We’re so excited to launch our brand new programme for 11-17 year olds in Portsmouth – The Young Changemakers Incubator! This innovative new experience is a free weekend-based opportunity for young people living in a PO1 – PO6 postcode who are looking to create positive change in the world.
The Young Changemakers Incubator programme allows young people to plan and deliver social action projects in their local community, getting to the heart of current issues, getting involved, and taking action in order to inspire and create positive change.
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Change begins within, but all too often we feel strongly about a cause or issue, but don’t possess the skills to do something about it, or we do possess the skills – but have no idea how to use them!
Young Changemakers Incubator is here to change that!
Over the course of four months, April to July 2022, you’ll work with leadership experts to develop your skills and knowledge, growing and nurturing your inner changemaker, encouraging personal development, and learning how to impact change in the world around you.
You’ll join together with other young leaders in Portsmouth for one weekend each month to develop your plans and learn new skills, with the aim of implementing a project or campaign of your choosing.
Whether that’s social injustice, racial equality, bullying, transphobia, food poverty, humanitarian aid, community development or raising money for an important cause – the possibilities are endless.
At the end of the programme there will be a celebration event where all our Incubator Changemakers will be brought together to celebrate each other’s achievements.
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The programme includes 4 exciting and immersive weekends, with the first on 22-24th April at April Park Place – an overnight team building residential.
The following weekend events will be held locally in Portsmouth and include:
Throughout the Incubator experience you’ll develop your existing abilities and using your creativity and the support of our expert facilitators, you’ll create actions that encourage the change that you wish to see in the world.
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By choosing a cause, topic or issue that you feel strongly about, you’ll learn how to channel your passion, energy and determination into impacting positive change towards it.
We’ll help you learn how to use your network, grow it, and impact the influential people around you to help make your desired change happen.
All this will be supported by our bespoke online development programme, as well as our expert Unloc Facilitators Steve Baker and Clair Martin.
Steve is an experienced leader that has enabled young people to make change for the last 20 years. He has a solid understanding of democratic and representative processes that enable young people to make their voice heard, and shares how to engage with their local communities to make change happen.
Clair is a social entrepreneur, visual artist and digital storyteller with over 20 years experience in the creative technology industries, developing and delivering engaging learning experiences to children, young people and the wider community.
Steve said:
“Our new ‘Young Changemaker Incubator’ is a great opportunity for young people to learn the skills they need to make the change in the world they wish to see. Part of the Young Changemaker Cities scheme, our Incubator will be a fun and engaging experience giving young people the opportunity to meet local leaders, focus their passions to good causes, and giving them a voice and the skills they need to make changes inside and outside of their school environment.”
Clair said:
“The Young Changemakers Cities project is an essential tool to spark creative thinking and doing to help bring about social change. The project gives young people the confidence to ask for change and to feel confident change will happen!”
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There are only 30 places available for the Young Changemakers Incubator, the first 30 changemakers to apply will secure their place, so if you’re interested don’t delay – be sure to sign up right away!
We are very excited to launch our exciting new programme for young people: Inspiring Change: Young people tackling Youth Violence, together! An 8 month experience for young people aged 15-19 living in Portsmouth, Southampton, Eastleigh or Totton.
This free initiative is part of the Peer Action Collective and in partnership with Artswork and Youth Options, and will see young people take the lead in tackling youth violence in their local communities through social action projects or awareness campaigns.
There is also the chance for young people to apply for funding of between £1000 and £3000 to support their project they design and plan.
The programme will be delivered from April-December 2022 and will consist of 4 immersive weekends including a 1 night residential, monthly check-ins, employability workshops, and fun, interactive sessions to allow young people to make an impact!
Inspiring Change will allow young people of all backgrounds to develop their project management skills as well as make a positive impact in their local communities.
Youth Violence & Social Action Manager, Katie Aris, said:
“This is a really exciting project and a unique opportunity for young people to make a positive impact in their communities and in the world around them. Youth violence is a problem in many areas, towns and cities around the UK. This programme will allow the energy, ideas and passion these young people possess to make a real difference, and will support the national efforts in tackling youth violence around the country.”
The programme is part of a wider project in collaboration with Artswork and Youth Options which has seen 12 young people employed as peer researchers since September. They are conducting research around the impacts of youth violence in order to support the social action projects.
Youth Violence & Social Action Facilitator, Jess Cowling, said:
“We are really lucky and excited to have the opportunity to support young people in tackling youth violence as part of our Inspiring Change Programme and supporting them to become changemakers in their own right!”
The deadline for applications for the Inspiring Change programme is the 25th March, and applications are already coming in thick and fast. If you or someone you know is interested in signing up then be sure to do so quickly!
For more information or to apply, please click here!
We’d like to give special thanks to the Youth Endowment fund alongside the Co-op and the #iwill Fund for their support and funding for this exciting new project.
About Unloc
Unloc is a leading education non profit founded in 2013 by award-winning young leaders and advocates Hayden Taylor and Ben Dowling. We help schools, colleges and organisations inspire and empower young people to be changemakers through bespoke and innovative programmes in entrepreneurship, leadership, career pathways and student voice. We work towards our mission by delivering inspiring educational programmes in our growing network of schools and colleges.
Our mission is to empower young people to be innovative changemakers who seek to build stronger communities and sustainable businesses. We develop young people’s skills, enhance their potential and boost their determination to succeed.
Sign up for Unloc’s monthly Digital Update straight to your inbox by clicking here!
About Artswork
Artswork has empowered children and young people through arts and culture for the last 30 years. A national voice celebrating the arts, creativity and cultural development for, with and by young people, they are committed to improving their life chances and making a difference.
Artswork strive to make the arts and creativity available to absolutely everyone. Aiming to break through barriers and develop new ways for people to discover the success, empowerment and sheer joy that the arts and creativity can bring to classrooms, communities and careers.
For more information about Artswork click here!
About Youth Options
Youth Options was established in 1937. They believe that every child and young person has the potential to realise their abilities and aspirations, and to make a valuable contribution to their communities. They are committed to supporting young people to develop their social and emotional skills, engage with learning and to stay safe. Youth Options services are individually tailored to deliver vibrant, dynamic and ever-evolving opportunities that connect with and inspire young people.
About 20 per cent of Youth Options services are open access for all young people, whilst 80 per cent are targeted projects delivered to young people with specific needs. They work with young people in a wide range of situations, including those in care, care leavers, those at risk of exclusion from school or society, those already excluded from mainstream education and young people who are NEET or likely to be NEET on leaving school.
For more information about Youth Options click here!
Unloc are working together with the highly respected Further Education specialists Rockborn in order to roll out an in-depth programme of events, training and bootcamps for the UK’s Student Governors.
Maheep Kaur, Portsmouth’s elected Member of UK Youth Parliament, recently met with 2 local Members of Parliament to discuss the issues impacting young people.
14 – 25? Have a passion to tackle social issues or a business concept that needs funding? Now’s your chance to make a real difference!
We work with many organisations to provide the many experiences, courses & opportunities we offer. This year we wanted to take some time to recognise one of these important organisations, The Marketors’.
Unloc are working together with the highly respected Further Education specialists Rockborn in order to roll out an in-depth programme of events, training and bootcamps for the UK’s Student Governors.
Maheep Kaur, Portsmouth’s elected Member of UK Youth Parliament, recently met with 2 local Members of Parliament to discuss the issues impacting young people.
14 – 25? Have a passion to tackle social issues or a business concept that needs funding? Now’s your chance to make a real difference!
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Portsmouth,
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