Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash
Are you a young person aged between 16 and 25, based in Lincolnshire, with a passion for driving change? If so, thanks to a new Young Ambassadors Scheme launched by Boston Borough Council in partnership with Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service (LCVS) and Heritage Lincolnshire, you can now get the chance to have your say in shaping Boston’s future.
Launched to help develop the next generation of community change makers, The Boston Youth Ambassadors scheme forms an integral part of the Council’s ongoing initiative, the Empowering Healthy Communities Programme.
The programme aims to diversify, enhance and unite by building strong relationships within the local community to better serve the needs of those living in Boston.
Successful young candidates will get the opportunity to get involved with supporting their local community through planning and running events, attending creative and cultural workshops, as well as using their voice to contribute to plans to improve Boston. The scheme will be funded by the council until springtime next year.
Those interested in applying or wanting to learn more about the scheme can visit the Youth Ambassador website where further details will be provided on the next steps.
Dubbed ‘Community Champions’, the young leaders will also contribute to raising awareness of positive health messages to other young residents.
With some Boston schools and Boston College already on board, the Community Champions will have access to a variety of learning and development opportunities. Examples include CV building, leadership training and mentoring, as well as the opportunity to learn traditional building skills and guidance on how to fulfil their potential as future leaders.
Commenting on the launch of the initiative, Empowering Health Communities programme co-ordinator, Nichola Holderness, said: “The highlight of the Boston Youth Ambassador Scheme is giving young people the platform to use their voice and providing them with the chance to have a significant input into their local community. We hope the scheme will encourage young people to be proud of where they live and to share that pride for their community with others.
“More often than not, the younger generation offers a fresh and unique outlook on life, and it’s that mind-set that could help to provide a unique perspective for our town and boroughs that others might not see, whether that’s suggesting new services or highlighting the need for improvements to community facilities.
Nichola added: “By supplying young people with the tools to be successful leaders, they may go on to then inspire other young individuals who also take an active interest in where they live.
“I’d like to encourage any young person who aspires to have a positive impact on where they live, to sign-up for the scheme. They could be the key to making a real difference in Boston – not just now but for the future too.”
LCVS Youth Ambassador Project Officer for Boston, Batul Dungarwalla, explained: “Through our partnership with Heritage Lincolnshire and Boston Borough Council, we have worked to ensure that from September, we will be recruiting a new raft of youth ambassadors. Through social action projects, they will have the chance to promote positive health messages across Boston.
“By this time next year, we hope to have a Boston Youth Forum which will be a dedicated space for young people to share their thoughts on important issues in the community. It’s just getting started, so if any young person is interested in taking part, we urge you to sign-up and help us make Boston the best it can be.”
For more information on the Youth Ambassadors Scheme and how to get involved, Youth Ambassadors (youthlincs.co.uk)