Social action programmes to receive funding thanks to #iwill Fund

Youth-led social action programmes across the UK will receive a share of £9m thanks to investments into the #iwill Fund. 

The #iwill campaign is co-ordinated by the charity Step Up To Serve, their vision is to make involvement in social action the norm for 20-year olds across the UK.

The #iwill campaign launched in 2016, and since then it is estimated that over 500,000 people have taken part in social action opportunities.

The £9m has come from The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the National Lottery Community Fund, and 25 private funders who have matched the investment.

Since its launch in 2016, the government and the National Lottery Fund have invested £50m into the campaign.

This new investment will allow the #iwill Fund to expand its work to fund further projects to encourage youth social action across England.

One private funder, Ormiston Academics Trust (OAT) has recently used #iwill funding to launch a learning hub at Ormiston Herman Academy in Gorleston.

Since then, pupils have been taking part in #iwill’s national campaign, working to improve the wellbeing of their peers and members of their local communities.

Rania Marandos, CEO of Step Up To Serve, said: ‘Young people aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow. They have the energy, skills and ideas to improve our society for the better today.

‘Through the #iwill Fund, I’ve seen first-hand the creative and powerful ways that funders are working together with young people and organisations from across sectors to solve some of society’s toughest challenges.

‘I’m excited by the opportunity this new funding brings to build partnerships like this.’

Helen Whyman, head of #iwill at the National Lottery Community Fund said: ‘At the National Lottery we are delighted to continue investing in the #iwill Fund, enabling them to increase the partnerships that we have built to embed youth social action across England.

‘Through the partnership we will see young people taking the lead in their communities, helping them to thrive.’

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