Young Ambassadors

Background information

Blackburn with Darwen is one of five national Integration areas invited by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to work closely with them on innovative plans to address social integration. The Borough was selected because of its strong track record for building bridges between diverse communities and its willingness to try new approaches.

The Youth Ambassadors programme forms an integral part of Blackburn With Darwen’s social integration strategy, delivered by the Strategic Youth Alliance (SYA). The project equips young people with the skills they need to become leaders in their local communities, provide opportunities for them to influence their communities through social action and helping young people be exposed to cultural experiences.

The Youth Ambassadors project has a number of objectives, linked to the grant programme:

1. To strengthen relationships between the Borough’s diverse communities
2. To build connections and strengthen relationships between young people who live in the Borough’s diverse communities
3. To connect the Borough’s disadvantaged communities to shared spaces – linking people and neighbourhoods to zones of employment, physical assets, community shared spaces and social action
4. An increase in young people actively engaging in volunteering activities linked to social action/integration
5. Improved perceptions of those from other races, cultures and religions
6. An established Youth Ambassador network, where young people can learn and support each other and promote integration across their different neighbourhoods and communities
7. An increase in sustained relationships, friendships and trust between people from different religious and cultural groups
8. An increase in individuals feeling like they belong in Blackburn with Darwen
9. An increase in people seeing the positive contribution that people from different backgrounds to their own make to our community
10. Increase the number of physical spaces that are seen as “shared” and not being associated with one specific religious or cultural group

Project Overview

Funded by the Social Integration Team and commissioned to Blackburn Youth Zone as a representative of the SYA and all its partners

The project aims to benefit young people 11 to 16 years

180 young people to benefit in year 2 of the programme

April 2021 to December 2021 (project period)

Project commitments per cohort

Minimum of 12 hours per engagement with each participant

A minimum of 4 sessions

Cohorts to be age split - Years 7 to 9 and 10 to 11

Mixed cohorts that represent the local demographics and/or key milestones where social mixing is achieved either through cultural experience/sessions and Youth Ambassadors Team Building days

Ensure exit strategies are in place for all of the participants (into local services)

All young people to participate and experience at least one cultural experience (first-hand experience - permitting COVID-19 guidelines provide opportunity)

Opportunity for all young people to attend Youth Ambassador Network Team Building events