My Social Innovation

In applying for funding MySI is seeking to build positive social impact through the good work of young people. We engage 13-23 year olds in an experience that equips them to become change makers. By following a delivery model, or journey, from start to finish young participants will initially have had easy access to a professionally delivered 8 session training course and experienced two tailored coaching sessions that enable them to begin to overcome the constraints preventing them from achieving all that they are capable of. Following this each participant that wishes, 60% in 2009, continue their MySI journey into a project development process that enables and empowers them to establish youth-led community projects (social innovations) that meet a need they have identified in their local community. Once established each innovation is then linked with a skilled and experience local mentor who over six months to a year guides the innovation as far as possible towards sustainability. In more detailed the model can be described as follows:

Training: in "Skills for Success" and "Project Development". A total of 50 hours training is provided per person. Training is delivered by a highly qualified faculty and covers areas like Communication, Perceptions, Teamwork, Making Presentations, Negotiation and Project Management.

Project Development: Over 4/5 months; participants use skills gained during training to set up small youth-led community projects that increase social capital. MySI professionally facilitates this. Each project will receive approx 40 hours direct support from MySI.

Mentoring: On launch each "Social Innovation" is mentored by an experienced professional for uo to a year; to enhance the project. Each innovation is given 1 hours mentoring, or equivalent each week.

MySI enhances participants skills for life, aspirations, and leadership ability. We also seek to improve; confidence and resilience, employability, understanding of business and provide an opportunity to realise the extent of the possibilities they and each other hold.