Left to right: Claudia Whiskin, Jak Richards and Alice Fowle hold up
What's the Big Idea? posters at yesterday's launch in Milton Keynes.
21 November 2008
An exciting initiative for community-minded young entrepreneurs was launched in Milton Keynes yesterday.
What’s the Big Idea? is inviting people aged between 13 and 19 to come up with schemes which will have a positive effect on the borough - and then to bid for funding to turn their ideas into reality.
Applicants will be asked to submit a project proposal and, if selected by the judging panel, they will be asked to pitch their idea for the chance to double their money.
The project has been set up by Milton Keynes Community Safety Partnership (whose members include Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service), the Youth Service Participation Team, MaD (Make a Difference), Milton Keynes Community Enterprise and Milton Keynes Council. It has been funded by Awards for All, the Community Safety Partnership and the Extended Services department of Milton Keynes Council.
Entrants will be offered guidance to help them put together their proposals. The proposals must demonstrate how the idea will benefit the community.
There are five categories:
- Environment
- Community involvement
- Safety
- Culture/arts
- Media
All projects must be submitted by 13 February 2009. The judging panel will then decide on which 10 groups will go through to the final round.
The finalists will be awarded £500 towards making their project happen, and will then go head-to-head against other applicants to bid for a further £500 at a presentation event in March.
Community safety officer Paramjit Boyal said: “Young people are often one the best groups for knowing what is going on in their community and what action is needed to help improve things.
“What’s the Big Idea? provides them with the opportunity to put forward their idea as a proper business case and the chance to turn it into a reality. The project will assist them to develop a number of skills – from presenting, to analysing and budgeting – and I am sure there will be positive changes taking place in the community as result”.
For application details and guidelines, please go to www.mysaymk.com or www.mad-uk.org