EVERY YEAR WE CELEBRATE VOLUNTEERS ACHIEVEMENTS AT A CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH GREAT MUSIC AND FREE FOOD. YOU COULD BE AT NEXT YEAR'S PARTY IF YOU JOIN VINVOLVED NOW!
************************************************************
ELEMENTS UNDER-18s PEER SUPPORT TEAM AND DJ PROJECT
The Peer Support Team works at Elements Under-18s events. These events are run on Tuesdays during school holidays and can have up to 2800 young people there. The Peer Support Team circulates in the club and helps out young people with problems. The team has training in conflict resolution and personal safety. They work within a code of conduct and wear orange T-shirts so they are easily identified.
The DJ Project runs a small VIP room so that young talent can be showcased. This is a brilliant opportunity for young DJs to express themselves through music and gain experience of working at a popular nightclub.
Both teams have now attended several events and the young people seem to have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. While helping others they have learned about responsibility and commitment, inspired others to get involved and built their self esteem and confidence.
Here are the teams of volunteers outside Elements ready for work!
That's the v Motto. Whatever you're interested in, we will try to find something to suit you. Here are some real-life v stories...
SHIV & TASH
Hi we are Shiv and Tash. We are part of the team that goes to the Elements Under-18s events for the v Peer Advocates Project. We work with Sara and Andrew the v Project Workers. We are there for any young people who may have problems and want to talk to someone their own age. We wear the orange T-shirts so we can be easily seen. It's great fun and we get to walk around the club and meet loads of people.
**********************************************************
ALETTA
A Millennium Volunteer from Bournemouth travelled to London for a reception at Buckingham Palace with the Queen. Aletta Briggs started volunteering at vinvolved Volunteers last year and was nominated by those running the project because of her great work.
When she was 17 Aletta discovered she had a brain tumour and spent a lot of time in and out of hospital for operations and chemotherapy. Joining vinvolved helped Aletta regain the self-confidence that she had lost during that stressful time.
As well as meeting The Queen, the 21 year-old also rubbed shoulders with Gordon Brown, Prince Philip, Prince Edward, Nell Mc Andrew and Ashley, Clare, Jason & Sean from Coronation Street! They were all there to celebrate volunteering in England.
Aletta said: “The Palace was beautiful, with great décor. It was a day to remember and I got a kiss from Jason & Sean, which made my day because I’m a big Corrie addict. I’ve never met anyone famous before.”
***********************************************************
Hi my name is Tania
I first joined vinvolved when I was 15, I had just entered year 11 at school and I had started bunking off of school lots. I got mildly into drugs and drinking and I was also lacking motivation from not having anything to do. Since I was 14 I volunteered on Beaufort Children’s Fund in the half term. When I was in year 10 I shadowed a youth worker for my work experience and it was there I discovered Bournemouth Youth Council. After a while of being a member of BYC I started going to MV, then I started going to Fusion youth centre and started doing some voluntary work behind the bar and helping out with activities there for open sessions. One of the activities was a magazine written by the young people and I wrote an article in there about my feelings on school.
Through BYC I got involved with a group called Youth Improving Connexions and I went on lots of residentials and through the YIC group I met lots of people from all over Dorset. One of the workers for the YIC group also worked for Dorset Youth Association and DYA were planning an exchange to Canada, they invited us to put ourselves forward for the trip. I did and I got through. I went to Canada where I learnt so much and it built my confidence up and I learnt new skills, I gained lots of personal development from that trip away.
vinvolved knew I wasn’t going to college, 6th form or getting a job this year, so they put me on a U-project and we went to Ireland and did a week of activities. One of the workers was a Connexions worker who I chatted to and I worked out what I wanted to do when my peers went to college. For part of my summer holidays I volunteered at Boscombe Families Developing Independence for the children’s summer club. I run a project at vinvolved called WHY-PUSH which stands for We Help Young People Under Substance Hassle. We are currently making a video about cannabis issues to send out to schools. Soon I am going to start volunteering for Poole police doing vehicle checks with a friend. This year I got a Volunteer of the Year award and went to get the award from the Mayor at the Town Hall. All of this is accredited for by vinvolved which I know is going to help me achieve in what I want to do, since I only did a few GCSE’s and got quite low grades.
**********************************************************
Hi my name is Maria.
When I first attended vinvolved, I was very nervous and shy. I had not been around people my own age for 3 years because of illness. I was then introduced to my vinvolved Project Worker. I have found her to be very helpful in improving my confidence, through taking me out to different places and introducing me to new people.
I have been volunteering at the vinvolved weekly Drop-Ins doing admin tasks. The Project Worker has worked with me and trained me in using e-mail, photocopying, laminating, shredding and speaking to people on the phone. In this time my Project Worker has encouraged and supported me and also attended a one day confidence building course with me. My confidence has grown so much that I am now volunteering by myself at a children’s nursery, where I play with the children and read stories to them.
The vinvolved experience restored my confidence and helped me meet more people my own age. This has enabled me to think more positively about my future.
**************************************************************************
Hi my name is Andrew
I’d never heard of vinvolved until a friend of mine asked me to join with her, as although her friend was already involved she didn’t want to join by herself.
We came down to have a chat and find out what things we would be interested in doing. I was really surprised to see that most people were quite young and there were so many things to do. We were also told that if there was anything we were interested in and wasn’t available we could set it up.
I wasn’t in school at the time so spent a lot of time doing volunteering in a group project and I really enjoyed being involved in a team that worked well together. When I got an interview for College I mentioned I worked for vinvolved and they seemed very impressed, as I did really badly at my GCSEs I doubted I would get on the course, but because of my v experience I got on.
More recently I applied for a job and because I have worked in a team and have done training in communication as well as other things I was offered a team leader position, even though I have never had experience in the sales industry.
v has helped me in many areas of my life. I’m very grateful for everything they have done. I have now completed 200 hours volunteer work and feel I have helped myself as well as others.
|
