With over two million young people living in poverty, youth crime and violence on the rise and mental health effecting one in ten children and young people – there’s a lot that can be done to help our younger generation.
Research from The Prince’s Trust shows one in three young people believe they will have a worse standard of living than their parents, and one in five believe their lives will amount to nothing, no matter how hard they try. When asked what they believe contributes to violent crime, 45 per cent claim there are not enough alternative activities for the young.
However, there are many people doing wonderful things to enhance the standard of young people’s lives. With around 4,600 youth charities in the UK making an enormous impact on their local communities and young people’s lives, we’ve picked a few that we think deserve the spotlight.
Hope and Homes for Children work with children, families and communities across seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Africa to help children grow up in safe and productive environments.
One of our favourite campaigns run by the charity is ‘End the Silence’. Over 30 of Britain’s biggest artists each starred in a film sharing the music that holds the most special memory from their childhood, raising awareness and money for children growing up without family, love or music in the silence of orphanages.
Artists included Paul McCartney, Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Ellie Goulding and Mark Ronson. The campaign inspired thousands of the public to join in sharing their own musical memories at endthesilence.com and on social media and raised over £5m.
Can you what @edsheeran chose as his most precious song from his childhood? It was an adaption from an Irish folk song…#EndTheSilence pic.twitter.com/TgpENtta5C
— Hope and Homes for Children (@HopeandHomes) November 4, 2017
Action for Children protect and support children and young people, providing practical and emotional care and support and ensuring their voices are heard. In 2019 the charity helped more than 387,000 children and families working on the ground, in communities and through more than 476 local services across the UK.
Last summer, the charity launched an online campaign ‘Choose Childhood’ as part of their 150th anniversary, calling on the government to develop a national action plan for children and offering a commitment that every child will receive a safe and happy childhood.
The charity’s campaign includes a powerful one-minute YouTube video of children attempting to escape their destructive homes whilst social media saw many celebrities and key figures taking a photo of their pledge to help children, including Labour MP Emma Lewell-Buck and Jo Frost known from the programme, Supernanny.
Happy to support @actnforchildren’s campaign to #ChooseChildhood. I pledge to push for a full review of this country’s broken care system to improve children’s lives. pic.twitter.com/kxA3MVpw2J
— Emma Lewell-Buck MP (@EmmaLewellBuck) July 16, 2019
Young Women’s Trust aims to create change through influencing and campaigning whilst supporting young women across the UK.
At the end of last year, the charity launched their campaign #FaceAnything with skin-care brand, Olay in a bid to increase women’s power and influence and build a movement of women ready to face anything that life throws at them.
The team have introduced nine female ambassadors all from different backgrounds and facing different struggles including Jazmin Sawyers, professional athlete, Lady Leshurr, musician, and Felicity Hayward, model and activist. Each ambassador is sharing her own story and the labels they’ve suffered to help women to #FaceAnything
✊ | We’ve partnered with @OlayUK for a new campaign to increase women’s power & influence AND build a movement of women! Introducing 9 fearless ambassadors showing women they can #FaceAnything, no matter the labels society throws at them! 💪 Check it out https://t.co/sYQSSxXyp9 pic.twitter.com/NnGrfnIVxF
— Young Women’s Trust (@YWTrust) October 7, 2019
Youth Access is an advice and counselling network that works with their members to promote the Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services (YIACS) which offers young people support on a range of issues in a young person-centered environment.
Youth Access is dedicated to creating a platform that offers every young person access to free, high quality advice and counselling.
Projects include Make Our Rights Reality which is a national project teaching young people about their rights and giving them a voice to challenge injustice and The IQ Project, promoting YIACS as a key part of every local mental health and wellbeing offer.
A new report from @EduPolicyInst reveals many young people struggling to access mental health services, with 26% of #CAMHS referrals being rejected 🛑@JamesKenrick1 blogs on the role our members have to play in delivering the support young people need 👉 https://t.co/73kDGzVoai pic.twitter.com/9cZmkmuM9O
— Youth Access (@YouthAccess) January 10, 2020
UK Youth was founded back in 1911, and with over a century’s worth of experience, are now a leading national charity committed to ensuring all young people are empowered to build bright futures, regardless of their background or circumstances.
The charity has recently partnered with Always and will be distributing 2 million sanitary products to members of the UK Youth Movement to tackle period poverty across the UK. The campaign hopes to give girls access to free period product out of term time, and allow them to take part in activities that build their confidence and help shape their future.
Calling all youth organisations! 📣 We’ve partnered with Always to supply 2 million sanitary products to young people across the country 😍 Apply here for your FREE products 👉 https://t.co/HC8mxumGiM #EndPeriodPoverty pic.twitter.com/LK4igPKrog
— UK Youth (@UKYouth) January 9, 2020
Youth Employment UK is dedicated to tackling youth unemployment by bringing together young people, employers and policy in an innovative way that creates real impact.
The charity delivers a Skills and Careers Hub providing 14-24-year olds with free resources, advice and guidance. Designed with input from young people, the Skills and Careers Hub offers practical tools to support young people through education, transition into employment and beyond in a process of lifelong learning.
If you’re aged 14-24 and live in the UK, you can get free #YoungProfessional training with @YEUK2012 to boost your life and work skills. School, work, life… these are the skills you need! Find out more – https://t.co/i7ZwXdkUDb pic.twitter.com/qC4AOAEcjr
— Youth Employment UK (@YEUK2012) January 22, 2020
Interested in finding out how public relations can benefit your charity or awareness campaign? Get in touch with a member of our award-winning team today to find out more.
