International Youth Work

The YWU also has a contract with the British Council, the UK National Agency (NA), for the European Youth in Action (YiA) programme. The YWU operates as an Information Point for the YiA programme, giving information and advice about the programme, the various actions and applications, and referring people to the NA London.

The Youth in Action programme replaced the European Youth Programme in 2007 and runs until 2013.  Support is available for a variety of activities including youth exchanges, youth initiatives, youth democracy projects, European Voluntary Service (EVS), as well as training and contact making events

Action 1.1 Youth Exchanges offer an opportunity for groups of young people from different counttries to meet and learn about each other's cultures.  The groups plan their exchange together on a theme of mutual interest.

Action 1.2 Youth Initiatives are projects initiated by young people themselves and provide opportunities for learning and development by planning and carrying out projects.  The overall project should be between 3 and 18 months and can attract up to 8,000 Euros.  Examples would include issue focused projects that would concentrate on certain serious issues such as racism, xenophobia, environment, peer education but also film, dance and media can be explored.  There are two YI coaches, who have undertaken specific training and are available to help the young people in the region, develop their projects.

Rob McLaren: utingu@fsmail.com
Naz Ali: nazaket.ali@bradford.gov.uk

Action 1.3 Youth Democracy projects are projects that support young peoples participation in the democractic life at local, regional, national or international levels.

Action 2 is the European Voluntary Service (EVS), and the Yorkshire and Humber Region is fortunate in having a national organisation - Everything's Possible - in the region specialising in EVS.  Everything's Possible arrange both long and short term placements but specifically are keen to support young people who would not normally travel and work abroad by making short term placements of 3-6 weeks available.  Young people or workers interested in EVS are encouraged to get in touch with Everything's Possible http://www.everythingspossible.org

For more information on these and Actions 3 - 5, and for application forms, follow this link
http://www.britishcouncil.org/connectyouth

Below are the deadline idates by which applications need to be received by the NA.