Euro 2008 Forum Skill Share Platform 2

Platform 2 The new UK Programme for Young Volunteers A brief introduction

Cliff Allum Chief Executive Officer, Skillshare International President, International Forum on Development Service Presentation to FORUM Conference 27 June 2008

DfID decides to support young people in volunteering • Support for young volunteers has been excluded for many years • 2006 policy change – a line in a policy paper • March 2007 – consultation on youth volunteering, links with diaspora, and interns

DfID vision • Enabling young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to have an opportunity • Offers young people: – An experience with long-term benefit – Enable young global citizen champions – Influence peers and encourage them to do the same

Twelve months later • £10 million programme announced • Focus on less advantaged young adults (18-25 years old) • “Fully funded” by DfID • Implementation by Christian Aid, Islamic Relief, and BUNAC • Called “Platform 2”

You may not know BUNAC • “BUNAC offers a range of working holidays including a summer camp counselling programme in the USA and Canada, flexible work and travel programmes to Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Britain and South Africa and volunteering/teaching placements. These are open to 18 year olds and over in the UK, the USA and Ireland. Programmes last from five weeks to two years.”

Platform 2 • “Your Platform to Change the World” • “10 weeks, 1 trip, a life changing experience” • Three year project • Which means around 800 volunteers a year • Funding average: £4,000 per volunteer

Where will the volunteers go? • • • • • •

South Africa Ghana Peru India Malawi Nepal

How does it work? • Volunteers are selected individually but go in groups of between 10 and 15 and stay together to work on a project • Live and work with local communities and fellow volunteers • Support through local organisation that acts as in-country partner

Eligibility • • • •

18-25 years old UK Passport holder Living in the UK Attend training and events before travel and on return: – One day pre departure workshop – Three day residential return workshop

What will you contribute? • “you’ll make a real difference to the community working on projects such as: – Constructing community buildings, play areas, hand pumps – Caring for and teaching children in orphanages – Working with community school groups on environmental projects – HIV peer education”

• You’ll be away for about 10 weeks

What will you need to have or gain? • “you don’t need any specific skills” • “you do need enthusiasm and an open mind” • “you’ll learn a lot about yourself”

Why is this significant? • Young people are back on the agenda • Strong public engagement focus • Brings in new organisations to volunteering • Use of competitive bidding rather than strategic partnership funding • Are we coming full circle?