Volunteer to help your community and improve your career prospects

More and more young people in Wales are realising the benefits of volunteering and signing up to an initiative that is improving both their own lives and those of the communities they support.

Since its launch in 2009, over 8,000 young people have been recruited by GwirVol, a Welsh Government-funded partnership supporting volunteering opportunities for 16 to 25-year-olds.

Recent research has revealed that most young people in Wales (67% of respondents) regard volunteering as helping in the community, while 46% see it as helping them gain experience or skills.

A survey of young people completing the Millennium Volunteers Award revealed that, the award was used by 70% on their CV or in a job application, 38% talked about their experience in a job interview and 33% used the award on their UCAS form. 94% value their award and 96% would recommend the programme to a friend. In the current climate where unemployment of young people in Wales is so high, the award holds a great value.

‘The response to our surveys was excellent and shows that young people in Wales view volunteering very much as a two-way process, where both they and the community gain something from the experience,’ said Leah Doherty, GwirVol Co-ordinator.

The research was carried out through focus groups organised by Swansea training workers' co-operative Dynamix, surveys online and at events such as the Urdd Eisteddfod. Survey participants were entered into a competition with 10 winners receiving high street vouchers.

The results are available in a series of publications, with a full evaluation of GwirVol’s impact since its launch available online at www.gwirvol.org The website also has inspiring stories from GwirVol volunteers, including those of:

Amy from Neath Port Talbot, who volunteers with the Youth Opportunities Bank and the CVS Young Researchers Project - where she received training on children’s rights and research methods. ‘I saw volunteering as a chance to do something worthwhile and something different, that would also give me a chance to think about what I might like to do as a career,’ she said.

Nathan from Rhondda Cynon Taff volunteers with Barnardo’s. Nathan had tried college, but the experience affected his confidence and he felt he needed to do something different. ‘Volunteering has built my confidence and got me into a more positive frame of mind,’ he said.

The competition winners included Stephanie from Tonypandy, who said she enjoyed learning new skills, being able to pass them on to others and ‘watch them as well as yourself progress’ while volunteering.

Muzumil from Newport said he enjoyed having an opportunity to help others and thought volunteering was a great way to gain new skills, leading to him getting work experience. And Charlotte from Trimsaran, near Llanelli, felt she had gained a sense of pride ‘knowing that I have made a difference’.

A further survey was carried out with GwirVol grant recipients to find out their views on the grant programmes and give them the opportunity to win £200 towards their volunteering project. The winner was Black Association of Women Step Out (BAWSO), which supports BME women in Cardiff experiencing issues such as domestic abuse and disengagement with their local community.

Information on the next round of grants is available from GwirVol, on 029 2043 5751, or e-mail gwirvol@wcva.org.uk. Contact GwirVol Co-ordinator Leah Doherty for more details about the initiative.