Team London Young Ambassadors
Evaluation reports from Team London Young Ambassadors, a project which inspired local schoolchildren in London to volunteer and participate in social action.
Team London Young Ambassadors is the Mayor of London’s volunteer programme for schools. Delivered by the Greater London Authority (GLA) in partnership with WE, the two year (2014-16) project inspired young people in non-fee-paying schools across all London boroughs to act on local issues and get volunteering – both in their schools and in their communities. Issues that young people addressed included homelessness, bullying, food poverty, food waste and community building.
The project supported social action in London schools by offering individual school assemblies, workshops and follow-up activity, together with large-scale youth summits and the opportunity for young people to attend the annual flagship We Day event. Schools had access to interactive handbooks introducing students to social action, and took part in an awards scheme recognising the volunteering efforts of young people. Schools were also supported by Borough Ambassadors – adult volunteers recruited and trained by Team London – who helped students and teachers identify volunteering projects in the local area.
KEY FINDINGS
- 68% of young people are more likely to plan for their future career or higher education
- 88% of young people have developed stronger communication skills
- 88% of young people have demonstrated increased leadership among their peers, from organising projects and events to encouraging their peers to get involved
- 79% of young people are more capable of developing a plan of action to address social justice issues
- 87% of young people demonstrate more consideration of local and global issues in their everyday life choices, including kindness, recycling and energy conservation
- 86% of young people feel a greater connection to their local community
- 87% of young people are more able to work effectively and respectfully in diverse teams
- 87% of young people are more likely to stand up for others that are treated unfairly because of their race, religion, sexual orientation etc.
