Jack Petchey Foundation funds askTheSite
£20,000 funding supports successful online training scheme for young people's agony aunts and uncles.
19 July, 2007
More young people will be trained as volunteer peer advisors on YouthNet's ground-breaking advice service - askTheSite - which sits on the charity's website, The Site.org, thanks to a cash boost of £10,000 from the Jack Petchey Foundation.
This is the second grant awarded by the Jack Petchey Foundation, and it has been matched with a further £10,000 by v, the youth volunteering charity.
Over 120 peer volunteers have now been trained to offer advice on relationships through askTheSite. Since its launch in 2003, some 15,000 questions have been answered on general health, drink and drugs, housing, legal and rights, mental and emotional health, money, relationshipsand sexual health. There is also an impressive archive of over 1,000 previously answered questions.
askTheSite is the first confidential online advice service for young adults aged 16-24. Through the service, young people can submit a question and within three days, get a bespoke answer from an expert. Partners providing tailored answers include the Samaritans and the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Sasha Glasgow (21), who is currently being trained as an online peer adviser, said: "TheSite.org is a brilliant modern tool for the internet generation. I wish it had been around when I was 16. It's up front, in a language young people understand and uses a 'for us, by us' ethos that I can really get behind."
Stephen Corriette Grants Manager for the Jack Petchey Foundation said: "The work of TheSite.org is hugely impressive and we are delighted to support its innovative askTheSite service with this second funding award. Training young people to offer peer-to-peer advice means that more young adults will get the guidance they need to live their lives with confidence."
Patrick Daniels, askTheSite's Volunteer Development Manager said: "It's fantastic that through this funding we're able to continue to offer a blend of professional advice, moral support and a unique peer perspective on relationships. Our agony aunts and uncles are an essential part of askTheSite's service, with our volunteer peer advisers giving guidance to help young people to fulfil their potential."
askTheSite is also supported by The Vodafone UK Foundation and The Bridge House Trust.
ENDS
For further information contact YouthNet: Lucja Wisniewska on 020 7250 5716 or lucja.wisniewska@youthnet.org; or Emma Lewis on 020 7250 5715 or emma.lewis@youthnet.org
Notes to editors:
1. YouthNet is an online charity – founded by broadcaster Martyn Lewis in 1995 – which exists to create a socially inclusive environment where all young adults are engaged, informed and inspired to achieve their ambitions and dreams. We actively listen to young people, empower them to speak out and work with them to take action on the issues that they say affect them. We aim to inspire young people, earn their trust and respect and support them with empathy as they seek out their place in the world.
2. askTheSite is powered by www.thesite.org, which supports young people (16-24 year-olds) in the UK by providing information, emotional support, options and signposting to relevant experts on issues such as money, sex, drugs, housing, relationships, health and law.
3. Over 500,000 people use TheSite.org every month.
4. YouthNet also runs www.do-it.org.uk – an online database and resource for volunteering opportunities.
5. The Jack Petchey Foundation, established in 1999, gives grants to programmes and projects that benefit young people aged 11-25. The Foundation is eager to help young people take advantage of opportunities and play their full part in society. Grants are given through different programmes including: Achievement Award Scheme, Leader Award Scheme, Projects Grants and Sponsorship. Grants of over £30 million have been given since the Foundation was established in 1999 The Foundation is expanding rapidly.
6. v is the youth volunteering charity launched in May 2006 whose mission is to inspire a million more young volunteers in England aged 16-25. The charity was set up to implement the recommendations of the Russell Commission outlining a new national framework for youth action and engagement, following a nationwide consultation which included 6000 young people.