#VolunteeringMakesMe is a campaign developed by young people from the #YouthVIP project to celebrate the skills and experience young people achieve through volunteering.
#YouthVIP is a youth volunteering design team. The group’s role encourages more young people to volunteer and to improve the experience of those who currently give their time to their local communities and beyond.
Have you considered volunteering? Hear from Abigail, Malikah and Ilaria who share their volunteering experiences.
Abigail
I have been volunteering as an assistant instructor with a local taekwondo club for around 4 years for 6 hours a week.
I am also a Girlguiding volunteer with a local Brownie unit where I am working through my young leaders pack.
Within guiding, I have volunteered in a multitude of ways such as renovating my local campsite so that girls that I mentor can continue to have the same experiences I have, being a Speak Out champion and advocating for the presence of girls within decision-making, and being a member of the UK steering group which aims to make Girlguiding accessible to all regardless of circumstance.
These are all voluntary roles that I currently hold, and have travelled across Scotland with, including to the Scottish Parliament.
Malikah
From volunteering at Young Scot I’ve learnt that you can make new friends, meet new people, and have new experiences.
I can be more confident.
I don’t really talk a lot, but, because of volunteering I’ve been talking a lot more and made new friends.
My tip for other young people who are interested in volunteering is to embrace yourself.
Make sure you have free time for Zoom meetings! It’s fun and you get to meet new people!
Ilaria
I found out about volunteering with Young Scot about over a year ago and it totally changed my life.
For the past year and a half, I have been volunteering on the Historic Environment Scotland (HES) project.
It was an experience of a lifetime. I loved meeting new people, making new friends, and making a massive difference.
It is definitely an opportunity I think everyone should have and should go forward for, if you see something you like.
Go for it, you never know what could happen.
Young Scot has given me so many opportunities and I could not be more grateful, I recommend it 100%.
More information
Check out more blogs and content created by young Scots on the issues that matter most to them, and submit your own blog pitch on our Youth Voice page.
Young Scot supports young people to share their own voices, views and opinions and works with partner organisations and professionals who are experts in different topics. The views expressed in this blog are those of the young people, organisations and/or individuals who have taken part in the blog, not necessarily the views of Young Scot.
Find out more about the benefits of volunteering.
Visit our #YSHive page to discover new opportunities to get involved.
Young Scot supports young people to share their own voices, views and opinions and works with partner organisations and professionals who are experts in different topics. The views expressed in this blog are those of the young people, organisations and/or individuals who have taken part in the blog, not necessarily the views of Young Scot.