In life, we all find ourselves standing still. But some of us soon come to realise that this can be a problem. Because the longer we stand still, the harder it becomes to move forward into the unknown. Hi - I'm Raj Cheema - the Programme Co-ordinator for the Innovation Exchange; an independent intermediary that aims to grow innovation from the third sector.

The Innovation Exchange is issuing a call for ideas to support excluded young people - how can we help excluded young people to build supportive relationships and to work and learn in ways that work for them? Those with the best ideas will be invited to our Festivals of Ideas:

Excluded young people – 7th May - London

All attendees will have the opportunity to network with other innovators, commissioners and social investors. Participants at these Festivals will also be supported to develop their plans during May and June and in July the best will receive dedicated support and a share of the £200k NESTA Innovation Exchange Fund to improve and grow their work.

For a chance to be part of this process, there are two things you need to do. First, if you haven’t already, sign-up to join the Innovation Exchange. Then, write three paragraphs about your project (and no more) to answer these three questions:

What is the problem you are working to solve?
How are you going to do it?
Who will benefit?

Then either email your idea to us or, better still, post it direct to the Innovation Exchange. Make sure you are signed in and go to the Excluded Young People blog and click ‘add a blog post’.

Don’t give your idea away - don’t keep it to yourself. Help it to take off with the Innovation Exchange. 

Together, we can turn wicked problems into good news.