NEW FUNDING GIVES YOUNG PEOPLE IN BOLSOVER DISTRICT THE CHANCE TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURE

More than 700 young people have already engaged with a major new youth-led initiative in Bolsover District, thanks to #iwill Fund investment designed to give young people a stronger voice in shaping their communities and future opportunities.

Young people aged 12–25 across the district are being given the opportunity to share their views, develop valuable skills and play an active role in shaping the future of youth opportunities in their communities.

Youth Action is a new programme from Bolsover Partnership and Bolsover District Council, coordinated by Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP) CIO. It forms part of a long-term vision to improve the lives of children and young people across the district over the next decade.

The initiative has been made possible thanks to the #iwill Fund, which supports young people in England to take part in high-quality social action through joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Since June, local young people have been sharing their views on Bolsover District, telling the project team what matters to them about their communities and what they would like to see in terms of future opportunities. They have also been invited to get involved in a range of exciting, free opportunities designed to put young people at the heart of Youth Action.

These include; joining the Youth Forum, representing young people’s voices, working alongside decision-makers and helping to shape the Youth Action Plan for the region; or becoming part of the Media Collective, where young people receive free training in filmmaking, design and content creation to help tell the story of Youth Action.

Delivered in partnership with Junction Arts, Platform Thirty1, Bolsover Community and Voluntary Service and Active Compass, the programme has so far worked with a number of schools and community groups across Bolsover.

More than 700 young people have already engaged with the project with sessions held throughout the summer giving young people the opportunity to share what they want to see in their towns, learn about the project and discover ways they can get involved and make a difference.

All training and opportunities have been provided free of charge to young people and their families, with expenses such as travel also covered wherever possible.

Erin, 17 from Bolsover, joined the Youth Forum in August as she felt it would be fulfilling to see real actionable changes happening in communities that she had contributed to. She went on to say, “I think it is counterintuitive for someone to say they don’t like something in their community and choose not to take action to fix it when it’s in their interest and capacity to do so”.

Connie, 22, from Bolsover, signed up for the Media Collective in July and has taken part in a series of masterclasses to develop her marketing skills. She is now working with a mentor to gather information and ideas to help shape the project’s brand. She said: "Being part of Bolsover's new Media Collective is wonderful. It's inspiring to spend time with other young people in our community talking about what's important to us. Having the opportunity to work with media professionals and equipment is invaluable, especially in a location where careers and education in film and TV aren't common or accessible. I'm really looking forward to making our ideas a reality, and finally being able to document and publicise the unseen and overlooked people, events, and locations that make Bolsover so great."

Deputy Leader of Bolsover District Council, Councillor Donna Hales said: “It has been great to see so many young people engaging with this initiative. It is so important to allow young people to use their voices and listen to their thoughts and opinions on their communities.”

Early 2027 will see Bolsover host its first-ever Youth Summit, putting young people at the heart of shaping the district’s future. The event will bring young people together from across the district to connect with others, share their views and ideas, and directly influence the future of youth services in Bolsover.

Katie Knowles, DEBP Youth Action Programme Manager, said:

“Youth Action is about putting young people at the heart of decisions that affect their lives. Our ambition is to make Bolsover a better place to grow up by ensuring every young person can access the support and opportunities they need, develop the confidence and skills to take advantage of them, and have a genuine opportunity to influence what happens in their communities.

“Over the last few months, we’ve spoken to amazing young people across the district, their ideas, experiences and ambitions are helping to shape what happens next.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support of the #iwill Fund, whose investment is helping us create meaningful opportunities for young people to take social action, develop new skills and have their voices heard. This is just the beginning of a 10-year commitment to creating positive change for children and young people across Bolsover District.”

The #iwill Fund supports young people in England to take part in high-quality social action, thanks to joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

It is part of the broader #iWill Movement, a collaboration of over 400 organisations and 1,500 young people, which champions youth leadership and social action. Youth Action is supported by the #iwill Fund and is match-funded by Bolsover District Council’s Place Programme and Bolsover Partnerships.

There are still many opportunities for young people to get involved. For more information or to register an interest, click here.