When young people volunteer, they do more than lend a helping hand. Volunteering helps build confidence, develop real-life skills and gain valuable experience, while showing young people that their actions genuinely matter. Youth volunteering plays a vital role in shaping active, caring citizens by nurturing empathy, teamwork and leadership from an early age. At the same time, it strengthens communities by bringing fresh ideas, energy and enthusiasm to causes that matter most.
At St Margaret’s, we are enormously proud to support youth volunteering. Last year, we provided opportunities for over 30 young people volunteering as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award, alongside short-term work experience placements for students from a range of schools and colleges. We also work closely with schools, colleges, and public and voluntary sector organisations to create inclusive volunteering opportunities, particularly for young people who may face barriers to participation.
Student Volunteering Week gives us the perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredible contributions young people make across our organisation – including volunteers like Willow, who volunteers at our Taunton Clothes Shop.
Willow volunteers for short shifts on the occasional weekend as part of her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. During her time in the shop, she helps with rough sorting, pricing and tagging items, and supporting the team behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. Willow says she gets on really well with both staff and other volunteers, and that the role has been unexpectedly fun.
Seventeen-year-old Jake volunteers with us to gain work experience and understand how the shop operates day to day. For Jake, the best thing about volunteering is the community. He enjoys getting out of the house, socialising, meeting new people and hearing other people’s stories, while building practical job skills for the future.
Jake says volunteering has helped him grow in confidence – and he encourages other young people to get involved: “Jump out of your comfort zone, just take the leap.”
This Student Volunteering Week, we want to say a huge thank you to all the young people who choose to volunteer with us. Your time, energy and commitment make a real difference — not only to our services, but to the communities we serve.
