The Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd, yesterday launched Generation Change, a new coalition of specialist youth social action organisations aiming to increase the quality, quantity and impact of social action in the UK today.

Generation Change has been formed to champion the youth social action sector and drive up the number of young people actively involved in high quality social action, helping them to increase their skills and equipping them to take on social issues.

To do so, Generation Change aims to:

Increase the quality of youth social action and help organisations to demonstrate the value of their programmes;

Share knowledge, insight and understanding of youth social action across the sector and with business, education and government;

Provide a platform for collaboration between youth social action and other, related organisations;

Draw attention to the youth social action agenda in the media and with policy makers
The group aims to create solutions to social challenges the UK currently faces through empowering the next generation of decision makers.

New research from group member BeatBullying suggests that the need for a joined-up approach to social action has never been greater: more than nine out of 10(94%) of young people surveyed think there should be more volunteering opportunities for young people, and almost half (42%) of those who have taken social action would get more involved if they could move more easily between opportunities.

The BeatBullying survey also found:

Young people who are involved in social action recognise its double impact: 86% were motivated to get involved by wanting to help people, but also benefited personally, with 66% learning new skills and69% gaining confidence.

Overhalf (53%) said they would get involved in more social action if opportunities were publicised more.

Of those not involved in social action, over half (55%) would like to get involved, but do not know how, highlighting the need to increase awareness of social action opportunities.

And, according to the survey, schools, colleges and businesses have a key role to play in increasing the amount of social action taking place in the UK:

Almost one in six (57%) of thosesurveyed who do not take part in social action would be more likely to if given the opportunity through their school or college and

Nearly nine out of 10 (86%) of all young people surveyed said schools and universities should recognise volunteering activities more.

Of those who have taken social action, over half (54%) would do more if it led to a job or training, and

The prospect of a job or training would also motivate nearly half(46%) of those who are not currently involved in social action to start taking part.

Generation Change brings together a diverse group of 13 specialist youth social action organisations: Ashoka, BeatBullying, City Year, Envision, Fixers, Free The Children, Future Foundations, Student Hubs, The Challenge Network, UnLtd, UpRising, vInspired and Year Here.

Nick Hurd MP, minister for Civil Society said: “While there are many excellent volunteering opportunities for young people around the country, we want more organisations to work together to offer more opportunities.

"That’s why I’m delighted that this is now happening under the Generation Change banner. This will give more young people the chance to build their skills and confidence through social action.”

Emma-Jane Cross, CEO of BeatBullying, added: “As a co-ordinated voice for the sector, Generation Change is looking forward to getting young people in the UK taking more effective social action, on an increasing scale, and getting more out of it.

"We want to support them to build the skills, confidence and character they need to address our country’s most challenging social problems.”

Sophie Livingstone, CEO of City Year, noted: “Taking social action can make a huge difference to both the individual and wider society.

"Through Generation Change we hope to make social action a normal part of growing up in the UK today, and encourage the education and business sectors to really recognise the impact it can have.”

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