A STUDENT has addressed a major London conference about the skills he has gained as a volunteer.

Alan Strickland, 20, from Silkin Way, Newton Aycliffe, spoke alongside the Minster for Children, Young People and Families, Margaret Hodge, and Body Shop founder Dame Anita Roddick at the Royal Society of Arts in central London.

He attacked claims that the young are a "what's in it for me?" generation, arguing that for most young people, economic reality stops them volunteering as much as they would like.

He also made a challenging call for social enterprise and ethical business opportunities to be made available to disadvantaged young people to give the chance to make a difference to society while also making a living.

Alan has been involved with Changemakers since he was 16, as volunteer, peer facilitator and recently developing a national project to network young activists.

The event celebrated the tenth anniversary of Changemakers, a national charity which supports young people gaining skills while organising their own community projects.

Changemakers' £1m social enterprise pilot, which is working with four schools in County Durham, was also officially launched at the conference.

More information on the Changemakers organisations is available at www.changemakers.org.uk.