Young people in Carlisle leading sustainable change in their own communities need the support of volunteers from local companies to continue these life-changing initiatives.
Leading Change has received £22,981 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which has enabled a new 12-week programme that starts in September and is centred on Carlisle. However, local companies are needed to provide support – giving a few hours of their time to help young people develop their ideas.
Each group of students from Carlisle schools and colleges will get £100 seed funding, and benefit from mentoring by employees from local companies to pitch campaign ideas to secure an additional £900 to bring their ideas to life.
Across the UK more than 600,000 young people aged 18-24 are unemployed* – thousands of young lives in limbo. A key element in helping young people to gain employment and start building their careers is confidence and having the right skill sets for the job market including communication, planning and leadership. The Leading Change programme is designed to give them skills and build confidence.
A unique, inclusive initiative by the Centre for Leadership Performance (CforLP), the Leading Change programme empowers young people to develop and deliver campaigns on the sustainability issues that matter most to them and their communities while raising awareness of the United Nations Global Goals.
Sarah Glass, Executive Director at the CforLP explains: “The programme builds confidence, encourages creative thinking, showcases hidden talents and encourages leadership. It also connects students with business role models and gives them the tools to become future leaders while tackling real-world challenges.”
So far this year Leading Change has seen more than 130 young people from West Cumbria – assisted by 20 mentoring volunteers from 12 local companies – make a lasting difference promoting mental health and wellbeing, inclusivity and environmental awareness.
Businesses can showcase jobs and careers as they interact with young people and at the same time staff who volunteer gain valuable development opportunities.
Leading Change in West Cumbria has been delivered by CforLP in partnership with Sellafield Ltd, funded by the Sellafield SiX Social Impact Multiplied programme.
Now, the CforLP has gained funding to support the next cycle of Leading Change, and expand the opportunities to Carlisle and other schools across the whole of Cumbria.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund webpage
To find out how your business can help fund or mentor a school for the next cycle of Leading Change Email Programme Manager nicola.woolley@cforlp.org.uk or visit https://cforlp.org.uk/leading-change/
