About Us

The current Youth Champions.
UNICEF UK/2008/Jessica Wright

Youth Champions (formerly known as Youth Advisers) are young people aged 12-18 who get involved in UNICEF UK to drive forward our work and the work we do with other young people through UNICEF Tagd.

Youth Champions work to spread UNICEF's message to other young people, through schools, youth groups, events, the website and any other ways they can think of. Over the years they have helped educate more and more young people about what we do and how they can get involved.

What do UNICEF UK Youth Champions do?

The main role of UNICEF UK Youth Champions is to advise the UNICEF UK on how best to involve children and young people and, most importantly, how to make this fun and exciting.

They also:

• Receive training on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and on the work and structure of UNICEF.
• Help to design campaigning and fundraising materials, write newsletters, get involved in peer education (for example, at Tagd events) and highlight new challenges and ways to raise awareness.
• Inform others about the UNCRC.
• Represent UNICEF UK and spread the message about UNICEF's work.
• Educate other young people about UNICEF and UNICEF Tagd by making presentations, giving interviews and running workshops from time to time.
• May have the opportunity to visit UNICEF's work in different countries.
• Attend residential meetings to debate and discuss issues and projects that have been identified as important areas by young people or UNICEF staff.
• Get involved in working groups on specific areas of interest, for example: the website, fundraising, campaigning, lobbying, media.
• Take part in email debates.
• Have loads of fun!

The role of the UNICEF UK Youth Champions evolves, develops and changes. Part of the role is to suggest ways in which we can make the scheme work even better. The Youth Team support, accompany and advise the Youth Champions in their roles. We really aim to develop work based on your ideas and views.

Each Youth Champion brings their own skills, personality and experience.
UNICEF UK/2007/Anna France-Williams

How much time do I need to give?

Being a Youth Champion is a really exciting opportunity and should not be taken lightly. This is why we ask you to think seriously about the level of commitment you are willing to give to help make a difference. Do you have the time and motivation to remain enthusiastic about UNICEF's campaigns? If the answer is YES, then you will be given lots of opportunities to really shine - how much you get out of the experience will depend on how much you put in.

One of the requirements of being a UNICEF UK Youth Champion is to attend approximately 4-5 residential weekend meetings a year held all over the UK. In addition to this we have telephone conference calls and lots of fun challenges. We therefore ask for a minimum commitment of 20 days per year (although if that's not challenging enough, there are opportunities to do more!).

It is also essential for UNICEF UK Youth Champions to be willing to travel to events. UNICEF UK will arrange travel and cover costs for the participant.

Youth Champions can take part in conferences and events.
UNICEF UK/2007/Alice Bottini

So how can I apply to be a UNICEF UK Youth Champion?

Whilst we are always on the lookout for talented volunteers, Tagd is not currently recruiting. Watch this space though and we'll let you know when the next recruitment begins. If you've subscribed to our e-newsletter, you can also hear that way.

In the meantime, there are lots of other ways you can get involved in the work of UNICEF UK. Our e-newsletter is packed full of campaigning and fundraising ideas, opportunities to get involved with us and updates on what our international teams are up to. Alternatively you can visit the Do Something section for loads of ideas to help you get started.