Volunteering if you're between 14 and 24

Volunteering projects across Northern Ireland are always looking for more people to help them out. It doesn't matter what skills you have, everybody has something they can give.

Why volunteer?

Volunteering gives you a chance to make a difference to others and to your community.

Also, many volunteers find that their work increases their confidence, teaches them new skills and gives a boost to their education and employment prospects.

If you’ve got a clear idea about the type of career you want to follow, then volunteering is a great opportunity to collect extra experience that could give you the edge at a college, university or job interview.

There are lots of volunteering opportunities available that might be relevant to your future career plans.

You might want to:

help out at your local leisure centre during the summer holidays as a play scheme supervisor
be a conservation volunteer at a nearby park or National Trust site
volunteer at local festivals, sporting events and exhibitions
become a mentor to other young people

Millennium Volunteers

Millennium Volunteers is a national programme designed to promote and recognise volunteering among young people aged between 16 to 24. You can find out more by visiting the Volunteer Now website.

Millennium Volunteers - Volunteer Now website

Full-time volunteering away from home

If you're prepared to live away from home and fancy gaining some valuable work experience, you might consider full-time volunteering through an organisation like Millenium Volunteers.

You may need to be available for four to 12 months, and be willing to go to wherever your sent.

You don't have to have any experience, specialist skills or qualifications, just enthusiasm. You'll be placed where you're needed the most and will receive help, advice and training when you arrive at your placement.

If you volunteer, you should receive an allowance and accommodation and food will be free.

Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme

The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is a voluntary programme of activities that you can do in your spare time. The awards cover different areas such as service, skills, physical recreation and expeditions.

The scheme is open to anyone over the age of 14 and is divided into three different awards: a Gold award, a Silver and a Bronze. The type of scheme you can follow will depend on your age.

If you’ve not already taken the Bronze and Silver awards you can start at Gold, as long as you complete an extra six months in the skills or recreation areas and you are over 16.

A Duke of Edinburgh Award could help boost your CV and may help you in your chosen career and because the awards take a high level of commitment and hard work, they have a good reputation among employers. It’s also a great way of meeting new people who are interested in the same things as you.

Ask a teacher or a youth worker about the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. There may be others in your school or youth club who are on the scheme. If there isn’t, take a look at the website to find details of who to contact in your region.