Pears Foundation Youth Social Action Programme: Phase 2

What is the Youth Social Action Programme - Phase 2?

Due to the success of the Phase 1 – Pears #iWill Youth Social Action Apprenticeship Programme, the Pears Foundation, in partnership with AoC, are investing in a second phase of the programme. Phase 2 of the programme will not only continue to build on the excellent work from Phase 1 Youth Social Action Apprenticeship programme but will develop two other components to the programme, including mentoring and Youth Social Action Ambassadors:

• Youth Social Action Apprentices – Phase 2 will include five Youth Social Action Apprentices to work across 18 colleges in East, East Midlands, North West, South East and South West regions. The apprentices will study a level 3 Youth Worker apprenticeship and will look to build on the excellent work of Phase 1 - Pears #iWill Fund programme, where five Youth Social Action Apprentices delivered excellent outcomes for their colleges, their students, and their local communities.

• Mentoring – Apprentices from the Phase 1 - Pears #iWill Fund programme will continue to share best practice across the sector by mentoring an Youth Social Action Apprentice and a Youth Social Action Ambassador in the Phase 2 programme. Mentors will continue to embed Youth Social Action within their college and local communities.

• Youth Social Action Ambassadors – Phase 2 will include 25 ambassador colleges in the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, West Midlands and London regions. The ambassador colleges that will support 5 - 8 students to become Youth Social Action Ambassadors to deliver one social action project within their college.

Programme objectives:

• To raise awareness of Youth Social Action (YSA).
• To empower students to take action and address local issues.
• To enable the apprentices to create opportunities to undertake meaningful work experience around social action.
• To upskill the apprentice and mentors.
• To embed YSA into colleges wherever possible.
• Raise the positive profile of the partner colleges through YSA in the local community.
• Link to other National Youth Social Action Programmes.
• Engage with local employers for support and future sustainability.

Youth Social Action Resources Section

The resources below aim to showcase good practice in Youth Social Action and share the learnings from the Apprentices, Mentors, Ambassadors and their colleges from the Pears Youth Social Action Programme Phase 2. We hope the documents can support other colleges undertaking their social action journey in further education.

Youth Social Action Ambassador Programme 2024-25

We are looking for 25 Youth Social Action (YSA) Ambassador colleges to support 5 – 8 students to become Youth Social Action (YSA) Ambassadors and deliver a social action project within their college. The YSA Ambassadors will need to create a project plan and deliver their social action project within agreed timescales. The aim for the YSA Ambassador Programme is to embed Youth Social Action within the colleges, impacting students, staff and the local community.

If successful, the YSA Ambassador college will receive funding to support the YSA Ambassadors throughout their project delivery. The YSA Ambassadors will also receive a £375 project seed funding pot to assist with their social action project.

Applications for the Pears Foundation Youth Social Action Ambassador programme will now close midday on Tuesday 18 June 2024 and should be submitted via email to projects@aoc.co.uk using the Application Form below. Please note hard copies will not be accepted.

Please refer to the ‘Guidance to Support Applicants - Ambassadors 2024-25’ below for full details and ensure you have read and understood the document before applying.

Guidance to Support Applicants Ambassador Programme 2024-25 Ambassador Programme Application Form 2024-25

FAQs

Can we have an extension on the submission deadline?

No. Extensions will not be awarded due to the tight time frame that the project is working to as well as ensuring fairness is given to all applicants. The deadline for all applications is midday on Tuesday 18 June 2024.

Can I send a hard copy of my application or email it in pdf format?

No, applications are only accepted in a word document format and emailed to the projects team – projects@aoc.co.uk. Applications received in any other formats will not be accepted or marked.

When will I find out if our application has been successful?

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis and therefore you may be contacted prior to the application deadline date with an outcome. If further information is required before a decision is made you may be contacted week beginning 24 June 2024 or before, depending on when you submit your application. All applicants, both successful and unsuccessful, will be contacted by midday Friday 12 July 2024 latest.

Who do I contact for further information?

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to email the project team before midday Monday 26 June 2023 – projects@aoc.co.uk. Any questions asked will be published on the website anonymously, for all applicants to view.

Our college isn't in the region where applications are being accepted, can we still apply?

No, only applications from North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, West Midlands and London regions will be considered.

Does the application need to be signed off by a senior manager?

Yes. We would like to see senior manager commitment to the project.

Does the college have to have been involved in phase 1 to be part of phase 2?

No, colleges involved in phase 1 of the programme can’t become ambassador colleges in phase 2.

Can colleges involved in the ambassador programme for 2023/24 be involved in the programme in 2024/25?

No, colleges involved in the ambassador programme in 2023/24 can’t become ambassador colleges in 2024/25.