Funding available for enterprising 14-25 year olds

Young people in Ealing could £500 to run projects that will benefit their local communities.

Local housing association, A2Dominion have launched a ‘VCashPoint Awards’ scheme which is open to under 25 year-olds who want to turn a social action project into a reality.

This could be, anything from running football sessions for children, setting up a community arts project or creating a website to provide study support to students.

Projects will need to be run by volunteers (14-25) and benefit local neighbourhoods or communities.

The scheme has been launched as part of a wider initiative being run in partnership with the charity vInspired, to offer young people a range of exciting opportunities through volunteering.

Over the next year, A2Dominion’s Community Involvement team aims to work with over 200 young people across its areas of operation, providing volunteering opportunities that will boost their skills and confidence, as well as the chance to gain an accreditation.

Yyoung people can use the local housing association's website to search for volunteering opportunities, such as becoming football coach, taking part in fundraising, events and marketing activities, dog-walking, supporting people who are homeless and more.

In Ealing, there will be opportunities at Villiers High School in Southall to support the community and young people’s activities in the area.

Heather David, A2Dominion’s Head of Community Involvement, said: “We’re really excited to be working with vInspired to bring our young residents some amazing opportunities through volunteering.

“We’ll be supporting 14-25 year olds to find the opportunities that are of interest to them, helping them to boost their CVs, grow in confidence and find a route to employment.'

Terry Ryall, Chief Executive of vInspired: said: “Volunteering and social action can transform young people’s lives. It can equip them with new skills and experience, but can also instil in them a new sense of confidence – confidence that they can rise to the challenge and try something new, that they can change something they care about, that they have something of real value to offer to others.

“We admire the foresight of A2Dominion and look forward to sharing these great opportunities with the young people from the communities with whom they work.”

For more information visit www.a2dominion.co.uk/vinspired

16th October 2013