We Are What We Do

The Aldridge Foundation and v are funding the We Are What We Do (WAWWD) Young Speakers Programme. Into 2010, the scheme will build on the 400 new volunteering opportunities created over the previous two years, with continuing opportunities for 16-25 year olds across England, inspiring a new generation of community action and social change. WAWWD's previous projects include Change the World for a fiver and Plastic Ain’t My Bag.

About WAWWD
The organisation began life as a project of the charity Community Links, an innovative inner city charity running community-based projects in east London. We Are What We Do is a movement which aims to inspire people to use their everyday actions to change the world. Their philosophy is simple: small actions x lots of people = big change.

Background
The volunteering programme helps bring to life ideas from the first part of We Are What We Do's educational work: a national competition that invited everyone under eighteen across England to answer the question "What simple action would you ask one million people to do to change the world?" Over one thousand schools took part and uploaded entries onto the competition website www.smallactionsbigchange.org.uk. The top ideas featured in the book "Teach Your Granny To Text", distributed to schools by DCSF.

The Programme
The aim of the programme is to give young volunteers the skills, resources and confidence to go into their communities as powerful social activists and public speakers. They deliver an interactive presentation in hundreds of schools and community groups across the country as part of WAWWD's education programme. They will be spreading the message that small, simple actions from the competition, such as recycling your phone or spending time with someone from a different generation, can create big social change.

Engagement
The excitement and ideas generated by the volunteers' presentations act as a springboard for long term participation in schools and youth groups, in both the We Are What We Do movement and active citizenship across communities. This is facilitated by a comprehensive range of online and offline materials, support and events, delivered as part of a long term partnership with the Department of Children, Schools and Families.

The Young Volunteers
Volunteers not only become ambassadors for social change but benefit from specialist training in public speaking and presentation techniques, equipping them with vital practical skills to enhance their future professional development. We want to work with young people, in schools and in communities, who will benefit the most from gaining more confidence, skills and experience and will be able to bring something special to the We Are What We Do movement. Through ongoing involvement in WAWWD and long-term volunteer support from TimeBank, the new skills and confidence developed by these volunteers will benefit their communities for generations to come.

The Schools
Schools and community groups the young volunteers visit to deliver presentations to inspire audiences will benefit from a young voice and fresh perspective on issues that are relevant across the curriculum and beyond and will help to bring positive social change to life. These presentations are the first part of an ongoing relationship with the WAWWD education programme which puts young volunteers at its heart.  In 2008 the programme was highly successful.

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