In September 2021, the British Youth Council issued an appeal to its supporters to complete sponsored litter picks in their local area, fundraising for the British Youth Council, in the Big Autumn Litter Pick. The appeal came in the run-up to COP26 and in the year where the UK Youth Parliament and Youth Councils across the country were campaigning to stop plastic pollution. Last year, Stop Plastic Pollution was voted as one of three top priority issues facing young people in the 2020 Mark Your Mark election.
It is understandable why young people are alarmed at the rate of plastic pollution occurring in the UK. The average Briton’s annual plastic waste includes 242 plastic bottles, 109 single-use coffee cups and 209 crisp packets. According to OSPAR (2009), eight million pieces of plastic pollution find their way into our oceans daily. Approximately 5,000 items of marine plastic pollution have been found per mile of beach in the UK, according to the Marine Conservation Society (2016), and this includes the shores of coastal communities such as Blackpool.
Plastic production also directly contributes to the climate crisis. Producing one ton of plastic generates up to 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide, according to Material Economics (2018). So stopping plastic pollution is a critical front in the battle for the future.
In order to contribute to tackling plastic pollution and raise funds for the British Youth Council, Blackpool Youth Council were the first Youth Council in the country to heed the call of the Big Autumn Litter Pick.
In September, Blackpool Youth Council agreed that the ideal time to carry out the litter pick was in October half-term. October is one of the busiest tourist seasons for Blackpool which often results in a great deal of plastic being littered along the Promenade, with tourists choosing to dump their waste rather than take it home. This happens much to the disgruntlement of residents, particularly local young people. There was also substantial plastic pollution around the Bloomfield Road Football Stadium, after a derby match between Blackpool F.C. and rivals Preston North End the previous weekend.
When asked why he did it, Andrew Speight, Member of Youth Parliament for Blackpool, Chair of Blackpool Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament Steering Group representative for the North West, said:
“The British Youth Council is a charity that has well and truly changed my life, as well as enabling me to help change the lives of other young people locally and nationally. Whilst participating in British Youth Council programmes, I have nurtured many skills which have led me to find employment and campaigned for change on issues which are important to young people The litter pick was part of that campaign.
Last year, in Make Your Mark, young people across the nation made it absolutely clear that they wanted action on plastic pollution. My constituents here in Blackpool have also been telling me for years now, even since before I was elected, of their disgust at the behaviour of tourists who dump their rubbish in our home and then drive off. It is not ours, as their representatives, to reason why this result came out of Make Your Mark, it is ours simply to do. I was acting on instruction from the young people I represent.
Although litter picks do stop some plastic pollution, they are ultimately an inadequate solution, as even a group of pickers cannot stop all plastic ending up in the ocean. In order to adequately address the problem in reality, it is important to remember that we need to turn off the tap at the source and reduce plastic production. No amount of litter picks will truly solve the problem.”
The Blackpool Big Autumn Litter Pick took place on 27th October 2021, in the midst of a ferocious rainstorm which was particularly vicious by the sea. Nonetheless, Blackpool Youth Council and young volunteers from local community interest company URPotential went straight onto the promenade, undeterred by the heavy rain, and conducted a thorough litter pick, as well as picking in the nearby areas of Bloomfield and Revoe.
Blackpool Youth Council found a variety of disgusting droppings around the Town, ranging from beer bottles to COVID-19 test packaging in a local park.
In order to incentivise sponsorship, Blackpool Youth Council members dressed in a comedic fashion.
Annie commented, “I did the litter pick because when I heard about the British Youth Council’s Big Autumn Litter Pick I thought it was a great idea to help raise awareness of plastic pollution while raising funds. It was important to me as I am concerned about climate change and plastic pollution has a direct and deadly effect on wildlife. Young people should be involved with litter picking to set a good example and raise awareness.”
Rob added, “I did it because this is where I’ve grown up, and seeing it like it is made me want to do something about it, it’s my home, and I won’t sit there and let this happen. It’s very important because as I’ve grown up, as I’ve learnt more about the messes that are in and around Blackpool, the more it irked me. I grew up here, and it’s in one hell of a state. Something needed to be done, and I wanted to help as much as I can.”
Blackpool Youth Council successfully completed a significant amount of fundraising. As of 1st November, they have raised over £200 (including Gift Aid) towards the national £500 target, meaning they’ve contributed over 40% of the total funds – a significant achievement and greatly valued contribution.
Find out more about the Big Autumn Litter Pick or get involved : https://www.byc.org.uk/blog/2021/the-british-youth-councils-big-autumn-litter-pick
This year, the British Youth Council are going to be taking part in the Big Give Challenge for a fifth year in a row! The Big Give is the UK’s biggest online match funding campaign, which helps charities raise millions each year, and gives supporters an amazing opportunity to have their donations doubled.
Over the course of the campaign, the British Youth Council are aiming to raise £4,000 overall towards our life-changing programmes elevating Youth Voice.
How does it work?
From 12pm Tuesday 30 November 2021 to 12pm to Tuesday 7 December 2021, every donation made via our special Big Give webpage will be doubled*.
So if you donate £10, it becomes worth £20. If you donate £25, it becomes worth £50, and so on.
We need the support of those passionate about elevating youth voice to help raise £2,000, which will be matched by pledges of £2,000 already secured from generous donors and our charity champion, Four Acre Trust.
*Donations are doubled until all pledges funds are exhausted.
Why donate?
Young people feel that their voices are not being heard. They feel worried about their future and disconnected from a society that doesn’t take their concerns seriously.
The British Youth Council helps young people from all backgrounds get connected and use their voice to create change on issues they care about – whether that is finance and economics, healthcare, education or mental health. Through a wide range of programmes and membership services, we educate and train young people to influence and inform the decisions that affect their lives. This enables them to have their say and make them feel engaged in social action.
Through our Big Give campaign, you can help us make sure that young people are heard and given the skills they need to become leaders of tomorrow – and double your impact at the same time.
How do I donate?
Only donations made during the campaign dates on our page of the Big Give website will be doubled. This link will go live on Tuesday 30th November at midday.
The campaign will then run until 12pm midday on Tuesday 7th December, unless we meet our target beforehand.
Donations made outside of these times and dates (or on our British Youth Council webpage rather than our Big Give webpage) will still come to the charity, but won’t be doubled or counted towards the Big Give total.
In 2020’s Make Your Mark ballot, young people voted both plastic pollution and climate change in their top five priority issues. This year, the UK Youth Parliament will be campaigning to address climate change at a national level with a particular focus on making sure that we stop non-essential single use plastics by 2025.
The British Youth Council recognises that solutions like litter picks and recycling are not enough, and that the Government must reduce the amount of plastics initially produced. However, the sad reality is that the average Briton’s annual plastic waste includes 242 plastic bottles, 109 single-use coffee cups and 209 crisp packets according to a DS Smiths poll, and a good proportion of that does still end up littering our communities.
This autumn the British Youth Council are encouraging you as our supporters to keep your communities tidy, reduce plastic pollution, and raise money for the British Youth Council all at the same time. We are looking to raise £500 to support our programmes and campaigns such as Stop Plastic Pollution, and we need your help!
All you have to do is:
- Get your kit together! – grab some bin bags, rubber gloves and litter pickers – you can order these online or borrow kits from your local council – and organise a day to go to your local woods, park, beach or town centre and pick up any stray litter you find. Many local organisations also run community litter picks, so you could arrange to tag along with one of those if you would prefer.
- Get a group of friends together to have more of an impact – the more of you there are, the easier it will be to clean up more rubbish, and the more money you’ll be able to raise.
- Set up a Virgin Money Giving or Facebook Donate fundraising page, where your friends and family can sponsor you for your hard work. Remember to share your fundraising page often, and keep your family and friends updated with photos of you on your litter pick.
- Finally, dispose of the litter that you pick up in a sensible and sustainable way. Recycle anything that can be recycled, and be careful of any sharp objects that you find.
This a really fun way to keep your local area tidy, promote the reduction of single-use plastic within your community, and raise vital funds for the British Youth Council to put towards our campaigns such as Stop Plastic Pollution.
We encourage you to visit the Keep Britain Tidy website for more information and advice on preparation and safety before you begin your Litter Pick!
You can also support us by making a donation via our Virgin Money Giving page.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing fundraising@byc.org.uk.
Sunday 25th July saw the return of large-scale organised runs in the capital, with the ASICS London 10k taking over the streets between Oxford Street and Westminster.
The British Youth Council team, made up of supporters and partners, took part in this exciting run to raise vital funds in support of our work empowering young people to share their voice and create meaningful change. A cheer team was also on hand to provide a boost to all of the runners and to soak up the atmosphere of the event.
Overall, the British Youth Council team raised a phenomenal £1,112. This is an incredible achievement from our runners, and all of the funds raised will be invested into amplifying the voices of young people all across the UK.
Thanks to all of our amazing runners, our fantastic cheer team, and everyone who sponsored and supported along the way. We couldn’t do what we do without any of you!
If you would like to take part in a challenge event or would like to organise your own fundraising event, please get in touch with our Fundraising Intern, Olivia Attey, on olivia.attey@byc.org.uk
The British Youth Council’s 100k in a month Challenge is coming to an end. It began in February 2021 as a way to engage with our supporters in a fun but Covid-safe setting, and it has been immensely successful in its first year. All together, we raised over £3000 in this challenge, which is more than three-times our initial target! As a community, we grew, with partakers from across the UK and all over Europe participating, and sponsors from all over the world.
Thank you to all of you who participated, shared and donated to this challenge, as without your AMAZING support and effort, we never would have achieved such an accomplishment.
One of our participants Chris Attey, 58, decided to take part in this challenge along with 5 friends he’s known since school. They walked from Chepstow (Monmouthshire, Wales) to Carey (Herefordshire, England) following along the Wye river. They accomplished 80km in 2.5 days!
Chris shared this heart-warming message about his experience, “I often walk less than 3,000 steps in a day, so completing over 40,000 for two consecutive days, and then another 20,000 the next morning was a massive challenge. I almost gave up after day two, I ached so much, but seeing the donations still coming in gave me a massive boost and kept me going. The British Youth Council does such important work and raising money for them by doing this challenge has been a privilege. One of the most enjoyable and satisfying experiences I’ve ever had!”
If you are interested in partaking in another Challenge for the British Youth Council, or know someone who would be, we have exciting news for you – The British Youth Council has two more spots free in the Asics 10K London Run, which will take place on the 25th July, 2021. But hurry, the deadline is the 16th July, 2021.
If you missed out on doing the 100k this year, do not worry! We will be launching this challenge event again next year in February, so be sure to mark it in your calendars.
Earlier this year, we encouraged our supporters to take part in a challenge to walk, run or cycle 100km in one month, with the aim of raising money and awareness of the British Youth Council. We have absolutely loved keeping up with the participants as they embark on their challenges and work towards their fundraising targets.
We asked Dylan, one of the participants in this challenge, why he has chosen to support the British Youth Council in this way.
He said, “My name is Dylan and I am one of the [Members of Youth Parliament] for Surrey. I am fundraising through doing #100KinMay, where I walk, run or cycle 100 Kilometres in May! I chose to fundraise for the British Youth Council because I want to keep on seeing the amazing work that they do, and keep on holding events for young people. You can donate to my fundraising page using this link: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Dylan100KinMay.”
As the pandemic has reduced our physical activity, as well as the support that charities have been able to receive, fundraising through taking part in challenge events has become more significant than ever.
Challenge events act as a powerful tool to get people talking about a cause, as well as providing motivation to keep fit and see what you are capable of. With our 100km challenge not concluding until the end of June, it isn’t too late to sign up and get walking if you wish to get involved!
Find out more about this challenge.
Whether you wish to walk, run, roll, cycle or swim for the British Youth Council, by participating in a challenge event you will be supporting young people to influence and inform the decisions that affect their lives.
If you have any questions, please contact Olivia on olivia.attey@byc.org.uk
As of 17th May, fundraising in line with Government guidance has been able to resume as part of Step 3 of the Spring 2021 Roadmap.
However, there is still some way to go until all community fundraising activities can proceed. With that in mind, we would love to encourage you as British Youth Council supporters to get creative and fundraise in any way you can over the next few months.
Here are some ideas of ways that you can continue to help us as we gradually make our way out of lockdown:
- Do a sponsored silence at your school, university, or workplace to highlight the importance of Youth Voice.
- If you’re into art or baking, why not sell some artwork (prints work really well for mass-production) or bakes? This can be done easily on social media, or locally within your community, as long as you’re sure to comply with the rules.
- In keeping with our 2021 campaign to Stop Plastic Pollution, do a sponsored park or beach clean-up in your local community.
- Encourage your current or old school to hold a non-uniform day, where students and staff members can dress casually in exchange for a £1 or £2 donation
- Hire an entertainer for a Zoom performance. Charge your friends and family for tickets which cover the cost of the entertainer plus a small donation, and set up a donation link for guests to use throughout the evening.
If you need any information or help, we are here for you. Simply get in touch by emailing Olivia at olivia.attey@byc.org.uk and tell us what you are planning, and we will support you throughout your campaign and make it a success.
And remember, if you wish to donate yourself, you can always visit our website to make a one-off donation or become one of our regular supporters.
With Coronavirus restrictions easing around the UK, this summer will see the return of organised challenge events such as the Asics London 10k.
What better way to celebrate the empowerment of youth voice and demonstrate your support for the British Youth Council than by joining our team and taking part in this iconic run?
Taking place on the 25th July, you’ll get to enjoy live music and entertainment as you make your way past famous London attractions such as Big Ben, Regent Street, and the London Eye, all whilst raising money for a cause that you care about.
Registration is free and all we ask is for a fundraising target of £200 per runner!
To register, please get in touch with the British Youth Council, and we can offer you any support that you may need – from setting up your fundraising page, to boosting engagement with your campaign.
For more information on the Asics London 10k, please visit their website.
Please contact Olivia Attey by emailing olivia.attey@byc.org.uk if you would like to register for the event.
The Coronavirus pandemic has really reduced the amount of physical activity we get day-to-day. We have got an awesome new challenge that will be a great way to get active and outdoors as well as supporting the British Youth Council!
Walk or run 100km in one month!
It’s a very simple challenge, just grab your trainers, your headphones (your dog or kid if you have one!) and go out for a walk. If you plan on spreading it out over the whole month, that’s just 2 miles per day! And just like you would for a regular challenge event, you can set up a fundraising page linked to the British Youth Council (we recommend Virgin Money Giving).
If you need any information or help, the British Youth Council are here to support you throughout your challenge.
Make sure to send through your photos and updates so we can share and celebrate your progress.
I have direct debits for the causes I care about, and like lots of people across the UK, I think about where my money could help the most. One of the organisations I’m passionate about is the British Youth Council. I gained so much valuable confidence and experience by being on the trustee board over a decade ago, and I’ve always wanted to give back in some way.
During Coronavirus, people’s thoughts also turned to death. According to Farewill, there has been a 267% rise in people making wills from home during the crisis.
My mind was already focussed on loss, as sadly my husband died suddenly in 2018. He died without a will, which caused extra problems. After coming through the worst of the grief I decided I was going to do more to help other people prepare better for death.
Most people in the UK do not have a will – some estimates put it at 60%. The older you get, the more likely you are to have got round to it. But I’m on a mission to change that and encourage younger people to think about their wills.
So the first step I took was sorting my own will out in 2020, and in it I left a gift to the British Youth Council. I felt really proud to put the organisation down for what is called a pecuniary gift, which means that the British Youth Council will receive a specific sum of money, rather than a percentage of the money I leave behind. You can do it as a percentage if you prefer. I now have the title of being the first known British Youth Council alumnus to have left a gift in their will!
This process is called ‘legacy giving’ and is estimated to be worth £2.2bn a year to UK charities. It can be an incredibly useful stream of income, because organisations can model for the long term future when they know they have legacy income. However, my experience of working in the charity sector in my career, most people choose to give to local charities or the very large ones. Mid-size and national organisations can often miss out because it’s hard to attract legacy giving, and youth organisations may be not the most easy place to have conversations about death.
Dealing with death is something that many young people have to go through. A parent of children under 18 dies every 22 minutes in the UK; so we need to change how we talk about death as a society.
To fulfil my new mission, my second step was to set up a new type of online will writing service – I’ve called it Lemons.Life and I’ve launched it this year to target a younger age group to do their will. A traditional will for an older person might contain information on what they wanted to do with their property or jewellery, but actually younger people are starting to consider their ‘digital afterlife’ as well as their physical possessions. What would you want your family to do with your Facebook or all the photos you have online?
And, in the end the most important thing to consider is what you would like to have happen to your body and what happens at your funeral. These can seem like really difficult questions and they are. That’s why I hadn’t done my will before now.
For most people, there is plenty of time to change your mind, and update your will throughout life, but I hope that one day we all get into the habit of writing a will. I want it to become normal and easy – and I also would love to see charities like the British Youth Council to be able to open up a new stream of long term funding so that they can ensure they are able to empower young people in the next 75 years.