Young Volunteers
WELCOME to the information pages for young volunteers in Aberdeen!
Here you have access to information on the range of opportunities available, why volunteering is something you should be thinking about and how to get in touch and start making things happen!
You can also read stories of other volunteers and if you're already volunteering you can find out more about recognition for your time at the section on the MV (Millennium Volunteers) award.
WHY VOLUNTEERING
It can be easy to think about old fashioned images of volunteering - leave your prejudices and stereotypes here before reading any further!
The face of volunteering is changing!
The number of young volunteers keeps growing and so does the range of varied and exciting volunteering opportunities. You might even find that you're already volunteering but just didn't realise it, because you've been having so much fun!!!
It's a two way thing!
When you volunteer, as well as providing valuable time to an organisation, you'll soon find that YOU have lots to gain too.
You could build your confidence & self-esteem
Gain friends & have fun
Try something different & gain valuable experience
Feel part of your local community
Get a chance to express yourself and your ideas
Help you enter college or university
Take advantage of training opportunities
Help you change direction & learn new skills
It's a great addition to your CV & you can get the MV award
Local Heroes
Across Aberdeen young people are volunteering in a wide range of opportunities - Check out some of their stories below!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY CONFERENCE
October 2006
Lindsay Fisher
Lindsay kindly came along to present with me at the MADD conference in October 2006 - she was a great hit! It was brilliant to hear her talk so enthusiastically about ther volunteering - she tells her story below:
I began volunteering for the first time, in January 2006. Having almost completed my 4 year Psychology degree at this time, I felt ready for a new challenge. This lead me to voluntary befriending with CONNECT (mental health) based at the Voluntary Services Aberdeen. Incorporated with my befriending, I was given the opportunity to work towards the Millennium Volunteering Award. I was enthusiastic to be part of such an award and so far I have achieved my 50 and 100 hours MV award.
Through my involvement, I have found a number of benefits from befriending and working towards the MV award. I have found this area of voluntary work particularly rewarding as well as great fun. I have realised the benefit, spending just one hour per week has on an individual's confidence and self-esteem. In addition, such a challenge has given me confidence in what I am doing with the acknowledgement that I am gaining new skills and developing my knowledge. Skills that reflect my individual qualities to a prospective employer.
Big congratulations to the following young people who were presented with their MV awards at an event at Aberdeen Art Gallery during Volunteers Week 2006.
ROSS TUCKWOOD
Ross has been volunteering in the kitchens at Aberdeen Foyer, helping out at CFINE (Community Food Initiative North East) as a food packer and delivery helper, he has been a youth club helper at Inchgarth Community Centre and a Poolside helper at SASC (Stonehaven Amateur Swimming Club). With his combined hours he has achieved the 200 hour award of excellence.
SAMANTHA BECKETT
Samantha has been volunteering at the Cancer Research shop since September 2005. She enjoys her volunteering and does a variety of tasks there including sorting, steaming and tagging clothes as well as covering shop floor. She has now achieved the 50 hour award and is working well towards the next ones.
KEVIN HENRY & LIAM BARCLAY
Both have achieved the 200 hour award of excellence volunteering at Dyce Boys Club where they were involved as football coaches in a variety of activities such as training, coaching and organising the team.
The following young people all achieved their awards with the Youth Action Committee (some also with hours for the Scottish Youth Parliament). Through their involvement these young people have been creating a voice for young people throughout Aberdeen.
100 hour awards
- JULIE ANNE BUTCHART
- JOSH MCKAY
- RUBEAN MCKAY
- HANNAH MCKAY
200 hour awards
- LAURA BAXTER
- DOREEN GALL
- FAITH MACKIE
- CHRIS RITCHIE
STACEY MCINTOSH
Stacey volunteers at the VSA Young Carers Project and has achieved the 100 hour award through helping out with the homework group, with holiday activities and also at the Saturday movie group.
OPPORTUNITIES
There are loads of opportunities out there for young volunteers but you might need to think about it first...
What are you interested in? Is it sport, wildlife, media, childcare or a whole range of other things?
Are you looking to build new skills & experiences or use the ones you already have?
Do you want to work with a particular client group such as adults, children and the elderly - or not with people at all?
Would you like to gain experiences that might be useful to a particular job you would later like to do?
Whatever you've been thinking so far, the following list should give you some idea of the range of opportunities available in volunteering, and this is just a taster!
- Arts & Craft workers
- Conservationists & Gardeners
- Committee members & Campaigners
- After school clubs & Shop volunteers
- Drivers & Escorts
- Advisors & Advocates
- Wildlife & Web designers
- Music & Media
- Befrienders & Youth club assistants
- Guiding & Scout leaders
- Cadets & Overseas volunteers
- Administrators & Events Assistants
And the amount of time you decide to dedicate to volunteering will be up to you - once a week, once a month or even once a year!
MILLENNIUM VOLUNTEERS (MV)
- The Millennium Volunteer award is available to those aged from 16 to 25.
- It's a way of recognising the amount of hours donated by young volunteers with awards for 50, 100 and 200 hours of volunteering.
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The 200 award is an award of excellence that is signed personally by Alex Salmond the first minister for
- MV awards are suitable for new and existing volunteers
- You have up to 2 years to complete the award.
- You can include retrospective hours (i.e. we can count some of the hours you've already done!)
- You can carry your hours throughout Scotland. (Great if you move away to study!)
"MV Awards are a positive recognition of the commitment and contribution made by young volunteers and are endorsed by the Scottish Government."
If you would like to find out more about the background why not visit the VDS site? You can find out more about the official launch which was on the 7th October 2005 with TV personality Karen Dunbar there to help launch the national roll out of MV awards and you can find out more about the face of MV - Carly Rae.
Interested in signing up? Go to the contacts section and get in touch with Catriona Hogg.
GETTING STARTED
If you aren't volunteering yet but would like to get started then:
- Phone (01224 358581) or email volunteer.centre@vsa.org.uk to make an appointment to see one of the Volunteer Co-coordinators who will help guide you towards the kind of volunteering that's right for you.
- Check out: www.volunteerscotland.org.uk
It can be quite scary trying something new but don't worry - our friendly team are here to help!
If you are volunteering or are an organisation which involves young volunteers and are interested in the MV award then:
- You can phone or email to make an appointment to speak to Catriona Hogg
- If you are part of a group you can arrange a presentation or workshop with Catriona to find out more.
CONTACT US
For further information on the MV award contact:
Catriona Hogg - Aberdeen Youth Development Worker
E-mail: Catriona.Hogg@vsa.org.uk
Telephone: (01224) 358613
You can visit to make an appointment at:
Aberdeen Volunteer Centre
38 Castle Street
Aberdeen
AB11 5YU
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