Young People Bring Libraries into the 21st Century

School age children in deprived areas are putting their library back into the centre of community life; making the libraries more relevant to them and encouraging other young people to be involved.

A new report will reveal that over the last three years, the CSV Young Voices project, with the support of the Big Lottery Young People's Fund, has successfully involved young volunteers aged 11 to 18 in library services in the North West of England. Volunteers' energy and action has had an impact on their local community; the libraries in which they are based; and on themselves as individuals. The scheme is due to receive praise this week from Culture Minister Margaret Hodge at an evaluation conference in Manchester (Thursday 28th January 2010).

The young people indicate that for most of them, if they had not volunteered at the library through CSV Young Voices, they would be stuck watching TV, being bored, hanging out with friends and using the computer.  Thanks to the scheme more young people are actively involved in activities they have designed such as campaigning against racism, recording older people's memories, helping younger children to read, helping with library services and sprucing up the sites to be more attractive.  The young people are breaking barriers between young and old and making the libraries more relevant and appealing to the whole community. 

All young volunteers at CSV Young Voices surveyed report that they now enjoy reading. Some of the young people have gone on to higher education and part time work, as a result of the organisational and social skills they've gained, as well as the massive boost to their self confidence.

So far there are three CSV Young Voices projects, run in partnership with Manchester, Oldham and Halton Local Authorities.
 
The evaluation report also reveals that adults are changing their views of younger people as they see younger people being proactive and caring about the library, and as the young people have a positive influence on other young library users too.
 
Culture Minister Margaret Hodge believes more libraries should embrace the power of young volunteers, encouraging more young people to see their library as a great place for community activity.  She comments, "Successful libraries are the ones that offer a warm welcome to their visitors - ones that provide a positive environment for learning, networking and fun.  So CSV Young Voices works because volunteers associate their library with enjoyable activities and mixing with other young people.    I want more libraries to grasp the opportunity of involving young volunteers within the services they provide, and make the most of young people's energy and enthusiasm for projects.  I'm very impressed with the Young Voices scheme so far in Oldham, Manchester and Halton; it's certainly very worthwhile and could benefit more libraries and communities."
 
Nicky Parker, Head of Transformation, Manchester City Council said, "Some of the volunteers have a real social conscience.  They are proud to come from Moss Side and what they have done.  They want to prove the papers wrong and show the good and positive side that is not often reported".

Zaid, age 11 from Manchester's CSV Young Voices said, "Moss Side has a bad reputation for gun crime and we believe Young Voices is a good way to let the young people shine through so that when we grow older the older people in Manchester will know we're there to help them".
 
Kerith, aged 12 from Manchester said, "We want the world to know that that was the past, and we are the future, and we want to make a difference"

For further press information:
Melissa Goss 020 7812 0037 | 07725 80 80 52 | mgoss@csv.org.uk
Jason Tanner 020 7812 0038 | jtanner@csv.org.uk

Notes for Editors

CSV is holding a conference for Young Voices on Thursday 28 January 2010 in Manchester with guest speakers: The Minister for Culture and Tourism, Rt.Hon Margaret Hodge MBE MP; Roy Clare CBE, Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives council; and Dame Elisabeth Hoodless DBE, Executive Director of CSV.

CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Last year 167,064 people gave their time as volunteers through CSV. The charity trained 12,196 people of all ages.