Have you ever thought of volunteering?

It can help you gain new skills, meet new people, have fun and help others.

It will also look good on your CV and impress employers.

Here is what volunteering can offer you:

V

Variety

the opportunities for all sorts of volunteering are endless

O

Outcomes

have fun/understand the world of work

L

Learning

develop skills

U

University

build a CV

N

New

expand horizons

T

Training

develop skills

E

Education

volunteering accreditation/certification

E

Experience

in a wide range of activities

R

Reward

develops self esteem

I

Independence

make your own decisions

N

Networking

make new friends

G

Giving

to your community/family/friends

You can volunteer for almost any area you are interested in, from activities where you live to overseas trips. The choice is yours.

You can talk to a Connexions Personal Adviser about volunteering opportunities or call into your local Access Point for information.

Youth Volunteering vidoes - from the BBC

Working Together - Mark Todd from the Media Trust thinks the following UK Youth Volunteer films are an inspiration. He believes showing these films on the Community Channel with help other young people understand the value and reward of volunteering.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/extras/youth_volunteering/working_together/index.shtml

Great Partnership - Glynn Ryland says that BBC staff have given up their time to help young volunteers across the country to make the films for the UK Youth Volunteers Project. The partnership has been very productive and fun for both BBC staff and young volunteers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/extras/youth_volunteering/great_partnership/index.shtml

New Generation - Justine Davis Smith the CEO of Volunteering England says the charity tries to listen to young people and help them find the experience they need to send them in the direction they are aiming for.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/extras/youth_volunteering/new_generation/index.shtml

Volunteering - Rebecca works for CSV co-ordinating volunteers and she says that volunteering is an opportunity to gain new skills, meet new people and also leads to a sense of empowerment and satisfaction.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/extras/youth_volunteering/volunteering/index.shtml

Life Change - Volunteering helped Adam after loosing his brother. Following his loss he started volunteering on a local farm and loves working with the animals and making a difference. He now promotes volunteering on a regular basis to young people in his community and now has a part time job on the farm. He says the experience has really changed his life.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/features/youth_volunteering/life_change/index.shtml

Good Job - Jenny suffers from Asperger’s and would like to gain paid employment in the future. She knew she had to take some steps towards applying for job and became a volunteer on a scheme which links young people and older groups in the community. She says that the experience has really improved her confidence and she is hopeful of working in the future.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/features/youth_volunteering/good_job/index.shtml

Eco Volunteer - Kirsty found it hard to get a job after leaving university and has volunteered regularly promoting recycling in schools and working with young people with disabilities. She says that volunteering has really improved her confidence and given her a better idea of what direction she can take in her working life
http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/features/youth_volunteering/eco_volunteer/index.shtml

High Hopes - Rhasan loves living in Hackney and wants to be involved in shaping his community. He has volunteered as a member of the local Youth Parliament and volunteering has made Rhasan realise who he wants to be and how he wants to contribute to society. He even has aspirations to become Britian’s first black Prime Minister.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/features/youth_volunteering/high_hopes/index.shtml 

Also see
www.vsuinkent.org
www.do-it.org
www.togogo.info
www.csv.org.uk
www.volunteeringengland.org.uk
www.kentsports.or/volunteers
www.kentwildlife.org.uk
www.wwv.org.uk
www.vso.uk/volunteering/youth
www.kenteventteam.org.uk