bayc has been working in partnership with Birmingham Lifestyles since November  2005 to improve the volunteering opportunities available for Disabled young people.  This Partnership evolved as a result of bayc’s work with a group of Disabled young people called ‘Breathe’ (see UK Youth Autumn 2006) who had clearly identified a range of significant barriers to social inclusion and articulately expressed their desire to create the changes needed. 

The first phase of the ‘Just Ask!’ project, funded by The Russell Commission, produced a guide to engaging Disabled young volunteers. bayc and Birmingham Lifestyles supported  three Disabled young adults and six Disabled young people in producing the ‘Just Ask!’ guide as a booklet with a supporting DVD.  It is aimed at organisations and projects who wish to create new volunteering opportunities for Disabled young people and who need some support and guidance to get started. 

‘Just Ask!’ challenges some of the myths and stereotypes that young people who experience disability often encounter, whilst also offering ‘Hot’ Tips’ to help create new opportunities.  It also contains a list of some of the key access requirements to get you started. 

The Partnership has just been advised (September 2006)  that we have been successful in a funding bid to V to move ‘Just Ask!’ forward in to a new phase of development aiming to bring the guide alive through workshops, designed and led by Disabled young people.  This phase will create 14 new volunteering opportunities for Disabled young people within the project over the next 2 years, and aims to support up to 60 organisations in Birmingham and The Black Country in creating 120 additional volunteering opportunities (2 per organisation).  

For more information about the ‘Just Ask!’ project contact Christina Hyland (Youth Involvement Co-ordinator) at:

bayc Hilda Simister House,

581 Pershore Road,

Selly Park,

Birmingham

B29 7EL

Email: christina.hyland@bayc.org