YSI for Young People

What is YSI?

• It's young people coming together to make a difference to their communities and to the world
• It's young people working in teams, taking on an issue of interest to them, finding out more about it and then coming up with an innovative response and doing something that will really make a difference
• It's young people becoming social innovators, i.e making a difference to the lives of others around them

Why get involved?

• Because it's fun!
• Because you get to make a difference
• Because you get to learn new skills that are really useful to you
• Because it's a great way of finding your talents
• Because you make new friends

What's a YSI Project?

To become a young social innovator, you need to do a YSI project. That means you get together with others, pick an issue that is important to you and take action to make things better. In short, you will:…

• Pick the issue/problem
• Work in a team of other young people
• Get to really understand the issue
• Work with others in the area
• Tell others about your idea
• Take action
• Come to YSI events if you like and get feedback from YSI

How do I get involved in YSI?

Over 6,000 teenagers (15-18 yrs) take part in hundreds of YSI projects each year - If your centre (e.g. school, youthreach, youth service) signs up to support you, you can get involved. Check out the list this year and see if your centre is involved.

What next?

When you do a YSI project, you become a young social innovator. You can continue your project  or get others invovled. and it doesn't have to stop there! You will also be invited to sign up to be a YSI Advocate for Social Justice.

YSI Make Your Pitch

Sign up to be a YSI Advocate for Social Justice

What's a YSI Advocate for Social Justice?

Young social innovators (those who have done a YSI project) are invited to become a YSI Advocate for Social Justice. A YSI Advocate for Social Justice promises to do three things:

• To care about and contribute to making a difference in your community
• To pursue justice and fairness for others and,
• To encourage other young people to become social innovators

YSI for Life?

YSI can be for life. You may get a bit older and loose the "young" part but everyone can be a social innovator. Think about how you can make a difference and go for it!

If you are a young social innovator, you can link up easily to volunteer programmes near you. Or, if you like, you can get involved with the work of YSI itself and help give opportunities to more teenagers to do YSI. We involve hundreds of volunteers each year. Would you like to become one?

Apply on-line to be a YSI volunteer today or download an application form