Skill’s Volunteer Voices project has been awarded £227,797 funding by v, the youth volunteering charity, to get young people positively involved in their communities.

The project will get 250 young people aged 16-25 involved in creating opportunities and raising aspirations for young disabled people of their own age. 

Volunteer Voices is one of 152 projects across the country who will be funded by v as part of  vinvolved, a new national youth volunteering programme backed by £75 million funding, which aims to inspire half a million more young people to volunteer in England.

Barbara Waters, Skill’s Chief Executive says: “We are very excited to be part of the vinvolved programme. The funding will enable us to engage the infectious enthusiasm, passions and skills of young disabled volunteers, who have gained qualifications or found jobs, to show others in their own age group that their disabilities need not limit their choices in life.  It’s a great present for Skill’s 33rd birthday today. ”

Volunteering at one of Skill’s ‘Step Up!’ events, Murtaza, 22, said: “It is important to get young disabled people involved in volunteering because it is a way of entering the real work market.  The more volunteering a person does, the more it gives them confidence to excel in life.”

Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities is a national charity based in Southwark, and will be working with young disabled volunteers across England.

vinvolved has been designed by and for young people to make volunteering a compelling choice for all 16-25 year olds in England by tapping into their passions and concerns. The charity aims to change the image of volunteering and make it a ‘must-have’ part of young people’s lives.

Terry Ryall, v’s Chief Executive, says: “v is delighted to be able to fund this innovative and youth-led project, which will enable young people to get positively involved. 
“Young people are at the heart of this new programme which aims to put them at the centre of our communities. Instead of seeing them as a problem to be fixed, we are giving them the chance to become a positive force for change.”

The volunteering opportunities will be available from April 2008. For more information visit www.wearev.com or the young people’s portal www.vinspired.com