You can apply online for the Stonewall Youth Volunteering Programme. New Youth Volunteers join the programme twice a year- In February and August. Applications for February are now closed but you can apply online for August.
What’s the Stonewall Youth Volunteering Programme all about?
It gives you the opportunity do something extraordinary: lead change. If you want to make your area safer for LGB young people and other young people affected by homophobic bullying or want to promote a positive environment for LGB young people where difference is valued and celebrated then you’ve come to the right place! All you need to get involved is to be aged 16 to 21, living in England and willing to commit to commit to the programme and make change by leading your own campaign! You don’t need to be LGB to take part or studying or at work- the programme is open to everyone.
What’s the problem? Why is Stonewall doing all this work with young people?
65% of LGB young people experience homophobic bullying at school. 92% of them have experienced verbal abuse, 42% of them have experienced physical bullying and 17% of them have received death threats. We think it’s time this stopped. Don’t you?
Stonewall is working to tackle homophobic bullying in Britain and we need young people to be part of our fight. Its really important that your voices are heard and that you have say in all decisions that affect you, including things that affect the places that you spend time like your local area, youth clubs, schools and colleges or even your workplace. If we want to create a Britain where all young people feel safe and positive about who they are then you need to leading the way because its your country and your future.
So what would you get out of being a Stonewall Youth Volunteer?
As well as feeling good about making a difference there are plenty of other things that you could get out of being a Youth Volunteer including learning new skills that could help you in other parts of your life and the programme is accredited too so that its as valuable as possible for you. You’ll also be able to put your volunteering on any job or other applications you make where it’ll look really impressive. Once you’re part of the programme you’ll get a monthly e-bulletin with information about loads of exclusive free events for Youth Volunteers, past events have included life coaching and film workshops. And we know one of the things young people love most about the programme is the chance to make friends with other young people from across the country.Interested?
What do you have to do to get involved then?
This is how the programme works:
1) You fill in an application form and send it to us
2) We give you a call and have a short interview with you over the phone
3) If everything works out then we’ll offer you a place on one of our training weekends which are completely free to attend
4) You’ll attend the training weekend where you’ll meet loads of new people, find out all about campaigning and plan your own campaign
5) You’ll be matched up a Youth Leader who is an adult volunteer who’ll support you with your campaign by chatting to you once a fortnight
6) You’ll run your campaign for at least 6 months and keep a record of it then you’ll get an award for finishing your campaign!
If this sounds like something you can commit to then all you need to do is complete an application form and these will be available in November 2009.
Training Weekend
All successful applicants to the programme will be invited to a training weekend from the evening of Friday 27th August 2010 to the afternoon of Sunday 29th August 2010. All new Youth Volunteers need to attend the entire weekend- it is free and food and accommodation are provided. If you know you will not be able to attend the entire weekend then please do not apply as your application will not be accepted. Please do not contact us about the March weekend as places are already filled.
At the training weekend new Youth Volunteers will have the opportunity to kick start their campaign by working on one of two campaign projects. Please read through the information below and think carefully about which most appeals to you and then indicate this on your online application form:
podcasting to raise local and national public awareness of homophobic bullying.
1. Workshop for young people
Most schools don’t teach their students about homophobic bullying or any other issues affecting lesbian, gay and bisexual young people but awareness raising with young people about such issues can be a great way to challenge homophobia and create more LGB friendly environments. At the weekend you’ll help create a dynamic workshop for a young audience about homophobia and LGB issues. You’ll also get training in public speaking so you can feel confident to deliver your workshop. After the weekend, your campaign challenge will be to find a way to deliver your workshop to young people whether it is through local schools, colleges or youth groups.
2. Resource for teachers
In our 2009 survey, Stonewall found that 9 out of 10 staff in schools had never had any training about how to tackle homophobic bullying. Teachers need greater awareness of this issue and the best people to tell them how homophobia affects young people are young people. At the weekend you’ll work with a group to devise the content and design of a resource for adults working with young people telling them about homophobic bullying from your perspective as young people.resource to be used by professionals in your area.
3. Resource for young people
Are all LGB young people aware of their rights and what to do if their rights are challenged? Do LGB young people need better information about relationships, staying safe, coming out, the scene? Do non-LGB young people really understand what their gay friends are going through? These questions and many more need answering. Both LGB and heterosexual young people need access to information about being gay that is clear and written in their own language. At the training weekend you'll work with a team of other young campaigners to design a resource for young people on a topic of your choice. After the weekend we'll print the resource for you and help you make the most of it in your community.
Check this checklist before you apply!
One last thing…just to save everyone’s time please run your eyes down this list before you apply. If you can answer yes to everything then you should definitely apply. If there is anything you’re not sure you can say yes to then you should have a quick chat with Laurie before you apply- her details are below.
1. Are you aged 16- 21?
2. Do you currently live in England?
3. Do you want to help Stonewall tackle homophobic bullying?
4. Do you have regular access to email?
5. Do you have regular access to a phone?
6. Can you attend a training weekend from Friday 27th August 2010 to Sunday 29th August 2010?
7. Can you commit at least three hours a fortnight to campaigning between August 2010 and February 2011?
8. Can you commit to keeping a record of your campaign in a log book?
9. Will you be able to chat to a Youth Leader once a fortnight for the six months or more that you campaign with us?
10. Are you ready to make a change?
ANY MORE QUESTIONS?
Then get in touch with Laurie at laurie.kay@stonewall.org.uk or give her a call on 020 7593 1882 and she can call you straight back if you want her to.
APPLY ONLINE HERE
