Tomorrow's volunteers - London's Lifelines

Thousands of young people across London’s schools, colleges and youth organisations contribute daily to their own communities. Social Action by young people benefits their local communities by undertaking a wide range of community services. Community activity can expand friendship groups, aid inclusion and positively impact mental and physical wellbeing. Joining with other young people gives a voice to their generation about matters important to them. It helps them shape their own future and can provide a pathway to future careers.

Young people across the city are cleaning up the environment, growing edible gardens, sharing skills in intergenerational workshops, and supporting their local charities in a wide variety of causes. Some are already taking leadership roles to become young trustees for causes they are passionate about. They come together to discuss local and global challenges and work to find solutions. Together they have campaigned, volunteered, raised vital funds for local charities and stepped up to help other volunteers in emergency situations.

The Mayor of London is investing in young people and funded the enhanced London Young Ambassadors programme between September 2021 and June 2024. This programme engaged over 8000 young Londoners across 163 London schools to start social action projects on issues they really care about.

The programme, previously delivered by Big Ideas and Volunteering Matters, enabled young people aged 10 – 25 to unlock their potential and make change in their community with the aid of a small grant. The programme helped underrepresented young Londoners across mainstream schools, Alternative Provision, Pupil Referral Units, and Special Educational Need and Disability Schools.

The Young London Ambassadors highlighted issues they see around them or have experienced. These issues range from poverty and pollution to knife crime, discrimination and mental health.

In January 2024, Young Ambassadors from across London came together to shape a new mental health peer support training programme. They developed a Mental Health Toolkit that included useful mental health tips, and delivered community mental health social action projects.

Check out the The Young Ambassadors ‘Roundtable’ Podcast, an inclusive way to ensure everyone can take part, and discuss the issues important to them.

Listen here to the Young Ambassadors Spotify Podcast Channel

Young people in London are helping shape the future of their communities, influencing decision makers and helping their neighbourhoods to be better places to live. They will become the next generation of volunteers – the future London’s Lifelines.

To find out more about the Mayor of London Young Ambassador programme contact YouthSocialAction@london.gov.uk