Young volunteers gaining edge in competition for jobs, finds local charity
AS youth unemployment continues to run
at around 3 times the national average, a survey by the national disabled
people's charity Revitalise to mark National Volunteers Week has found that
volunteering provides a vital boost for young people to get ahead in the race
for the workplace.
Revitalise; which runs the Sandpipers Centre in Southport, providing respite
holidays for disabled people and carers; runs the largest residential volunteer
programme of any UK charity and carried out the study to gain insights into the
experience of its current and former volunteers.
Each year around 2,000 volunteers give a total of over 4,000 weeks of their time
in order to live and work at Revitalise's centres, enabling the charity's
disabled guests to take full advantage of the inclusive social activities and
excursions provided.
The challenges facing younger people in getting a foothold in the world of work
were of particular interest to Revitalise, since around 8 out of 10 of its
volunteers are aged between 16 and 25.
Revitalise's survey found that over half the charity's 16 to 25 year old volunteers
were unemployed, compared with less than a quarter of 26 to 45 year olds. However,
84% of the 16 to 25 year olds believed that volunteering had improved their
prospects of getting paid work.
Of the 16 to 25 year olds, now in work, 48% said that volunteering had helped them
gain paid employment and 80% believed that volunteering had improved their
prospects of advancement in their jobs.
Revitalise is holding up the study's findings as evidence that volunteering can
play a vital role in giving young people the confidence and focus to facilitate
an easier transition into the world of work.
Revitalise Chief Executive Chris Simmonds commented:- "Youth unemployment
should be of grave concern across the political spectrum. If this issue is not
addressed we could end up with a generation of young people who are
underprepared for the many challenges of life.
Feeling a useful part of society is vital to the morale of young people just
starting out in life and our survey proves that volunteering for worthy causes
of one's own choosing can work wonders in making young people feel needed and
valued.
Revitalise is over 50 years old and we owe our very existence to the
inspirational efforts of volunteers, so I'd like to appeal to young people to
try their hand at volunteering with us and give their lives and career prospects
a much-needed boost."
Commenting on her recent experience as a Revitalise volunteer, Sarah Gallagher
said:- "When I first arrived at Revitalise I had no confidence and found
it extremely difficult to talk to anyone. Now I have become more aware of who I
am and have the confidence to lead my own life. I am currently working as a
Neurological Rehabilitation Assistant. If it wasn't for Revitalise and the
people I have helped I wouldn't be where I am now. Working with Revitalise has
helped me realise my potential and I now have the confidence to do my nursing
degree."
Revitalise is a national charity providing respite holidays for disabled people
and carers at Sandpipers and two other accessible centres in Chigwell and
Southampton. Each centre provides 24 hour nursing care on call, personal support
and a range of accessible excursions, activities and entertainment.
People wanting more information about volunteering for Revitalise are requested
to call:- 0303 303 0147,
email or visit:-
Revitalise.Org.UK.
