Stories from the Edge - Volunteer Now

He seemed nervous as he led to the rear of the bar and into a meager lounge. It wasn’t the most ideal of places for aninterview. A short distance of just feet was a blaring television set with the steady roar of GAA fans accompanied byportable foghorns. To the rear of the lounge was a handful of supporters who were quick to join the general ruck wheneverthe ball went to either net. Peter introduced Claire and Orla, two young students who were studying for their ‘A’ levels.Claire was bubbly and very open but Orla still had that natural suspicion of grown-ups. They are part of the MillenniumVolunteers programme launched two years before to promote and sustain volunteering among young people.Both explained they were working for an award, which they would receive when they had completed 200 hours ofvoluntary work.The Volunteer Development Agency took on the responsibility for running the scheme throughout Northern Ireland. TheAgency sees the programme as providing an important impetus to promote and develop youth volunteering. Theprogramme encouragesorganisations to provideopportunities and support to“young people are involvedin all kinds of things asMillennium Volunteers”young people to take part in avolunteering scheme of theirchoice.There are around 22 MillenniumVolunteers projects in the Northwith a total of 840 volunteersbetween them. At the time ofthe interview 300 youngvolunteers had received awardsin recognition of their 200 hours of volunteering.Young people are involved in all kinds of things as volunteers, for example,The Young Independents Group in Derry who have created a moving house project for young people leaving care, anddelivered a summer programme in 2000 for young people in various stages of the care system. In Fermanagh the localVolunteer Bureau set out to target young people from rural areas within County Fermanagh, though opportunities wereoffered to existing volunteers as well. The programme proved particularly popular with the result that limited outreachoccurred in the early stages. The volunteers have been involved in a wide range of placements and events, and two of theMillennium Volunteers have been instrumental in getting the VOYCE group established. Upper Andersonstown CommunityForum, enables Millennium Volunteers to be placed in their crèche, after schools clubs, homework clubs, and a number ofpartner projects.The Agency was keen to work with a small group of young people who would inform the development of MillenniumVolunteers from a young person’s perspective. Peter was among a team of 18 Millennium Volunteers involved in a one offresidential through which young people came together to share their experiences and forward their recommendations forfuture developments within the programme. Following the residential, a number of the young people were keen tocontinue meeting on a regular basis and to consider ways to enhance the programme throughout Northern Ireland.