Any worries?
Below are some common concerns raised by young people when asked to get involved in community projects.
Recognise any of them? Then why not read on for our advice on how to overcome them:
“They won't listen to us, they only listen to adults.”
Sometimes it can feel like your opinions don't matter there's no point in even trying to tell people. But why take no for an answer?
It's your community and what you think counts. Lots of organisations, like Save the Children, work more closely with young people than might be imagined.
Think about getting an adult on your side to help with your cause, like a youth worker or a teacher.
If you do find it hard to start off with, remember you've got rights - especially the right to have your say on things that affect you.
"I'd like to do something, but I don't know how to."
So you've got a brilliant idea. What do you do next? Getting started can be pretty scary but if you don't go for it, it won't get done.
Tell people about it - not just your mates, but adults as well. The more people you tell, the more chance you've got of things getting done.
You could tell lots of people including:
- your school council
- your youth club
- your local council
- other groups you are involved with.
Write your idea down on paper and send it to everyone you think might be interested. Then once you've got some back up, you'll need to start planning how to make it happen.
"I'm too busy."
If you've got lots going on, you can still get involved - you've just got to do it differently. There's always something you can do, no matter how busy you are.
You can choose to do something that fits in with your spare time. Doing a little bit is better than doing nothing at all. Why not get your friends to take part too?