YouthBank International News

<div class="page old_photo"> <article> <header style="background-image:url(/uploads/530f68d41a135.jpg);"> <div class="box"> <div class="intro"> <h1>Who? Why? How?</h1> </div> </div> </header> <div class="main"> <div class="container"> YouthBank International at a Glance. YouthBank International's Co-ordinator Vernon Ringland presents the network in this <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9xqR2-s7Mw&feature=youtu.be">video</a>. YouthBank International – Why is it needed? YouthBank International is currently led by a group of committed individuals who make up the Advisory Board and the Executive Group. They are working hard to increase global opportunities to put grant-making into the hands of young people; to help make a difference in communities and to develop future generations. They provide advice, guidance, encouragement, training and development; sharing knowledge, skills and experience with those just beginning their YouthBank journey and more established groups where ongoing support can be vital to continuation. This work now needs a more stable, secure and sustainable base, with appropriate human and financial resources to meet the challenges of ongoing world-wide development. YouthBank International – Where are we up to? YouthBank International has grown out of a commitment to youth philanthropy and young people-led activity in communities. Initiated by The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, who have been responding to the needs of burgeoning YouthBanks across the globe since 2002, YouthBank International is ready to take the next step. The growth of YouthBank internationally has seen the gradual implementation of the model into new regions, often where the economic, cultural and political dynamics were less than favourable to promoting the voice and community action of young people. This development has led to visible increases in the number of youth-led projects supported by a recognised and diverse set of adult workers. The provision and sharing of tools and techniques has sought to unify and advance the practice of youth-led grant-making and to build the knowledge, skills and capabilities of young people to allocate resources that meet local needs and priorities. In 2012 CENTRIS (The Centre for Research and Innovation in Social Policy and Practice) completed a needs assessment to guide future support of YouthBanks. This independentsurvey into the support needs of local YouthBanks was undertaken with YouthBank host organisations in twenty different countries. Knight concluded that although “The need for particular services varied with stage of development…… The speed of the growth [internationally] suggests that a more formal and organised approach is now required.” The challenge Given the rising interest in the approach and the speed of growth of the YouthBank model the consequent level of demand on current resources is unsustainable. There is a clear call from young people, community organisations, and NGO’s for support to expand the reach and depth of work currently undertaken by YouthBank International. Our challenge is to strategically build the global network; to enable sustainable growth, to promote the YouthBank model and ensure that the experience young people get, wherever they are in the world, is the one they deserve…..in short it’s about:<ul> ·Visibility ·Quality ·Impact </ul> And, we can’t do it on the resources we currently have available. We need infrastructure development, starting with the International body and with the ambition that sub-regional networks will be established over time. The International work is spear-headed by The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and their commitment to the work has been unstinting. However, demand is far outstripping resources; a call for further development support from, for example, Africa or Central and South America would be impossible to meet. We believe in the value of exchange programmes; we would love to be able to offer internships; we work hard to bring young people together from different countries and continents to exchange ideas and share effective practice…….all of this costs, and when working internationally the costs can be considerable and so are the benefits! How can you help? Join our donor community….. Potential funders are often keen to provide direct support to local programmes……. what we are seeking is investment in the values, to enable this investment in young people as decision-makers at a local level. We need a donor community committed to supporting the international expansion of YouthBank through: training and development; establishing young people in governance; quality assurance; sharing practice and providing a much needed central resource for ongoing support and advice that has a professional foundation and a personal touch. Remember the dual aim that makes YouthBank special; not only will you be investing in the future by developing youth philanthropy and the leaders of tomorrow; you will be investing in the now, making a direct contribution to local themes and issues of importance to everyone in the community. </div> </div> </article> </div>

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Issue 1