Involving Young Volunteers
Many young people are extremely enthusiastic about volunteering as they believe it to provide a good source of experience for their future.
Young volunteers can offer your organisation:
- Fresh up-to-date ideas
- Knowledge about the latest gadgets which might be able to assist the organisation
- Enthusiasm and motivation
- Reduced negative pre/misconceptions
- Favourability to funders
To get the most out of your young volunteers it is important that you:
- Ask them what they hope to gain from volunteering, and where possible, help them achieve their goals.
- Provide clear and concise instructions
- Pay expenses
- Provide training where applicable
- Advise if you are able to offer them a reference
- Show your appreciation for their help
- Register them for MV Awards to provide formal recognition
As with any volunteer it is important that an organisation recognises that young people may have overcome barriers and issues of fear to get to the initial meeting or to make the first phone call to your organisation. Many young people are used to the comfort of being surrounded by their friends in day-to-day activities, therefore doing something different, like volunteering alone, can be extremely challenging and daunting. For this reason it is important that you provide not only your young volunteers, but all volunteers with praise and encouragement.
For further information on involving young volunteers contact Karen.
MV Awards
MV Awards provide 16-25 year old volunteers with the chance to gain formal recognition for their volunteering. Through MV Awards, young volunteers can gain up to 3 certificates over a two year period. Certificates are achieved on completion of 50, 100 and 200 hours of Volunteering.
Endorsed by the Scottish Government, MV Awards are delivered locally by Volunteer Centres free of charge.
How can MV Awards benefit our Organisation?
- Recognise the contribution that young volunteers make to the organisation
- Provide that important ‘Thank you’ to your young volunteers for their help, commitment and dedication to your organisation
- Demonstrate good practice and emphasise the value of your volunteers
How can MV Awards benefit Young People?
- Enhance their CV
- Recognise their achievements
- Look forward to a positive future
Each year Volunteer Centre Midlothian organises an MV Awards Ceremony. In previous years Boogie from Forth 1 radio has kindly presented the certificates, this is usually followed by a buffet and a disco. All young volunteers who are registered for MV, and a representative from the organisation that they volunteer with are invited to the event.
Who can take part?
Any young person between the ages of 16-25 years old who lives in Scotland can register for MV. The young person can volunteer individually or as part of a group.
How do I register young people volunteering with my Organisation for MV Awards?
To register your young volunteers for MV Awards, your organisation must be registered with the Volunteer Centre. To check if your organisation is registered please contact us.
If you need to, you can register here.
Once your organisation is registered with Volunteer Centre Midlothian, contact Karen Downie, Youth Development Worker on 0131 663 6165.
Karen will arrange to meet with the young person (at the organisation if convenient) and complete a quick registration form, advise them on keeping note of their hours, and claiming their certificates. It is advisable that the organisation is aware of this process by sitting in on the first registration but thereafter this is not necessary, unless the organisation chooses to do so.
Alternatively, young volunteers can now register, keep a note of their hours and request certificates on-line via the MV Volunteering Passport.
Volunteering Taster Sessions for 13-18 year olds
The Volunteering Taster Sessions Project is run by the Youth Development Worker and is specifically for small groups of young people between 13-18 years old. The project gives young people the chance to sample different types of volunteering in the comfort and familiarity of a group that they already belong to. Groups can get involved in anything from a number of volunteering activities over a few weeks to a single day one-off volunteering session. An adult supervisor from the group and the Youth Development Worker from Volunteer Centre Midlothian will attend every session with the young people.
Volunteering Taster Sessions are designed to increase young people’s:
- Practical skills
- Social skills
- Confidence
- Self-esteem
- Self-worth
- Team working abilities
- Knowledge of their local community
- Awareness of their abilities
- Aspirations for a positive future
Examples of the types of activities Volunteering Taster Sessions include are:
- Gardening
- Event organising
- Fundraising
- Publicising services
- Befriending
- Farm work
If you work with a group of young people and would like to find out more about Volunteering Taster Sessions or you are part of an organisation who have a task that a group of volunteers might be able to help with contact Karen Downie, Youth Development Worker.
