Citi Foundation and Egg

The Citi Foundation and Egg have funded a unique programme that encourages young people to express what the recession has meant to them.

The Citi Foundation and Egg have generously committed £70,000 to YouthNet to run an online survey and focus groups with young people, as well as an innovative art competition that gives 16 to 25-year-olds an opportunity to express their feelings about the economic downturn.

Bert Pijls, Egg CEO says: "At Egg we strive to help customers who may be struggling with their finances. This competition will give us a unique insight into how young people hardest hit by the recession are coping in these difficult times."

The project will enable young people to share their experiences and showcase their creativity by submitting a photograph, film or comic to the competition called 'LifeSupport: Change through art', illustrating how the financial crisis has impacted them and their communities.

Expert judges, including Turner Prize winner, Yinka Shonibare, Saatchi Design Managing Director, Ashley Goodall and comic illustrator, Jamie McKelvieare, have volunteered to help choose the winner and three runners-up who will receive £1000 and £300 respectively.

The competition will enable young people to explore their creativity, see their work published online, and learn more about finance. As well as being entertaining and informative in their own right, the imagery will offer an important gateway into information that will improve young people's financial understanding and capability, too.

Fiona Dawe, Chief Executive at YouthNet, says: "The Citi Foundation and Egg have recognised the need for young people to be given a voice on the issues associated with the recession and it's fantastic to be leading such a project.

"As well as providing a platform for young people to speak out, the competition will help to inspire the creative ideas of others encouraging them to feel empowered in an area that can often feel crowded by the opinions of the older generations."