#iwillweek, which took place from November 16-20, has seen children, young people and partners play a pivotal role in empowering change, building a brighter future and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow.
As a partner of #iwill, LFC Foundation successfully embeds its support for youth social action through its ongoing #iwill programme - a 12-week, youth-led project designed to empower children and young people to identify, prioritise and tackle issues within their communities.
The programme gradually empowers young people to tackle societal issues or support good causes by campaigning for change, volunteering, peer educating and mentoring, or via fundraising for charity.
As part of the #iwill week celebrations, schools involved in the programme received inspiring video messages from Adrian and Joel Matip. The Reds players congratulated the children on their hard work so far and expressed how amazed they were with the children’s passion for social action.
Using the power of the LFC badge, LFC Foundation worked alongside young Reds to inspire fans and fellow organisaitons to make the #iwillLFC pledge - a campaign to encourage others to instil positive social action through various acts of kindness, however big or small (and in line with their local COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines). To find out more about the #iwillLFC pledge or to make the pledge, click here.
Participants were encouraged to share evidence of their social action - activities such as campaigning, fundraising and volunteering - on social media using #iwillLFC and tagging LFC Foundation.
Also, as part of the club's official charity’s ongoing commitment to youth empowerment, LFC Foundation pledged its commitment to the Power of Youth charter - a framework prioritising support for young people to take social action, working collaboratively with local organisations to affect change and providing young Reds with the opportunity to participate within decision making, leading and shaping both the activities that they are involved in and wider organisational decisions.
As part this commitment, LFC Foundation has promised to provide organisational governance opportunities for young participants by creating pathways into the LFC Foundation’s Youth Panel and LFC Foundation’s Young Researchers’ Group.
Future opportunities for young people will be developed through the LFC Foundation’s Youth Panel and communicated directly with the charity’s board of trustees, ensuring that young people have a voice within organisational governance.
To mark LFC Foundation’s commitment to the charter, LFC Foundation director Matt Parish met virtually with #iwill Ambassador, Milo, to talk about the power of youth and social action within the context of LFC and LFC Foundation.
As part of #iwillweek, LFC Foundation also recognised young people who have used the programme to make a real difference within their local community.
Thirteen-year-old Jamie - who joined the #iwill project in April 2019 - has immersed himself in the #iwill programme and has not only made a real difference to the local community, but has developed his own confidence and leadership skills.
Jamie has encouraged others to be open about their emotions and feelings towards their communities and environment and inspired them to always appreciate the beliefs and values of others. To learn more about Jamie’s story, watch the video below.
Participants across #iwill week will also be recognised at an annual event held to celebrate the positive impact that young people are making to empower long-term change throughout their communities.
Following #iwill week, LFC Foundation will continue its commitment to empowering social action within young people and encourages fans, organisaitons alike and aspiring young Reds to pioneer for change throughout their local communities going forward.
Matt Parish said: “It has been an incredible week for the empowerment of youth social action, and we couldn’t be prouder to inspire positive change within local communities going forward.
“In pledging our commitment to the Power Of Youth charter, we will continue to provide the young people of today with a platform to have their voice heard and affect long-term change for the better.”
The #iwill campaign aims to make participation in social action the norm for young people under 20. Only four in 10 young people currently participate in meaningful social action. Those from less affluent communities are much less likely to take part than their wealthier peers. LFC Foundation is passionate about changing this and is using the power of the LFC badge to achieve it.