Beacon Youth Philanthropy Forum
Warwick 14 November 2007

21st Century Philanthropy – what motivates young people to give?

According to the latest research, around three-fifths of the British population give to charity each month. While those between the ages of 34 to 44 continue to give the most, a 2005 Citizenship Foundation survey found that 16 to 19 year olds have the highest participation rate in volunteering, 63 per cent. There has been a trend of increased engagement of young people, and despite an increasing level of academic and financial obligations making donating money and skills more difficult, young people are finding new and innovative ways to give.

On the 14th November 2007 The Beacon Fellowship in partnership with the University of Warwick, came together for the second of Beacon’s regional philanthropy forums, hosted by the University of Warwick Business School. The audience was comprised of students, faculty, and members of the community all with a keen interest in the much talked about topic of engaging young people in development both internationally and locally through charitable giving and volunteering. Over 50 people representing these groups filtered into a lecture hall to discuss what motivates this generation of philanthropists to become involved both in the voluntary sector and social enterprise, the obstacles they experience, and the best ways to engage with young people and encourage them to give early on in their lives.

The panel of experts for the evening included the Chair of one of the most familiar social enterprise models in the UK, The Big Issue Foundation who gave the keynote address, and several other remarkable experts in the field of young people and philanthropy including head of University of Warwick Volunteers, the head of the student union at the University, a Beacon Prize winner, and the former student organiser for the Warwick in Africa project. The Vice Chancellor of the University opened the forum welcoming guests, and the deputy registrar Ken Sloane chaired the discussion.

Full summary of debate