Recognising the importance of young people

In the New Testament we find that Jesus saw children as examples for adults to follow. My desire is to help and motivate young people to be leaders of change in their local communities, and not to be afraid of wanting to change their world. I hope and pray that today's launch of the Archbishop of York Youth Trust is one way that we can help them to do that.  

The Trust's work will be focused on providing opportunities to help young people develop their leadership potential. It will focus on fostering leadership skills and initiative amongst the young, especially where young Christians are working alongside others in the service of the common good. The Youth Trust will fund youth-led projects, provide youth worker grants and support a discipleship award scheme for schools.

The Trust has already committed financial support to wonderful schemes like the youth project at Christ Church, Armley, in Leeds. It is helping to recognise and release the potential of local young people, who have perhaps never been shown a more positive way to live. One troubled young woman whose life was being ruined by self-harming underwent a personal transformation. As relationships built with project workers, she began working through her difficulties and eventually stopped damaging herself. She is now married, is an active member of the project's management committee and studying for a degree. What a difference support, love and, most of all, faith in action can make!

Young people are often told that they will never amount to anything, or that their views are not as important as those of others. But it is simply not true. Young people are very valuable and so are their views. We have come along way from our own childhoods where it was said children should be seen but not heard. Young people have a unique perspective and we should listen to what they have to say. In many cases, they know more than the adults!

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been a strong supporter of the Youth Trust. He is an inspiration to millions and a lovely human being who loves God and neighbours; and this week he described one of our award winners, 15-year-old Naomi, as his "inspiration" because of her efforts in bringing hope and joy to local children – despite a difficult childhood of her own.

These young people I will be presenting awards to today are making a huge difference in their communities. People like teenage brothers Emmanuel, 17, and Charles, 13, who will receive an award for their work with the St Michael's Youth Project, which is based on a tough Hull council estate. They are both committed Christians who have helped educate local children about respecting those of different race and colour.

We are proud to be supporting such extraordinary young people – and hope many more will take up the challenge to be the change they want to see.

In the church we recognise the importance of volunteering more than most. More people do unpaid work for church organisations than any other organisation. Eight per cent of adults undertake voluntary work for church organisations, while sixteen per cent of adults belong to religious or church organisations.  

A quarter of regular churchgoers (from both Anglican and other Christian denominations) are involved in voluntary community service outside the church. Churchgoers overall contribute 23.2 million hours voluntary service each month in their local communities.

The Church of England provides activities outside church worship in the local community for over half a million children and young people aged under 16 years, and 38,000 young people aged 16 to 25 years. More than 136,000 volunteers run activity groups for young people which are sponsored by the Church of England, outside church worship.

Valuing people, and allowing them to share their gifts, helps not only build self-esteem but also stronger communities. These are the new change-makers. The new Good Samaritans. Those who commit to belief in action. Those who believe in engagement with problems, and solutions via togetherness and hard work.

There are many young people in Britain who dwell in the darkness because they have never been shown how to turn on a light.

I pray that the Youth Trust – and others like it – will serve to pass some torches around. That many more teenagers will become beacons of hope in their communities rather than symbols of anger or fear.

The real heroes for our time are not film stars, footballers or pop singers, but those who selflessly devote themselves to improving their local areas. Not because they are interested in material reward or personal kudos, but simply because they care about their communities and making things better for their neighbours.

I have the highest admiration for young people and I believe very strongly that they are dreamers. They are idealists. They are the people who can make the difference.

If our communities really are "broken", it is the children who are best placed to mend them, and we should give them our full support to do so.

· Businesses, individuals and schools can contribute to the Trust by donating to specific projects, by adopting a youth worker or by sponsoring the Archbishop's Discipleship Award Scheme. For more information log onto the Youth Trust website at www.archbishopofyorkyouthtrust.co.uk