Wanting to start a charity?!?

Question

I want to start a charity where teenagers teach young children. Being a teenager myself i would love to do something like this. I live the in UK and where i live it is very rough, drugs, drink and sex are a big part of the teenage culture were i live. I would like to give other teenagers 13-18 years old to have a chance to get off the streets and teach younger children with activities such as:
Basketball, netball, football, art, crafts, dance and drama. Adults would have to supervise!
How can i go about it? What are the steps i will have to make, please can you give me some much needed advice thankyou

Answer 1

If you want to start a registered charity you need to talk to the Charity Commission to set that up but it can be a long process - but they will guide you through it.

Bear in mind too that if you want to work with children, or have contact with them you'll need to be police checked and perhaps have certain certificates -like first aid etc. Your local council should be able to advise you of this too.

Any premises you use will have to have the right certificates and things like fire alarms, fire exits, etc etc so maybe think careful about where you'll use. A local school would be easiest I think!

Good luck - it's a great thing you are doing. It;s hard work but really worth it!

Answer 2

Beating a culture is not easy.The possibility to be is whether you can possess the influencing power to change their mind and practice.Let have a deep research of the drives that directing them to rough, drugs, drink and sex.Because of prevalence?stress?hyperactive? rebellion?
Educate discretion to teenagers ,boosting their consciousness to be rational of their choices.
Hold strong your intention,it would be a good testimonial.All the best.

Answer 3

It's good to hear of a young person wanting to make a difference.

What you need most of all at this time is to conduct research and gain exposure. Ask your local TV, radio and press if they will interview you so that you can get others interested. You will need to attract adults who would be willing to lead activities, but in the current climate re child safety you should ask the police for advice in vetting volunteers - a difficult issue. Ask your local paper/radio to request website design help for you to get your own charity website up and running - and this will need to be regularly updated. You could approach a university or technical college's IT department to see if a student would volunteer to become involved in your charity by doing this for you - keeping the youth link.

Could you get help in finding a graphic designer who would put together a full-colour flyer/poster for free, to help publicise your ideas and a company who might sponsor the printing costs? Contact your local Round table, Rotary and Freemasons' groups, who may be willing to help with finances. Contact details of local groups may be found in your local library.These flyers/posters could then be circulated or displayed in schools, libraries, YMCAs etc. and displayed in shops. The local newspaper or free paper might be willing to insert your flyers inside their papers so that they are delivered with every paper round.

If you are successful in attracting enough interest, you will need to speak to a bank about opening and running a charity account.

Write to Headteachers, enclosing a questionnaire for their pupils to complete. Would you be confident enough to go into each school to speak to the staff about your plans, or even to speak to each class in a question and answer session? If not, do you have a supportive young adult who might go with you and help to explain what you want to do and answer questions? Schools may be willing to post the questionnaires back to you or you might have to collect them personally. If you show confidence, clearly thought-out ideas and initiative you are more likely to get both staff and kids interested and if you are serious in your desire to start a charity you need to get people wholeheartedly behind you.

A registered charity is often seen in a more credible light and is more likely to attract support. The Charity Commission - www.charity-commission.gov.uk - will happily send you advice. Ask for their booklet, 'So You Want to Start a Charity' and details about building a board of trustees. Don't be daunted by this; I started a charity myself 10 years ago, having known nothing about such things and my charity has already raised almost £1million and is becoming known in many areas of the UK. I now have four staff working with me, we have won awards, been the chosen charity of a prominent national chain of stores and have had, and still do have top celebrity patronage.

Two other considerations:

People are impressed by celebrity support. If you research celebrities to find what things they like to support, you may find some who will let you use their name in your publicity material, showing support for your aims. You would be well advised to try to find young ones that your kids could identify with.

When I founded my charity I considered what other charities did and I decided that once we were registered I would ask shops, pubs, sports clubs etc. to display our charity collection boxes, along with leaflets explaining what the charity was about. To this day, in our locality, the areas which display our boxes are the areas in which we are best known. The boxes need volunteers to change them regularly, but they do bring in a steady, dependable income.

I wish you every success. If your charity takes off, as it is about young people, get young people to support it; schools, colleges and universities, youth sports clubs, youth groups etc. will all raise funds for charities. You just have to sell your message in a way that catches their imagination.

Answer 4

Thats a great idea. I hope someone will give u a good advice in this topic. DONT GIVE UP.