June 2010 Information sheet

This month’s information sheet was actually quite good fun to write.  I had been wanting to write “something” about youth volunteers for awhile.  The Under 18 age bracket presents an opportunity for proactive community groups to tap into a pool of enthusiastic volunteers.  Yes! They may be young and inexperienced, but it’s hard not to be cheered by their willingness to jump in and get involved in community work.   There’s probably plenty more information that could be useful to groups and organisations on how to recruit, involve, support and acknowledge youth volunteers.  I’ll certainly be keeping my ears and eyes open for this information.

 

During the course of this past year, I’ve been approached by kids and parents alike to assist them find suitable volunteering work in the community.  Some are seeking projects to do in the community as a part of the Challenge Program through Horsham College; others want to put in a requisite number of volunteer hours in order to meet the volunteering component of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

 

But, the question does remain.  Are these young people genuine volunteers under the formal definition of volunteering?

 

The formal definition of volunteering in Australia is as follows:

 

Formal volunteering is an activity which takes place through not for profit organisations or projects and is undertaken:

• to be of benefit to the community and the volunteer;

• of the volunteer’s own free will and without coercion;

• for no financial payment; and

• in designated volunteer positions only.

 

The Year 9 Horsham High School Challenge Program is more about kids establishing an identified need in the community, then working as a team to solve it.  They may work with community groups but essentially, the program designed such that the kids work solidly on a closed end project – usually of their own design.  This means that this particular group don’t necessarily, fit inside the formal definition of volunteering as this work is a critical part of their curriculum studies and isn’t “voluntary” in the strictest sense of the word.

 

The Duke of Edinburgh Award however, provides kids with real time, on the ground volunteer experiences in the not-for-profit sector.  Duke Award kids need to fully link in with and be supervised by community organisations who utilise volunteer support and provide services for the benefit of the community.  It could be argued that the Duke Award does fit quite nicely into the definition of volunteerism above.

 

Both kinds of programs offer kids the opportunity to give back to the community, identify their strengths (and their weaknesses), learn new skills and perspectives.   Both kinds of programs are opportunities for Not-for-profit organisations to engage young people in active ways as community problem solvers or as ‘traditional’ volunteers.

 

Young volunteers do, however require more strategic planning and support from groups than might be usual if they were adults.  The information sheet this month gives an overview of this planning and support. It’s not exhaustive so groups will need to establish other appropriate policies and procedures for involving kids as volunteers.  It should not be a daunting process but will perhaps require a few extra steps to establish risk and control it in the early stages of a youth volunteer enquiry. 

 

Community participation groups are also encouraged to see how they can provide volunteer opportunities for youth volunteers.  It might be a simple matter of establishing a Parent Permission form or ensuring that your Working With Children Check process is up to date.

 

All Not-for-profit organisations and community groups from across the Wimmera region are strongly encouraged to promote volunteer opportunities to the community through Wimmera Volunteers.  We have established a simple online form that your group can use for each volunteer role or vacancy you would like to promote, including for roles suitable for youth.  Go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9mspwr9  

 

Youth volunteers will be referred to your organisation or group by Wimmera Volunteers if we can establish that your group has the ability to supervise them appropriately.

 

michelle