Volunteering


“Achieving your DofE not only changes your life and offers you amazing opportunities and experiences; it also sets you up for your future. I found that the Volunteering section helped in improving my career prospects, as well as allowing me to meet people and build up my confidence.” Chantelle, Gold Award holder


sizes, so helping young people look for opportunities that fit around their availability and what they are already doing in their leisure time, whilst sticking to the minimum hours required for them to complete their section, could help remove this issue.


For example,


if they already attend a swimming club, you could recommend that they become a volunteer lifeguard at the local pool.


“I don’t know anyone…”


Volunteers come from all walks of life, yet many young people say they are less interested in volunteering because their friends aren’t or because they don’t ‘measure up’ to other volunteers. This is particularly prevalent amongst those who come from households who see volunteering as being removed from their communities and their lives. It could be suggested that this relates to the


stereotype sometimes given to volunteers as being ‘self-promoters’ and a ‘certain type of person’. In this instance, messages around how volunteering can improve their life and those around them may not work. There is a need to highlight to young people the opportunities they can take part in that are closer to home – that they can make a real difference within their own local neighbourhood. You could use case studies from the LifeZone and any local stories of celebrities and participants who have achieved a DofE Award, and who come from similar backgrounds to them, to show the ways volunteering has influenced and helped them in their lives and career paths. Volunteering can help young people connect with other like-minded individuals and is a great way for them to make friends. This really helps if they’ve moved to a new area and can enable them to build long-term relationships within their community. To highlight these social aspects of volunteering, try organising team activities where they can work together in groups. They could identify a local need, plan how to meet it and then work together. Not only will this make the experience feel less daunting by doing their activity in a team, it will also keep them motivated for longer. It’s important that young people feel valued


and receive recognition for the commitment they have made to volunteering. Consider handing out sectional certificates to participants once they have completed their activity so that they can feel a sense of achievement.


DofE Magazine Issue 29: SPRING 2018 9 Top ten DofE volunteering activities:


1. Brownies/Cubs etc. 2. Helping younger children 3. Sports coaching 4. Charity shop 5. Helping animals 6. Cadets – Air, Police, etc. 7. Library/museum 8. Helping older people 9. Religious activities 10. Fundraising for a charity


“I can’t find a role…”


Another reason for young people’s hesitation, particularly at Bronze level, is that they wonder if they are suitable as volunteers because no charity has ever sought their help. However, just because some third sector organisations aren’t outwardly advertising for volunteering roles doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t welcome the support. Therefore, it is important to remind participants that there are plenty of opportunities out there – with around 200,000 charities in the UK alone – and to proactively get in touch with those whose cause is of interest to them to see if they have a role available. You could also inform your participants that if they stick with their volunteering activity beyond Bronze, it means that they have one section of their Silver or Gold DofE programme already underway. If they have already achieved a Gold Award, you could ask them to consider volunteering for the DofE. We want as many young people as possible to enjoy the benefits of volunteering – not just a select few – to learn about their communities and feel a sense of belonging and purpose. Please continue to make their experience as interesting, achievable and accessible as possible.


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