding achievements. Past winners have undertaken a range of innovative projects, including training disadvantaged women in Argentina to make environmentally-friendly clothing, and offering a phone-based jobs service to youth in Palestine.

The Global Fellowship is open to qualified candidates between 18 and 29 years old. Applicants must be proficient in English and have founded/co-founded projects or organizations with at least one year of demonstrated social impact. This can include leading a new project within an existing organization.

The year-long Fellowship includes:

• A seven-day leadership retreat for twenty selected Fellows which offers dynamic peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and sharing among young visionaries;
• Recognition for their efforts at the Annual YouthActionNet® Global Awards Ceremony;
• Networking with international aid agencies, NGOs, and corporate partners;
• Virtual learning sessions, and access to global advocacy platforms, media coverage, and funding opportunities.

The deadline for applications is 9 April 2010. 

The Live Earth Run

International Water charity Pump Aid has been selected as the UK charity to partner The Live Earth Run for Water global event on 18th April 2010. The event will take place at the celebrated Victoria Park in East London.

Whether you decide to run or walk the 6km, all participants will be treated to a music concert which will included international music artists and celebrities!

More than 100 countries across the globe will participate in raising money for water causes on the 18th April, making this the single biggest fundraising effort for water causes in history. 

Nearly 1 billion people across the world don’t have access to clean water killing around 4000 children every day. By just taking part in the race your donation will enable Pump Aid to provide water to 1 million people in Africa - that matches the number of people we've been able to help to date! Just think what we could achieve if we can get 8,000 signed up to the run.

For more information please visit the Pump Aid website. To sign up to the run/walk visit http://liveearth.org/en/live-earth-london.

Art competition from TheSite.org

TheSite.org are asking 16 to 25 year olds to submit photographs, film or comics which illustrate the lessons that should be learned from the recession or how the economic situation has impacted on them and their communities.

There’s great prizes (£1000 to invest in your artistic future for the overall winner; £300 each for three runners up); great judges (including MD of Saatchi Design Ashley Goodall, Turner Prize nominee Yinka Shonibare and comic illustrator Jamie McKelvie); and the chance for young people to have their work displayed at a London awards event and on online guide to life, TheSite.org.

For more information, check out TheSite.org/lifesupport or follow twitter updates at www.twitter.com/lifesupportcomp .  Make sure you take up this chance before 30th April 2010.

Become a Battlefront Campaigner

Battlefront 2 is about to begin and they're searching for new campaigners. Whatever you are passionate about, whatever gets your goat or if there is a simple change that you want to make for the better, Channel 4 wants to hear from you.

With the support of a team of experienced mentors and all the multimedia you can think of, your campaign could be turned into a reality and launched into the stratosphere! They‘ll be choosing the new campaigners in Spring ready for kick off in early Summer. Being a Battlefronter is no easy ask and they'll need you to be involved for 9 months. It takes a lot of time and effort, on top of all the work you’ve already got on – but if you’re keen, if you’re committed – then they'll support you all the way.Go here to submit your idea by April 2010.

 

Join the Youthink bloggers

The Youthink! blog is a social platform for youth discussion on development and major global issues. If you are passionate about these topics, have opinions on how to make the world a better place, and want the world to hear you, then now’s your chance to jump in.

How to Become a Youthink! blogger - If you’re chomping at the bit to get started, and interested and wired on global issues, then please send the following to youthink@worldbank.org:

• A sample blog post of 500 words or less on the topic: Which major development issue interests you most, and why?
• Your full name
• Your age (must be younger than 30 to be eligible)
• Your contact information

Shortlisted bloggers will be asked to submit a CV and 2 recommendation letters.

While this is an unpaid position, it is an opportunity to get your voice heard by thousands of people around the world, share ideas, and find solutions for making the world a better place. The role will last approximately 4 months.

Sign the Respect? Pledge

This pledge is part of a campaign to urge young people to take ownership of the media, and make their opinions heard, by using comment opportunities and new technology. SIGN IT and pledge:

"I will make my voice heard and help young people’s views to get noticed. When I have an opinion on a news story, I will voice it in the media by commenting online, writing to editors of papers or magazines, or calling in to TV or radio programmes. It’s our news too. but only if 1,000 other young people will pledge to do the same." 
  

What's your view on family life?

Take part today in the Family Commission's survey on family life in the 21st century to have your say on families and their roles in our society. The Family Commission, chaired by Esther Rantzan, will be producing a major report of its findings in the Autumn.

Have your say here.
 

Become part of the Democracy Club

Democracy Club are building a network of election volunteers to help mySociety and TheStraightChoice in the run up to the next general election, and hopefully beyond. We want your help to hold election candidates and representatives to account.They're trying to get volunteers in every part of the UK. So far, they've recruited volunteers in around 603 constituencies (out of a total 646).When you sign up, representatives of these organisations will occasionally suggest tasks by email, such as gathering information on general election candidates or finding and sharing election leaflets, to help them build awesome sites that will make the next election the most transparent ever. They'll also help you to collaborate with other volunteers in your area.  

Great new Participation Works training

BYC are part of a partnership of national agencies called Participation Works who are working together to ensure that every child and young person can influence decisions affecting their lives.

Check out the forthcoming Participation Works programme of training and events listings including Hear by Right workshops, Ready Steady Change and Safeguarding in Youth Participation. The Participation Works’ established one-day courses can be adapted to form interesting and interactive workshops or ‘taster sessions’ at your meeting, conference or event: Contact the Participation Works training & consultancy service for more information.  

Participation Works’ famous how to guides are also available to download. These include How To Involve Children and Young People in Commissioning, How To Use Creative Methods For Participation, How To Work Successfully With Children and Young People From Various Faiths and Cultures and How To Involve ‘Hard To Reach’ Children and Young People.

Help others get their Life on Track

What’s your best piece of career advice? Got any pearls of wisdom you’d like to pass on? Lifetracks helps young people make informed choices on learning and careers and they’re on a mission to build the biggest collection of user-generated career advice in the UK - Your Life on Track. To do this, they need your help. Find a phone, webcam or camera and make a video of your best piece of career advice. Then upload and link to YouTube. For more information, see the Lifetracks website.Lifetracks.com helps you take your next step in learning, training and work. It’s crammed full of useful articles, videos, features and a free question and answer service, all aimed at helping you make informed choices about your future.

Uprising training in East London

Registration to take part in the 2010-11 UpRising programme is now open. Registering is the first stage of getting a place on UpRising.It is quick and easy to register by clicking here.If you know someone who might like to take part in UpRising, please ask them to register their interest by visiting the UpRising website here.This is great opportunity for 19-25 year olds from East London who want to learn important public leadership skills, make new friends, take part in exciting events and serve the community.To find out more about the UpRising experience visit www.uprising.org.uk

 

Links

 
 Chew TV: a pioneering Web TV Company run by and for young people aged 14-25. Chew TV allows anyone to watch free short films and videos online, whilst giving a voice to young people, providing a global showcase for new talent in digital media to connect and share ideas.

Community Service Volunteers (CSV): Every year, CSV involves over 150,000 volunteers in high quality opportunities that enrich lives and tackle real need. Visit the website to find out how you can be involved.  

Do-it.org.uk - search for volunteering opportunities on this site from online charity YouthNet. 

 

Gap Activity Projects: Offering a global network of placements that spans 23 countries for British volunteers and includes conservation, caring, community, camps and outdoor, medical, coaching, teaching, and TEFL placements. Open to volunteers 17- 25 years old, the placements last between three and 12 months.
 

Global Xchange is a joint partnership between VSO and the British Council and is broken down into two programmes: Youth Xchange a six-month exchange programme for young people aged 18-25 and Community Xchange an international professional development programme for community workers and practitioners.

HandsOnScotland is an online resource for anybody working with children and young people. The website provides practical information and techniques on how to respond helpfully to children and young people's troubling behaviour, build up their self-esteem and promote their positive mental wellbeing.'



How we see it' is an amazing photography project with young people not in employment, education or training. Click here to see the images and digital stories or find them on Facebook. 


LeapAnywhere.com is a revolutionary personal and professional platform that allows you to have fun, doing good.

 

Radiowaves is a safe network of school websites where pupils can broadcast their video, radio, podcasts and blogs easily.
 

RCPCH Young Person's Advisory Panel: Represent young people by having your views heard on health issues. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is inviting you to share your views on health issues that matter to you.
 

Right Here is a collaborative programme to address the mental health needs of young people in ways they would value and use. 
 

Star: A unique organisation giving students the chance to support and campaign for refugees  

Student Volunteering UK
 

The Two Kingdoms Youth Forum is a ground breaking forum for young people from Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom that combines dialogue with action.

Time Bank: TimeBank is a national charity inspiring and connecting a new generation of people to volunteer in their communities, and enabling charitable organisations and businesses to develop innovative and effective volunteer recruitment programmes. 

 

TheSite.org: Your guide to the real world, providing advice and info on all the key issues facing young people including: sex and relationships; drinking and drugs; work and study; housing, legal and finances; and health and wellbeing. 
 

v, the national young volunteers service, is an independent charity dedicated to helping young people volunteer in ways that matter to them. 



The Vibe is a online political magazine written for and by young people, giving the digital generation a voice.  
 

WorldWide Volunteering



Volunteering England is the national volunteer development agency and a membership organisation. We have committed to supporting student volunteering across Further and Higher Education.
 

Yoosk: Yoosk.com is a social media platform that enables direct conversations between public figures and the general public. 
 

Young UK Ambassadors website is the place to find opportunities to speak out and be heard at key international meetings.back to top  

Youthink! is the World Bank's website for youth. It is a space where young people can learn about the world's most pressing development issues, and can also find ways to get involved and make a difference.

Videos

If you want to see some more videos made by young people on key youth issues check out: