Young people are challenging misconceptions that they are all uncaring, feral yobs. 

It comes in the wake of the launch by Agents4Change volunteers of the ‘Don't Write Us Off' campaign in December to encourage other young people to take action to improve the future for today's youth.  They also received the backing of Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

New research undertaken by young people themselves and launched as part of the campaign reveals:

· 36% of 16 - 25 year olds are concerned with issues around life skills and education. Respondents raised issues such as teenage pregnancies and better sex education, improving learning between generations, better drug awareness, mentoring, money management and coping with the expense of going to university.

· One in three (31%) want more activities to be available for today's youth. Respondents highlighted the need to organise positive activities to tackle boredom, strengthen communities and help young people keep out of trouble.

· A quarter (26%) say more should be done to keep streets safe and tackle crime. Suggestions include using sports to discourage gang culture, earlier education on the dangers of knife crime, better youth role models and increased policing.

· 26% say more stable families are key to improving young people's futures.  Respondents cite healthier cooking, better support for young parents and participation in community events as playing a role in helping to strengthen families.

· 23% want greater involvement with local government, politicians and other bodies involved in making decisions that affect young people

· One in five (21%) believe that better employment prospects will give young people a better future

· 13% want to see more positive role models for today's youth

· One in ten (9%) want to see more done to improve the built and natural environment with  a desire to tackle litter, promote recycling and protect old buildings.

The research consultation, which has been carried out by young people on the Agents4Change campaign, will be used by young volunteers to help tackle some of the issues they have identified as being important in their communities. It will also form a platform for young people to lobby for increased involvement of young people in public services overseen by both local and national government.

Agents4Change, is a project coordinated by UK volunteering charity CSV with support from Tesco and youth volunteering charity v. It aims to empower young people to take positive action in their communities.

Speaking about the campaign, Hazel Blears MP said: "There are so many myths about young people, so I welcome this effort by Agents4Change to challenge the stereotypes, and prove that young people can play a fantastic role in our communities. Young people's voices must be heard."

Agents4Change campaigner in Liverpool, Jon Dean, 22, was himself a victim of a violent attack which left him hospitalised and affected by depression. Instead of getting angry, Jon wanted to do something to help deter young people falling into crime. He became a full-time volunteer with Agents4Change and organises projects for young people aged 16 - 25.

He says: "I am a different person since the attack. I feel like I can understand people that have been through a rough time and it makes me more compelled to do something about it. As a volunteer, I put on projects for young people from music concerts to environmental digs and try and give young people something positive to focus on other than crime."
"Young people obviously think more can be done to improve their futures. We want to show that they can have a voice and are not powerless to tackle local issues.

Jon continues: "Those who feel better education is needed can set up peer to peer education schemes, young people wanting to tackle crime can become mentors or volunteer as special constables and those who want to see more activities could set up their own sports or music activities. Although there is a negative perception of young people in this country, involving them in creating solutions can help inspire positive action." 

Nathan Cadogan, 26 from Birmingham has turned his life around through volunteering after a four year stint in prison. Through his work with Millennium Volunteers, he became an ambassador for volunteering and is now a trustee for Youth Action Network.

He says: "I would recommend volunteering to anyone. It really helped me gain self esteem and confidence in myself. Young people have so much energy, it needs to be put into something good, something they are interested in and promoted to them well. If you can engage people in positive activity when they are young, it may help people getting involved in crime and negative activities."

‘Hoodies' will be taking to the streets in major towns and cities including London, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Coventry, Swindon, Reading, Sheffield, Gloucester and Ashford. As part of a national conversation with their communities, they will be giving out fortune cookies to the public containing written messages about some of the top concerns for local youth. Messages include:

Laura, 23 - "Young people need more positive opportunities such as events and activities that build a sense of community."

Erica, 19 - "Young people need positive role models to look up to."

Rachael, 23 - "Local authorities should focus on engaging young people in sport to discourage gang culture."

Kacie, 16 - "Young people need improved sexual health education and an increased focus on mental health & emotional support."

Pop mogul Pete Waterman is backing the campaign. He says: "Having not had the best start in life myself, I am passionate about young people reaching their potential, especially those from socially deprived backgrounds. People from unstable backgrounds can get bored, lack self belief and end up getting into trouble. But if you give them something positive to do like plant a community garden or paint a youth centre for the day, they have a laugh and feel good about themselves. This is the power of involving people in their communities."

ENDS

For further press information or for more case studies: Jason Tanner on jtanner@csv.org.uk or 020 7812 0038 / 07941 433598 or Olivia Ware on oware@csv.org.uk / 020 7812 0039 / 07870 689 347

Notes for Editors

(1) The research was conducted by young people on the Agents4Change campaign through workshops and surveys. It represents the views of 407 young people aged 16 - 25 years. Young people were asked how young people's futures could be improved and their answers were categorised. Some young people gave more than one answer. 305 responses were gained from face-to-face interviews and workshops while a further 102 opinions were gathered through a web-based survey.

(2) Agents4Change, is a youth project which aims to empower young people to get involved in community projects. It began in July 2007 and aims to give 16 to 25-year-olds real opportunities to volunteer for the first time at a wide range of events. The project is set up and delivered by CSV (Community Service Volunteers) and is funded by Tesco and youth volunteering charity v.

(3) Tesco has pledged £500,000 over two years to set up Agents4Change. Through v's Match Fund programme, Government funds can be accessed to match that sum giving Agents4Change a £1 million budget to deliver the project. 40 full-time ‘Agents' will be recruited across England, tasked with engaging 12,000 young volunteers over a two-year period. With support from experienced local CSV teams, these volunteers will deliver a wide variety of projects and events across the country.

(4) CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. In 2006/7 229,869 people gave time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trained 12,309 people of all ages and linked 29,000 people to learning through BBC Local Radio. www.csv.org.uk

(5) v is the youth volunteering charity launched in May 2006 whose mission is to inspire a new generation of young volunteers in England aged 16-25. v is supported by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office