This week we’re celebrating Volunteers Week 2016, marking the importance of giving time for free and recognising our volunteers whose contributions make a real difference in the lives of young people.
We offer a range of services to young people and we could only do this through the support of our volunteers as well as staff.
Laura Lane has been volunteering on the Life Ready project in Great Yarmouth since February 2016. Despite being a busy mum Laura wanted use her passions and spare time to volunteer after seeing the work that her school friend Selena did supporting young people at YMCA Norfolk.
As well as actively supporting the Life Ready team with 1 – 1 meetings and completing ‘Outcome Stars’, Laura runs monthly jewellery making and pamper sessions for the young people.
Laura says “craft is something I have a passion for and it has been very rewarding seeing the young people engaging with the sessions and enjoying themselves. Volunteering at YMCA Norfolk has been absolutely brilliant! I’ve received great support from Heidi and the relationship with YMCA staff in the office is really good. I don’t want to be doing anything else!”
Through volunteering with YMCA Norfolk Laura has grown in confidence and had her eyes opened to how difficult it can be for homeless young people. Laura has also found volunteering to be rewarding and hopes to use the experience to gain future employment!
Her advice to people thinking about volunteering with YMCA Norfolk is “Do it! If you want to learn new things, just give it a go!”
We’ll be calling on local people to get involved in the charity by volunteering at the ‘Celebrating Volunteers Picnic’ at Norwich Cathedral on Sunday 5th June. Join us to find out more about opportunities to get involved and enjoy a fun day out in celebration of the work of volunteers! Click here to find out more about the picnic at the Norwich Cathedral Website.
Gets in touch today if you would like to support YMCA Norfolk. We have a range of roles available and we can be flexible with how we work with individuals.
Any time a person is able to give will be appreciated by everyone involved with YMCA Norfolk. We know from talking to our young people that our volunteers make a huge difference.
Find out more about volunteering opportunities at YMCA Norfolk.
Contact: volunteer@ymcanorfolk.org