Some background information on the project:

(1) Agents4Change began in May 2007 aimed at giving 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.

(2) Tesco has pledged £500,000 over two years to set up Agents4Change, a youth project which aims to empower people between the ages of 16 and 25 to get involved in community projects. 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 Agnest4Change 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 wise variety of projects and events across the country.

(3) 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. Last year 227,000 people gave 5 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trains 12,705 people of all ages. http://www.csv.org.uk/

(4) 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 to 25. v is supported by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office.

v has been formed as an independent charity using an innovative new model which allows funds raised from the private sector to be matched by the Government. Up to £50 million has been allocated by the Government for this purpose over the next three years. For more information about v visit  http://www.wearev.com/.