Think Big is a new programme which will offer £300 cash grants to young people, along with training, support and mentoring from some of the UK’s most prominent youth charities - The National Youth Agency and UK Youth. The scheme is also being supported by the Telefonica Foundation.

Young people will be awarded the grants to run projects having a positive impact on their local communities. These may include fighting crime, starting local youth groups or renovating community spaces. Eligible projects should be run by young people for young people, and may have the opportunity to apply for a further £2,500 to continue their work.

Think Big will build on the success of O2’s ‘It’s Your Community’ initiative which assisted over 1000 youth projects.

O2’s chief executive Ronan Dunne, said:

“Research shows that today’s society paints a negative picture of young people in Britain. We want to help change that by supporting grassroots social action.

“We believe young people’s ideas can have a huge positive impact on their communities and we want to enable and empower them to deliver change for themselves.”

For further information on Think Big visit http://www.o2thinkbig.co.uk/About-Think-Big/