The Growth of a Movement

Children and young people aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow. They are using their energy, skills and ideas to change our world for the better today.
As a society we face an unprecedented set of challenges. Poverty, the climate emergency, worsening mental health & wellbeing, social and economic inequalities, racial injustice. Challenges that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic have been exacerbated by it. In the face of these challenges, young people across the UK are taking part in social action - any activity that helps others or the environment, they’re making an impact on the issues that count. But too often, their voices are excluded; and their power to make a positive difference isn’t recognised.
Over the past seven years, we have built a movement for change.
As a country, we still fail to recognise, harness or celebrate the power of young people to make a positive difference to all of our lives. This has to change. Thanks to the collective efforts of the #iwill campaign, a movement of over 1,000 organisations, and over 700 young #iwill Ambassadors and Champions. Together we have laid the foundations to ensure all children and young people are supported and empowered to make a positive difference on the issues that affect their lives, their communities, and broader society. When the #iwill campaign launched in 2013, so too did Step Up To Serve - the small charity coordinating it. Step Up To Serve was set up to be a time-limited organisation and will close its doors, as planned, at the end of 2020. But the organisations and young people that make up the #iwill movement are clear that the work is not finished. They believe that at this time of national & global crisis, their work to empower more young people from diverse backgrounds to take positive social action has never been more important. Told by leaders of all ages who have galvanised progress in all sectors and across the entire UK - this is a snapshot of the #iwill story so far. You’ll hear about the challenges ahead too - there’s still more to do, and there’s a part you can play in achieving it.