By Mariamu Fundi
As summer approaches, Islington and other north London boroughs such as Camden prepare for another month of volunteer events and opportunities for young people.
Volunteer Action Islington and Volunteer Centre Camden will host a Volunteer Recruitment Fair for Volunteer’s Week, the Big Celebration.
On Wednesday June 1st from 12pm-4pm doors will open to the public for the chance to find local volunteering opportunities, meet over 40 Camden and Islington organisations that are recruiting volunteers, and ask questions about volunteering.
Transferable skills
“A lot of skills you learn through volunteering are transferable,” said Phil Boye-Anawomah, Manager of Volunteer Centre Islington and Senior Project Officer.
“It used to be if you saw someone volunteer it stood out on their CV, now it stands out if they haven’t.”
Boye-Anawomah, who started his career as a volunteer, advises graduates to start volunteering. “Some companies demand some relevant experience before interviewing you so volunteering can lead to paid employment,” he said.
Studies taken by the Centre show a rise in people aged 25-40 volunteering in Islington, with a 20% increase in volunteer students aged 16-25. Areas involving the mentoring of young children and care and assistance of elderly citizens are the least popular, the studies said.
Help on Your Doorstep
An organisation known as Help on Your Doorstep campaigns to encourage young people to knock on doors and find out who needs help with shopping, house duties and gardening etc. To sign up visit the website on helponyourdoorstep.com
“There are always areas there are difficult to match, sometimes people don’t know what’s involved and so are worried they won’t enjoy it,” said Boye-Anawomah.
“But help on your doorstep may not be exciting but it’s important,” he said. People with the dementia who don’t speak English “are the most isolated”, he added.
Volunteer Action Islington
Volunteer Action Islington hold weekly drop in sessions for people interested in Volunteering on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10am and 4pm.
To find out more go to http://www.vai.org.uk/volunteering/ for more information and a calendar of upcoming events.
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