Who: Volunteer It Yourself

Objective: Volunteer It Yourself was set up to address the vacuum of young people entering trade professions in the UK, and to provide useful training and qualifications to London’s young people. Wickes, Pimlico Plumbers, London Youth, v inspired and The Co-Sponsorship Agency established a multi-organisational approach in which each partner had equal responsibility and input.

Strategy: The strategy behind the programme is to engage members of the trade community in mentoring young people. The young participants in the scheme gain real-life training, and accrue qualifications to improve employment opportunities. Of the initial group of 50 apprentices, 43 have gained accreditation, and the project has now been funded by the Big Lottery Fund for a nationwide roll-out.

Rationale: “The project is about trying to get more people to learn trade skills, it’s also about helping tradespeople find apprentices and someone they can share their experiences with,” says Tim Reading, the director and founder of The Co-Sponsorship Agency. “There aren’t many young people out there who want to pursue opportunities in trade, so the mentors have a frighteningly missionary zeal. They see themselves as ambassadors for trade. They’re generally proud of what they do and they feel it’s important. It’s a true partnership, which sets it apart.”