Overview
MY Social Action is a youth-led young volunteers project that empowers young people to make a positive difference in their local community while learning new skills, gaining accredited volunteer hours, and boosting their mental health and wellbeing.
How it works
Participation in My Social Action is free. The project is facilitated by qualified Youth Workers.
During weekly evening sessions at Marlow Youth and Community Centre, young people will initially think about the needs of the community and decide how they want to go about having a positive impact on those around them. Participants may choose to focus on fundraising, volunteering or campaigning for change. For example, they might want to run an intergenerational, community arts or environmental project, organise an event to raise money for a local charity, help at a food bank, or lobby decision-makers to improve services
for vulnerable groups.
The young volunteers will then be supported by the Youth Workers to put their plans into action, with resources from the project if needed.
How the project benefits young people
Through their participation in MY Social Action, young people will learn about community action and develop valuable practical, team-working, communication and leadership skills.
They will also be able to gain credits for volunteering hours towards an ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network) qualification and/or Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Volunteering has been shown to boost mental health and wellbeing, while taking part in a group activity gives young people a chance to make new friends and benefit from peer support.
How the project benefits the Marlow area
The project will help meet local needs as the young participants give their time to support a range of causes, which in turn will create meaningful connections, contributing to community cohesion.
By enabling as many young people as possible to take part in social action projects, we hope this project will promote kindness and empathy and help instil a habit of giving in its participants which will benefit their community for many years to come.
