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[ Home » What We Do » Mv What Young People Are Saying.php ]

What Young People Are Saying About Volunteering

We've been out and about meeting young volunteers from all across Northern Ireland and they have plenty to say about lots of things such as their volunteer placements - what they like and don't like, what they think are the main problems in Northern Ireland and more importantly how they think they can do something about this!

Young people are more likely to volunteer than any other age group except 35 to 49 year olds. So if you're finding it difficult to attract or hold on to young people read on to find out what's going wrong and more importantly read young people's top tips on how to get it right!

 

Young People identified the following as the main problems in their community....

• Secterianism / community divisions
• Alcohol / drug misuse by young people
• Lack of things for young people to do
• Racism
• Anti social behaviour
• Poor parenting
• Bullying
• Poor housing

Despite knowing the problems some young people still don't or won't get involved. Why ...

Barriers to volunteering

• No time to spare
• Lack of awareness of the benefits of volunteering
• Lack of confidence
• Never been asked
• Negative peer pressure
• Lack of flexibility around placements and too much bureaucracy
• Don't know where to go for information
• Volunteering is not cool

What do young people want from their volunteering and from your organisation ...

• Flexible placements that place no limits on what a young person can do
• Meet new friends - meet other young people
• Thanks - training, social outings with other volunteers, recognition for what they do
• Support from an organisation to enable all young people to participate to the best of their ability
• The chance to work on group projects
• Make a positive impact in their community
• Respect

Need more help involving young people?

• Download the Agency's checklist on involving young people as volunteers
• There is a network of Millennium Volunteer Delivery Partners across Northern Ireland who can help your organisation recognise young volunteers.
• Contact sinead@volunteering-ni.org for more information.