Volunteer Profile

Una Burns

What inspired you? I started volunteering in 4th year and currently volunteer with St Vincent de Paul. I was inspired to give a little back after

hearing other people’s experiences.

What skills did you develop? I have learned communication skills and developed an approachable, friendly attitude. It’s showed me the need to be passionate and dedicated and most importantly, have a sense of humour and a positive outlook!

What do you enjoy most? I enjoy the difference you can make and how appreciative people are. My highlight would be regularly meeting new inspirational people and how they influence you.

Why should others volunteer? In the current climate, looking out for others is essential. Giving one or two hours a week can make a huge differ-ence - you don’t realise how much something small affects someone!

For more information visit www.volunteernow.co.uk

Youth Volunteering in the North | Feb-Mar 2012

Did you know that

volunteering...

Lets you meet new people with your interests? Is a good way to give something back to your community?

Is fun?!

Will help make your CV, job and UCAS application stand out?

Boost your job prospects!

Volunteering is one of the best ways to make your CV stand out and get that dream job. You can gain new skills, training, great experience and confi-dence in an area where you would like to work; all while giving something back to your community, having fun and meeting new people!

Employers also value volunteering, with 51% of recent graduates saying volunteering helped get them a job.

Digital Champion

Citizens Online

Help us show people in rural com-munities how to use computers and the internet, so they can benefit from all it has to offer! Training is informal and takes place in a community venue. If you want to help others learn new skills and have a free hour to spare during the week, get in touch. http://bit.ly/yjc85W

International Citizen Service

Skillshare International

Volunteer with us in Africa or Asia! ICS is a global experience that sup-ports young people (18-22) in mak-ing a real difference to the world we live in. You spend three months working with some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities on projects designed to bring about lasting change.http://bit.ly/zwRXFC

Activity Support Helper NIAMH Woodvale Beacon Centre

Our aim is to build a flourishing soci-ety where everyone has access and support appropriate to their mental health and well-being needs. If you are reliable and caring, help us with activities like music, bowling, essen-tial skills, cookery or walking groups. Training, support and expenses are provided. http://bit.ly/zAeM0U

Riding Assistant

Riding for the Disabled

Make a young child’s dream come true by joining our team for a couple of hours a week. Volunteers walk alongside the riders giving encour-agement and support so it helps if you like being around horses and young people. There’s always time to enjoy a cuppa and a chat after-wards too! http://bit.ly/zmcWFK

Shop Volunteer

Ulster Cancer Foundation

Our shops provide essential income that’s necessary to maintain our care services and cancer prevention pro-grammes. The shops are in a period of change and it is an exciting time to become part of that. It is a busy environment and training and sup-port will be provided. http://bit.ly/yN6nZA

One-off Opportunities

NI Chest, Heart & Stroke

Help us with our many events, in-cluding taking blood pressure, hand out information on NICHS and chat with participants, wash cars, ride a static bike (at your own pace!), or hold a collection bucket and smile at shoppers! Register now for updates of upcoming local events and train-ing! http://bit.ly/tKYjti

These are just some of the opportunities for you to get involved in NI and overseas - follow the links to get all the info and visit

www.volunteernow.co.uk for 3,000 more opportunities!

Sport & Performing Arts

The Hope Centre

The HuB youth club is looking for individuals to help us in running per-formance art such as dance, drama or who can teach music (i.e. guitar, piano, drums, etc). We also promote physical activity so if you have a sporting background help us with our activity group for children aged 11-15. http://bit.ly/wwyoNl

Can Can Recycling

Compass Advocacy Network

Our social business in Ballymoney, Can Can Recycling needs your help in supporting the Can Can Opera-tives (all adults with learning disabili-ties) in fulfilling their roles. This could be anything from doing can or textile collections to supporting them in car-rying out administrative tasks. http://bit.ly/A9TFFr

Researchers

Volunteer Now

Gain research skills and experience as part of an exciting research team that will make an impact, influence policy and inform others. We’ll sup-port you, but you’ll lead the project, choose the area of youth volunteer-ing to be researched and select the quantitative and qualitative methods to be used. http://bit.ly/wuRmLn

Chamber Operator

Oxygen Therapy Centre

Volunteering involves operating a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber that provides pure oxygen under pres-sure, treating people with Neurologi-cal/Physical conditions i.e. Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and sport re-lated injuries. Full certified training is provided. http://bit.ly/AiHYkl

Conservation Ranger

Lagan Valley Regional Park

Our volunteers get to gain new knowledge and skills while working to conserve wildlife in their local area. No experience is necessary as full training will be provided. Tasks include woodland management, spe-cies surveying, pond maintenance and habitat creation/surveying. http://bit.ly/yDtAWz

Fundraising Group Member

Marie Curie Cancer Care

Work with a group of friends to help coordinate and support fundraising in your local area. You will not only help raise valuable funds to sustain our work and get involved in your local community - you will also gain experience in fundraising and events management as well as having fun!

http://bit.ly/wbnd8u

Scan the QR code with your smart phone to go straight to our website for the latest info and opportunities!

Volunteer Now delivers services across Northern Ireland. We have offices in Belfast, Broughshane, Enniskillen and Newry. Registered Office: Volunteer Now, 129 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 1SH. A Charity (Inland Revenue)

No. XT22896. Company Limited by Guarantee No. NI602399. Registered in Northern Ireland.

Stay in touch!

Search 1000s of opportunities across NI and overseas at

www.volunteernow.co.uk

If you need help finding an opportunity or more info about

Millennium Volunteers email

youth@volunteernow.co.uk

Follow Volunteer Now Youth on:

Scan the QR code with your smart phone to go straight to our website for the latest info and opportunities!

What employers say about volunteering...

The Foundation recognises that volunteering encourages young people to become more involved in their communities in a meaningful and mutually beneficial way. Skills and ex-perience gained through volun-teering can be beneficial in their future job or educational developments as well as devel-oping an increased sense of citizenship.

Lloyds TSB Foundation NI

The skills and experience gained through volunteering are invaluable once brought back into the business and as our research has shown impact sig-nificantly on how our employ-ees feel about working for us and the wider community around them.

Sainsbury’s