Make volunteering your New Year’s resolution


DogsTrust Bridgend highlighted pair looking for a home


Muriel Diaz, 90, oldest volunteer at Cardigan.


Aimee Bridgeman Barnardo’s Young Volunteer of the Year at work in Albany Road Cardiff


Barnardo’s Cymru is encouraging people to make a New Year’s resolution to help turn young people’s lives around by volunteering with the charity. Volunteering is open to people of all ages and abilities who would like to donate their time in 2018. The charity’s Cardigan store has one of the greatest age ranges with 16-year-old student Kiah Huurdeman working alongside Muriel Diaz, 90, who after an adventurous life as a nurse and midwife in Peru still goes in once a week to help out. Shop manager Gill Coombs said: “Muriel is amazing, she’s been volunteering with us for 20 years and still comes in to do sewing for us. Working here is really rewarding, even if it’s just for a couple of hours each week as our volunteers are helping support our services and the people who need them so desperately.” Volunteers at Barnardo’s Cymru shops carry out a variety of roles including sorting stock, serving customers and creating inspirational window displays. It’s the window displays which Aimee Bridgeman, the charity’s Young Volunteer of the Year likes doing best. Aimee, 20, from Pontprennau, Cardiff , has a heart condition and began volunteering at the charity’s Albany Road shop four years ago when she left school. She continued while a student and now works there three days a week. “Barnardo’s has brought me out of my shell, it’s given me confi dence and I’ve met so many wonderful people, I’ve made friends for life,” said Aimee. Dave Howells, South Wales business manager for Barnardo’s said: “The start of a new year when people are thinking about resolutions is the perfect time to look into volunteering.” All Barnardo’s volunteers are given full training and on-going support. If you’re interested in volunteering then call into your local Barnardo’s Cymru shop or visit www.barnardos.org.uk. All money raised in Barnardo’s shops is used to help children and families who are supported by the charity, such as those who have been abused; who care for a sick or disabled relative or who have a disability.


Paddy and Penny are 10 year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. They are very aff ectionate and love having cuddles. They enjoy their walks and Paddy likes playing with his toys. They are fi ne to be left for short periods. A quiet household is best suited for them so that they can have a peaceful afternoon nap. All these adorable pair want is to be in their forever home where they will get lots of cuddles and attention. If you would like to know more about Paddy and Penny, then please contact Dogs Trust Bridgend on 01656 725219; or pop down to the centre at Court Colman CF31 4NG. You can also visit the website at www dogstrust.org.uk.


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Two thirds of people in Wales admit to having made a New Year’s resolution they haven’t kept


Research released by youth charity The Prince’s Trust has exposed that two thirds of people in Wales have made a New Year’s resolution they haven’t kept. The fi ndings highlight a tendency for people to give things up in January, with 60% of respondents in Wales claiming that they have tried to give something up before. However, despite their good intentions, most people who try to give things up say they usually don’t get through the month without cheating or going back to their old ways. Unsurprisingly, the most common things people in Wales tend to give up in the New Year are chocolate, cigarettes and alcohol. Although most people deprive themselves in a bid to improve their health or to get back in shape after the Christmas break, their eff orts often don’t have the desired eff ect – with almost half confessing that they didn’t achieve their goals. It seems that there are many drawbacks to giving things up. One in four people in Wales (26%) fi nd the worst part of giving something up to be depriving themselves of something without seeing any real benefi ts, while 36% struggle with turning down nice food and drink and almost a third (31%) grapple with feelings of guilt if they cheat on their resolution. The temptation is often too much for Kiss FM DJ and Prince’s Trust Ambassador Neev Spencer who has repeatedly tried (and failed) to give up chocolate for January. She said: “It’s really tough to give up something like chocolate, even for a small period of time. Even though I tell myself every year that I’m going to be good this time, all it takes is a fl eeting glance at a bar of Galaxy and I’m in a world of chocolate deprived- pain. It doesn’t take long before I crack and I don’t know why I put myself through the trauma every year!” Taking up new interests is happier experience Although people in Wales are much more likely to try to give something up than they are to take up a new interest in the New Year, those who take something up are more likely to be happy about their experience. Neil Aubin, a Prince’s Trust Online Volunteer from Cardiff , had a string of broken


14 - Friday 5th January 2018 - Cardiff & South Wales Advertiser


resolutions to his name when he decided to switch his focus to giving something back. He now volunteers as a business mentor for The Trust’s Enterprise programme through Prince’s Trust Online, which is a new platform that enables young people across the UK to access some of the charity’s services online. Don’t Give Up – Give Back Despite the benefi ts volunteering has to off er, people in Wales are four times more likely to consider taking up a form of exercise or a creative hobby in the New Year than they are to volunteer for charity. While 50% of respondents would consider volunteering for charity, half of those who don’t do so currently (46%) say they don’t have enough time for it, and more than one in ten (15%) feel there is a lack of volunteering opportunities in Wales that appeal to them. Fortunately, the rise of initiatives such as Prince’s Trust Online, which makes volunteering more accessible by opening up roles that fl ex around busy lifestyles, is making these common concerns less relevant. The online availability of the platform means volunteers can now mentor young people remotely from anywhere in the UK, with a commitment of just two hours per week, making it easier for them to integrate volunteering into their lives. The Prince’s Trust is actively looking for people to volunteer as e-mentors to support the growth of Prince’s Trust Online, which launched in July 2017. The charity today launches its Don’t Give Up – Give Back campaign, which calls on people to ditch giving things up for January in favour of giving something back by volunteering for Prince’s Trust Online. The Trust’s e-mentors provide invaluable one-to-one support for young people, enabling their mentees to learn the skills they need for self-employment or employment. In order to support one young person, e-mentors typically commit around two hours per week over a period of three months, and are able to schedule this time around any existing commitments. To fi nd out more about volunteering opportunities with The Prince’s Trust, visit www. princes-trust.org.uk.


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