Youth volunteering

All contributions matter and it is helpful to identify different forms of volunteering and help young people understand what different types of volunteering really is.

Formal volunteering

Formal volunteering involves an individual helping others on behalf of a range of groups and organisations within the private, public or voluntary sectors and typically follows:

• set days and hours
• role description and role specification
• volunteer supervision and appraisal
• often takes place within a work environment

Informal volunteering

Informal volunteering is not coordinated through a service or group, but through an individual’s passion for social change and typically involves:

• picking up litter or shovelling snow
• donating to local food banks
• providing unpaid childcare
• walking dogs

Kindness volunteering

A key feature of youth volunteering is young people lending a hand and supporting other volunteers to gain experience. Young people should be recognised for this kindness and commitment to helping others.

Kindness volunteering typically involves:

• keeping a family friend company
• helping a neighbour with shopping
• being kind and considerate to the elderly community

Benefits for young people

Research carried out by Volunteer Scotland in 2019 shares the wellbeing and career benefits youth volunteering has provided for young volunteers throughout Scotland.

Wellbeing benefits:

• having fun
• increase in confidence
• being part of a team
• making new friends
• feeling appreciated
• feeling better about themselves
• improved physical and mental health
• feeling less isolated
• increased trust in others
• feeling happier

Career benefits:

• learning new skills
• being a leader
• overcoming challenges
• increased understanding of what they can achieve
• improving job prospects
• improved study prospects
• improves CV
• opportunities for paid work experience
• job opportunities

Benefits for organisations

There are many clear benefits to youth volunteering for organisations:

• young volunteers can bring a valuable insight into the challenges faced by young people today
• young volunteers can offer fresh new perspectives
• investing in young people through voluntary experiences today can help foster lifelong engagement
• improves partnership working and helps to develop networks between other organisations and voluntary services
• young people can offer valuable knowledge and skills in areas such as technology and social media

Benefits for the wider community

Volunteering is a form of social capital promoting social inclusion, and supports the increase in social connections throughout the community:

• volunteering from a young age creates a culture of community engagement
• young people make connections with the wider community around them which helps to support intergenerational respect
• youth volunteering helps to break down the barriers and challenge the perceptions of young people throughout the community

Our Good Practice Toolkit offers organisations throughout East Ayrshire advice on how to prepare to offer volunteer opportunities for young people under 16 years of age. It provides key first steps that can be taken to explore whether your organisation could fit the specifications of voluntary experiences.

Organisations should ensure that any young person under the age of 16 is fully protected when volunteering within their service.

If your organisation is thinking of offering opportunities for young people and would like help to get started on this journey, email  vibrantcommunities@east-ayrshire.gov.uk for a copy of our Good Practice Toolkit, which can give you advice on:

• insurance
• child protection and safety
• recruiting young volunteers
• assessing risk

Supporting young people to improve their CV

Youth volunteering is an incredible way for young people to boost their CV. The world of work is highly competitive and some key ways to stand out are to engage in volunteering and to create a solid CV.

Employers are keen to see that young people are proactive in engaging within their communities through voluntary experiences out of choice. Through volunteering, young people gain invaluable skills and experiences that can be used to improve employability prospects and gain an edge on competitors in the job market.

Recognising the achievements of young volunteering

A worthwhile option to offer young volunteers is an award system which recognises the hard work and commitment the young person has shown throughout their volunteering role. There are many different youth award systems to choose from throughout Scotland that your organisation could use to officially recognise the achievements of youth volunteers.

A few of the options available throughout East Ayrshire are listed below.

The Saltire Awards 12-25

The Saltire Awards are the Scottish Government's way of celebrating, recognising and rewarding the commitment, contribution and achievements of young volunteers in Scotland, aged between 12 and 25.

Young people gain nationally recognised certificates, signed by Scottish Government Ministers, for the different amounts of volunteering they do.

Email saltire.awards@cvoea.co.uk, Telephone  07873 394005

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards 14-24

The Duke of Edinburgh’s award encourages young people to set personal goals and push their limits. The Duke of Edinburgh’s programme is a fantastic way for young people to improve their self-esteem and gain skills that are essential as they transition into early adulthood.

Licensed organisations such as schools, colleges and youth clubs who run the Duke of Edinburgh awards see many benefits including increased community engagement and respect.

Email vibrantcommunities@east-ayrshire.gov.uk