News

Youth volunteering charity v extends age range

Governance | Vibeka Mair | 26 Mar 2012

Youth volunteering charity v is to extend the age range of people it supports down to 11 years of age.

Terry Ryall, chief executive of v, announced the news at the charity’s vinspired awards last week, which celebrated the achievements of young volunteers across the country.

v currently works with young people aged 16-25. Ryall said that the achievements of the charity and its volunteers thus far had inspired her to extend its age range down to 11:

“If people become involved in their community as early as possible, it is likely that it will become a lifetime habit.”

The vinspired awards took place last week at the BFI IMAX.

The winners were:

• Best new volunteer: Zoe Burden, from Lowestoft, has been volunteering for Brighter Futures for the past year, taking children in care on day-trips and giving them opportunities to socialise. This is a cause very close to Zoe’s heart as she is currently living in supported accommodation and has herself been in care for the last three years.

• All-round commitment to volunteering: Danika Hamilton, from Hulme, is a passionate and committed volunteer who credits volunteering with changing the course of her own life.  Having coped with homelessness and depression, volunteering has given her focus and determination to help others.  

• Bringing communities together: Joanna Mayes, from Biggleswade, volunteers for NACRO as a football coach.  She has overcome a very traumatic time in her past and feels that volunteering has helped her along her road to recovery

• Team activity: The Co-operative StreetGames Young Volunteers programme team in North Tyneside stops a large group of young people from drinking in a local park on Friday nights by setting up street football sessions.

• Outstanding contribution by a youth worker: Barry Clark, from Hatfield, has been working at the Hatfield centre for more than 40 years, providing a variety of volunteering activities for young people depending on their interests.

• Most outstanding NCS team: Harrow National Citizen Service (NCS) team aims to promote a more cohesive, responsible and engaged society by bringing young people from different backgrounds together to make a difference in their communities.