ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING YOUNG SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS Research and Experience with Young Social Entrepreneurs at the Commission and UnLtd Nick Micinski Commission Coordinator

COMMISSION FOR YOUTH SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Our mission is to reach out and unleash the talents of people who can transform the world in which they live – people we call social entrepreneurs. £100m Millennium Awards Trust Supported over 5000 start up social entrepreneurs from all ages and backgrounds UNLTD- THE FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS The Commission began in 2007 as a group of 21 young social entrepreneurs with their own successful businesses and organizations — all former Big Boost award winners — who wanted to make it easier for other young people to make change. Three year (2008-2011) research project in partnership with UnLtd and DCSF asking: “How can society equip young people to make a lasting positive impact on their world?”

Our mission is to reach out and unleash the talents of people who can transform the world in which they live – people we call social entrepreneurs.

£100m Millennium Awards Trust

Supported over 5000 start up social entrepreneurs from all ages and backgrounds

The Commission began in 2007 as a group of 21 young social entrepreneurs with their own successful businesses and organizations — all former Big Boost award winners — who wanted to make it easier for other young people to make change.

Three year (2008-2011) research project in partnership with UnLtd and DCSF asking: “How can society equip young people to make a lasting positive impact on their world?”

BIG BOOST (2005-2008) Supported 10,000 young people aged 11 – 25 to become social entrepreneurs 11 to 16 year olds Awards of £250 to £1,000 Group sizes of at least four young people Nominated advisor to lead their award and provide support to run their project 16 to 25 year olds Awards of £500 to £5000 Individuals or small groups Projects had to focus on one of the UK government’s ‘Every Child Matters’ objectives: being healthy being safe enjoying and achieving

Supported 10,000 young people aged 11 – 25 to become social entrepreneurs

11 to 16 year olds

Awards of £250 to £1,000

Group sizes of at least four young people

Nominated advisor to lead their award and provide support to run their project

16 to 25 year olds

Awards of £500 to £5000

Individuals or small groups

Projects had to focus on one of the UK government’s ‘Every Child Matters’ objectives:

being healthy

being safe

enjoying and achieving

SPORTS RELIEF (2007-2009) Supported 564 young people who used sport and recreation based activities to tackle social conflict and build social cohesion in their communities. Many of the projects focused on tackling gang and knife culture, as well as ethnic and religious divides 11-21 year olds £250-£5,000 awards Individual or group applications entrepreneurial young people with great ideas and who want to make a difference The program aimed to measure social cohesion four indicators: Understanding Relationships Skills Belonging

Supported 564 young people who used sport and recreation based activities to tackle social conflict and build social cohesion in their communities.

Many of the projects focused on tackling gang and knife culture, as well as ethnic and religious divides

11-21 year olds

£250-£5,000 awards

Individual or group applications

entrepreneurial young people with great ideas and who want to make a difference

The program aimed to measure social cohesion four indicators:

Understanding

Relationships

Skills

Belonging

BIG CHALLENGE (2008-2011) Youth-led program for young social entrepreneurs focused on one issue or topic each year Youth Leadership Team Set the topic of the challenge Short lists applications Decided who gets awards and how big the award should be PR and Outreach for events 16-25 year olds £60,000 awarded each year Individual or group applications 11 projects in Year 1

Youth-led program for young social entrepreneurs focused on one issue or topic each year

Youth Leadership Team

Set the topic of the challenge

Short lists applications

Decided who gets awards and how big the award should be

PR and Outreach for events

16-25 year olds

£60,000 awarded each year

Individual or group applications

11 projects in Year 1

SOME OF THE FINDINGS Individual growth in skills, confidence, and renewed interest in driving social change in the future Support must include both emotional and practical support Significant ‘Just to be trusted’ with money Peer-to-peer support and role models were important ‘ Development manager’ as model for support

Individual growth in skills, confidence, and renewed interest in driving social change in the future

Support must include both emotional and practical support

Significant ‘Just to be trusted’ with money

Peer-to-peer support and role models were important

‘ Development manager’ as model for support

COMMISSION’S RESEARCH Research Training 20 volunteer researchers, 2 interns, 1 research assistant Manchester and London Qualitative Interviews 50 young people ages 16-25 Online Survey 353 participants £10 incentives for those who complete the survey Focus Groups Two in London Research Workshop Manchester and London

Research Training

20 volunteer researchers, 2 interns, 1 research assistant

Manchester and London

Qualitative Interviews

50 young people ages 16-25

Online Survey

353 participants

£10 incentives for those who complete the survey

Focus Groups

Two in London

Research Workshop

Manchester and London

DEBUNKING THE MYTH: YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING SOCIAL ACTION (Report pending publication June 2009) Key Research Findings Myth of the ‘disengaged’ youth Youth are not only interested in ‘youth’ issues Youth in the UK are taking social action in a variety of ways – most popular were donating money, volunteering, and voting

(Report pending publication June 2009)

Key Research Findings

Myth of the ‘disengaged’ youth

Youth are not only interested in ‘youth’ issues

Youth in the UK are taking social action in a variety of ways – most popular were donating money, volunteering, and voting

INFLUENCES What inspires you? 85.5% Friend/peer(s) 81.3% Family 60.2% Books 57.8% Music 48.4% Teacher(s) 46.5% Films 43.0% Hobbies 35.2% Politicians 31.6% TV programmes 28.5% Money, money, money! 19.5% Food 18.4% Celebrities 0.4% Nothing inspires me 0.4% Don’t know 0.4% Unclear about question

What inspires you?

85.5% Friend/peer(s)

81.3% Family

60.2% Books

57.8% Music

48.4% Teacher(s)

46.5% Films

43.0% Hobbies

35.2% Politicians

31.6% TV programmes

28.5% Money, money, money!

19.5% Food

18.4% Celebrities

0.4% Nothing inspires me

0.4% Don’t know

0.4% Unclear about question

BARRIERS Barriers and Obstacles 79.5% Lack of funding 66.7% Lack of time 55.8% Discrimination against youth 47.7% Lack of participants or volunteers 46.9% Confusing legal structures 36.8% Status quo (resistance to change) 25.2% Lack of skills and or knowledge 24.8% Restrictive regulations 20.9% Lack of inspiration 16.3% Discrimination against gender 12.4% Peer pressure 8.1% Discrimination against my race 3.5% Other (please specify) 1.6% I haven’t faced any barriers or obstacles! 1.2% Don’t know

Barriers and Obstacles

79.5% Lack of funding

66.7% Lack of time

55.8% Discrimination against youth

47.7% Lack of participants or volunteers

46.9% Confusing legal structures

36.8% Status quo (resistance to change)

25.2% Lack of skills and or knowledge

24.8% Restrictive regulations

20.9% Lack of inspiration

16.3% Discrimination against gender

12.4% Peer pressure

8.1% Discrimination against my race

3.5% Other (please specify)

1.6% I haven’t faced any barriers or obstacles!

1.2% Don’t know

BARRIERS Do you feel more comfortable working on a project… 67.1% In a group with like minded individuals 19.0% In a group with more experienced individuals 9.7% By yourself

Do you feel more comfortable working on a project…

67.1% In a group with like minded individuals

19.0% In a group with more experienced individuals

9.7% By yourself

SUPPORT NEEDED Need help make connections Connections with others in their field and with Connections with people with expertise or resources Mentors for emotional support Hands-on networking. Need for more time or time management support Support with money or fundraising

Need help make connections

Connections with others in their field and with

Connections with people with expertise or resources

Mentors for emotional support

Hands-on networking.

Need for more time or time management support

Support with money or fundraising

FUTURE RESEARCH The ‘journey’ of the young social entrepreneur Mapping the sector of support for young social entrepreneurs in the UK Explore connections between demographics and social action

The ‘journey’ of the young social entrepreneur

Mapping the sector of support for young social entrepreneurs in the UK

Explore connections between demographics and social action

CONTACT INFORMATION Nick Micinski [email_address] Commission website www.yse.org.uk UnLtd website www.unltd.org.uk

Nick Micinski

[email_address]

Commission website

www.yse.org.uk

UnLtd website

www.unltd.org.uk