Young people urged to get involved

A SCHEME to urge young people to get involved in their local communities was launched yesterday to reverse the decline in volunteerism.

The €200,000 Young Social Innovators Initiative aims to encourage second-level transition year students to participate in local social and development projects.

Minister of State at the Community Affairs Department Noel Ahern said: “Our policies on volunteering must go to the very heart of our vision of how Irish society should develop over the coming years. The ultimate outcome of a policy on volunteering is to inspire people to participate in the development of their communities and by putting the supports in place to turn that inspiration into action.”