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CHANGEit

Society: Can young people change it for the better?

Proving that young people can make positive changes to society, a new prize is being launched to celebrate their achievements. Known as CHANGEit, the prize is sponsored by Deutsche Bank, and young campaigners are being urged to come forward and take part in them. The public is also being asked to nominate young people they know who are making an outstanding contribution to their community.

CHANGEit will be an annual prize run by international leadership organisation Common Purpose which wants to recognize young people who have campaigned for change. All types of campaigns are welcomed, from an alcohol awareness campaigns to a fundraising initiative for a local hospital. They are not about sitting in a classroom and getting high grades but about getting out into the community and changing it for the better.

CHANGEit

There are two categories:

  • The Innovation Prize, is to enable young campaigners to get their idea off the ground. The prize money is to be used as seed money to help develop their campaign.
  • The Performance Prize, is for young people who have run a successful campaign that has made a positive change in society. This prize is a recognition of their campaigning efforts.

Julia Middleton, Chief Executive of Common Purpose explains the importance of highlighting the accomplishment and success of young people:

"There has been a lot of attention given to very serious crimes committed by young people recently, and we want to tell the other side of the story and highlight the amazing things that young people are doing to change society for the better."

The scheme launches on 10 October 2007 and is open to nominations until 15 December 2007. The prizes will be announced in May, and winners will be presented with a prize of £750 by GMTV presenter Ben Shephard at a ceremony in London.

If you would like to make a nomination of either yourself or a young person that you know, please contact Common Purpose on 020 7608 8148 or go to the CHANGEit website where you will find information about this year's awards and how to apply.

CHANGEit Nomination Form [Word 416KB]