It’s been a good start to the New Year for Changemakers - we have been commissioned by the DCSF to do a feasibility study on the proposed new National Institute for Youth Leadership. Over the next few weeks we will be convening groups of experts from all sections of society and civic life to gather their views on how young people can be most effectively supported to become the leaders of the future.
Changemakers has been developing leadership potential since we first started fourteen years ago. We have found that if you can inspire young people, you can show them that with tenacity and courage they can make really substantial positive changes in their communities. For us it’s about lighting the fire of their enthusiasm. Our approach has always been to facilitate rather than direct their potential so the young people themselves can own their success. We have also discovered, rather like in politics or business, that leaders come in all shapes and sizes and it’s not necessarily the vocal ones who push themselves forward at the beginning of a project that will emerge as the true leaders by the end. It’s not just the budding Richard Bransons or David Millibands that can have a substantial impact or enthuse their peers to do something great.
We are particularly interested in the different leadership qualities that might be needed to meet the big global challenges of the mid 21st century, like climate change, cultural and community cohesion. Young people turning 18 in ’18, the young leaders of the future, will be facing very different demands as leaders to their counterparts of the last fifty years. I’m coming to the conclusion that it is up to us to equip them to equip themselves. I would be very interested in hearing your views on how we can best develop the leaders of the future.