Find fresh ideas, energy and new skills with young volunteers
Could your organisation benefit from volunteers with loads of enthusiasm and varied skills to help with particular tasks or projects?
Young volunteers may be the perfect match for you. Research shows that young volunteers can benefit your organisation in many different ways, by:
- developing a base of future supporters
- increasing awareness about sector issues and the organisation
- fostering a giving-mentality and appreciation of philanthropy
- building intergenerational connections
- bringing a proactive and positive attitude, with new talents and fresh ideas
- connecting your organisation with new communication technologies.
The benefits of getting involved for young volunteers are also significant. Young volunteers can develop skills to boost future job prospects, build social and professional networks, and help shape their communities. Volunteering also encourages young people to develop connections with people both different to themselves and that share similar values, helping them get an understanding of community diversity and public concerns.
In particular, volunteering has been found to benefit young people considered at socioeconomic disadvantage, with these young volunteers demonstrating positive social development and political awareness, a belief they can make a difference, and a more positive outlook on their ability to succeed in further study.
Tip sheets from the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Inc provide information for community organisations and groups to better equip them to involve young people as volunteers.
Topics covered include:
- being a youth-ready organisation
- creating volunteer roles for young people that are meaningful and have appropriate levels of responsibility
- managing and supporting young volunteers
- using social media to engage, support and recognise young volunteers
- involving young people from diverse cultural backgrounds
- involving young people with disabilities
- some of the legal considerations relating to youth volunteering.
