A story of youth social action from #iwill ambassador Molly Taylor

We’ve been celebrating #IWill week – a week all about recognising the power of young people to create meaningful change through social action. This year marks 10 years of the #IWill movement and we’ve been involved across the last six, as an organisation supporting and empowering children and young people to make a difference on the issues that effect their lives.
 
Social action is a broad term and at its heart, is people coming together to help improve their lives (and the lives of others) and solve the problems that are important in their communities. There are many ways to get involved including engaging with organisations like Mortal Fools and others listed here, volunteering, being an active and visible part of your community, digital campaigning, taking part in protests, fundraising….
 
Social action is an integral part of our work, as we cocreate performances, films and creative intervention projects that highlight the thoughts, insights, feelings, and ideas of our young people and give them a platform to express themselves whilst advocating for the change they want to see in the world.
 
We enlisted Molly Taylor, an #IWill ambassador, young activist, and friend of Mortal Fools to tell us more about her activism journey and to explain the power of youth social action. 

Young Molly Taylor receiving an award

What does activism mean to you? 
 
Being an activist means more than just caring about social issues. I was 12 when I started helping with the Syrian Refugee Crisis through Save the Children however, I only started seeing myself as an activist two years ago.
 
Speaking up about my own experiences made me feel ready for the activist title. Now, I know being an activist is more than just a name; it's a responsibility. It means being real, staying determined, and doing what it takes to make a difference on important issues.
 
Can you tell us a bit about your journey into activism?
 
Two years ago, I was in my room, which used to be a safe place, but it started feeling suffocating. I felt lonely and scared, but talking to someone at UK Youth and joining a youth programme showed me that I wasn't alone. I met others who felt the same, and that's when I knew I had to do something and use my voice and experiences to help others.
 
Where do you feel you’ve been able to make the most impact? 
 
I feel like I've made the biggest impact by being part of the Belong Collective Leadership Group for two years. It's a group of 12 activists like me who've experienced loneliness and want to help young people in the UK. I started by attending meetings and later designed and led webinars about loneliness awareness. This led to cool opportunities like being invited to 10 Downing Street and being part of discussions in Parliament. Sharing my experiences has helped shape the plan to tackle youth loneliness Nationally and connect the topic meaningfully to university students.
 
What has been your biggest challenge?
 
My biggest challenge is that I care so much about the cause that I sometimes forget to take care of myself. I'm working on that every day – I want to be the best person I can be while still making a difference for others. It's a double-edged sword because I want to help with loneliness, but the work can get overwhelming and make me feel lonely too. I've learned the importance of being kind to myself.
 
I have recently taken up hip hop and salsa dancing lessons to make sure I am taking time out to have fun and learn new skills whilst meeting new people. But I also look after myself by setting boundaries and saying no to things throughout the week if I feel like I am getting tired and don’t have the energy. I also like to walk outside during the daylight hours, especially when it is sunny.

Molly Taylor and fellow activists at UK Youth.

​ What has been your most enjoyable moment?
 
The best part of my journey is the community that I’ve found and connected with through campaigning. I now have friends from all over who care about making the world a better place for everyone.  
 
Why is finding a community important when engaging in social action?
 
It is so important to find a community and sense of belonging when you are an activist. As activists we tend to think that we (alone) can solve all the problems, but that is not the case. I think this why the IWill week theme 2023 “what if the next big thing is a lot of little things?” is particularly important because we need to work together as a community, not only to support each other but to achieve systemic change. We can’t do it alone and shouldn’t have to.

What barriers have you faced when engaging in youth social action?  

Getting into activism has had its challenges for me. One barrier I experienced, was feeling like my voice wasn't heard, especially when I was younger. It can be tough when you feel like people don't take you seriously. But I am happy to see youth voice becoming more embedded into education and organisations. I wish that model existed when I was younger. That’s why youth work is so powerful, and I hope every young person has access to a youth worker in the future.

What advice would you give to a young person interested in creating change but not sure where to start?   

Start small and look for local groups or projects that align with your interests. Connecting with like-minded people can be powerful. Don't be afraid to share your ideas and remember that every little effort counts. Also, seek guidance from those who have been there before. Mentors can provide valuable insights and help you navigate the challenges of creating change.
 
Any closing thoughts?
 
I'd say that change begins with each of us. Stay true to your beliefs, surround yourself with a supportive community, and never forget that your voice matters. Together, we can create a world where positive change is not just a goal but a reality.

Molly Taylor and fellow activists visiting 10 Downing Street.

And if you’re interested in learning more about Molly’s work, Mortal Fools have recently partnered with her project Alone No More which seeks to support young people by providing resources to organisations and youth workers that help them to initiate conversations about loneliness. Molly’s purpose is to ensure that no young person experiences loneliness alone. Check out the Alone No More website for more details here.
 
If you want to get more support with your activism journey check out:
 
#iwill are committed to supporting young people to make real change on the issues that affect them and their communities. If you are aged 10-25 you can become an iwill ambassador to develop your confidence and skills and find a community of likeminded people who can support you in your activism journey. Find out more about the #iwill movement here.
 
UK Youth have fantastic resources for youth workers and organisations to help embed social action into their work and empower their young people. Co-designed with young people the EmpowerHER toolkit is focussed on social action for women and girls. Find our more about UK Youth here. 
 
The Key UK was created to empower young people to realise their potential, develop the skills they need to thrive, and recognise the positive impact they can make in society. We have completed projects previously with the Key and have always had a great response from our young people. Find more information about the Key here.