Voluntary Work
Although you don’t get paid, volunteering gives you the chance to help your community, experience different work environments, learn new skills and develop your self-confidence.
About Volunteering
Young people 16-19 generally have high levels of civic engagement.[i] In particularly, rates of volunteering among 16 to 19 are above the average for the adult population as a whole. In 2009/10 50% of 16-19 year olds had engaged in formal volunteering in the past 12 months compared with 40% of all adults 16+ (Chart 5.1). However, young people are less likely than adults generally to engage in civic participation (activities such as contacting an elected representative or taking part in a demonstration).
Volunteering is also relatively high among under 16s. 31% of Year 10 pupils give up their free time to volunteer with 16% helping out at school, 11% helping out in their local area, 11% helping out a charity and 7% helping out a local voluntary organisation.
The Citizenship Survey measures levels of participation in three broad strands of civic engagement:
• Civic activism – which refers to involvement either in direct decision-making about local services or issues, or in the actual provision of these services by taking on a role such as a local councillor, school governor or magistrate
• Civic consultation – which refers to active engagement in consultation about local services or issues through activities such as attending a consultation group or completing a questionnaire about these services; and
• Civic participation – which covers wider forms of engagement in democratic processes, such as contacting an elected representative, taking part in a public demonstration or protest, or signing a petition.
[1]The survey also asks about formal volunteering i.e. helping out groups, clubs or organisations, and informal volunteering i.e. helping out family, friends or neighbours.
[1] DfE internal analysis of DCLG Citizenship Survey 2009/10
[1] DfE internal analysis of Telllus4 2009
Check out these websites to see what you can do.
Vinspired
Helps young people aged 16-25 find volunteering opportunities.
Find out more at www.vinspired.com
The local contacts for North Lincolnshire are
- vinvolved North Lincolnshire
01724 845155
david.plumtree@vanl.org.uk
The local contacts for North-East Lincolnshire are
- Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire
14 Town Hall Street
Grimsby
01472 231123
jenny@vanel.org.uk
Community Service Volunteers
The UK’s largest volunteering and training organisation. Lots of ideas for young people aged 16-24 on how to find volunteering opportunities linked to their personal interests.
Find out more at www.csv.org.uk
The Prince’s Trust
Runs a variety of programmes for people aged 14-30 and aims to build confidence, motivation and team-building skills.
Find out more at www.princes-trust.org.uk
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
A voluntary, non-competitive and flexible programme of cultural and adventurous activities for young people aged 14-25, whatever their background or ability.
Find out more at www.dofe.org
Youth Parliament
For people aged 11-18, the Youth Parliament has over 300 elected members and works just like the Westminster one. Make your views heard.
Find out more at www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk
DO IT
National database that can help you find local volunteering opportunities.
Find out more at www.do-it.org
