Perfect opportunity to celebrate young people’s achievements

Date published: 03 March 2010

Student Volunteer Week was the perfect opportunity to celebrate young people’s achievements and to showcase their abilities to local organisations.

The volunteers had taken part in one-day events across Bury helping with festivals, environmental clean-ups and fundraising for various charities. Their enthusiasm and flexibility ensures that they are a great benefit to charities.

College student Itrat Ali had a great time volunteering for the Bury Blind and Partially Sighted Society’s Christmas wrap fundraiser.

“It was a great volunteering opportunity for me because I could pick the times that suited my availability,” she said. “It was a top experience, full of laughs, and most of all I put a smile on people’s faces just through wrapping a present for them.”

George Kearton from the blind society added: “Volunteers were an essential part of the operations, their enthusiasm was greatly appreciated by our existing team and they helped to make 2009 our best year yet.”

Student volunteers are keen to share the knowledge and skills that they learn. This gives them experience and builds their confidence, while helping local voluntary groups and organisations.

University student Chloe Drury volunteers in administration with Bury GMP, and said: “The opportunity has given me a chance to develop organisational and time management skills. It is a fantastic way to get valuable experience in administration work while still being able to study at university. I’m finding it really interesting.”

Ken Royles, Partnership Volunteer Co-ordinator based at Bury GMP, said: “Volunteers are very important. We want to support young people and break down perceived barriers that the public may have about the police force. This volunteering opportunity gives them the opportunity to find out more about the career roles available in the police.”
Any charity, community group or public sector organisation interested in finding out how student volunteers can help their organisation can contact Bury vinvolved Team on 0161 253 7914 or email b.plant@bury.gov.uk
Student Volunteer Week ran from February 22 to 28.