03 September 2010On this page:
V Inspired - The volunteering site for young people aged 16-25
v. It's the first letter of the word volunteering. It's also the name of a new charity set up to inspire a new generation of volunteers. v is putting the youth back into youth volunteering. It's different because it's led by the interests and passions of young people.
whatsyourv?
Everyone has a v - it's the skills and passions that make you unique, that you can use to change lives, change communities or change the world. vinspired.com exists to help you find the opportunities that are right for you - because of the things you love doing, the things you care about, and the things you want to achieve. Tell V what you're looking for - and where - and vsearch will seek out the volunteering opportunity that's right for you.
www.vinspired.com
VSU Youth In Action
VSU Youth In Action runs a huge variety of lunch time and after school projects, individual and group placements, training, residential and other projects involving young people in their local communities. Working with other people, especially children, remains the volunteers' main activity. There are volunteering opportunities in education, teaching support, art, media, desktop publishing, IT, environmental issues, conservation, gardening, caring, mentoring, community work, music, drama, radio and sports.
www.vsuinkent.org
Duke Of Edinburgh's Award Scheme
The Duke Of Edinburgh's Award is a voluntary programme of practical, cultural and adventure activities, designed to support the personal and social development of young people aged 14 to 25, regardless of gender, background or ability. It offers an individual challenge and encourages young people to undertake exciting, constructive, challenging and enjoyable activities in their free time.
www.theaward.org
The Prince's Trust
Through practical support including training, mentoring and financial assistance, helps 14-30 year olds realise their potential and transform their lives.
www.princes-trust.org.uk
Volunteer Bureaux
Register with the volunteer bureau nearest you to get involved in volunteering locally or nationally in an area most suited to your interests.
Sevenoaks
www.sevenoaksvolunteers.org.uk
volunteering@vawk.org.uk
Edenbridge
www.sevenoaksvolunteers.org.uk
volunteering@vawk.org.uk
Swanley
www.swanleyvolunteers.org.uk
info@swanleyvolunteers.org.uk
The Tryangle Awards
County-wide award scheme to celebrate your achievements. Each year young people can be nominated to receive an award. Follow this link to download the Tryangle Awards Nomination Form 2010 (
Wordpad Document 190KB file details). Please note that the closing date for nominations is 16th May 2010.
St John's Ambulance
Almost half of the 45,000 St. John Ambulance volunteers are under the age of 18. Badgers are aged 5 to 10, learn first aid and have fun. Cadets are aged 10 to 18 and can do training in first aid and other skills. St John's Ambulance provide support for schools in teaching children First Aid and host annual First Aid competitions for schools. If you're undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme then St. John Ambulance can help you to complete your service section.
www.sja.org.uk/sja/young-people.aspx
Red Cross Youth Service
For children and young people aged between 5 and 25, Red Cross Youth offers a range of activities that might excite and interest you. There are so many reasons to get involved, including international volunteering opportunities, Youth Action Teams, Youth Achievement Awards, Befriending and much more.
www.redcross.org.uk/branch.asp?id=436
Connect Youth International
Promotes non-formal exchanges of young people aged 15-25, between the UK and other countries. Runs programmes that give young people an international experience. Programmes range from group exchanges to individual voluntary service. Also provides funding to help people working in the youth sector develop skills and establish contacts necessary to enhance their work. The scheme is aimed at those young people who would not normally get to go abroad.
www.connectyouthinternational.com
Youth Action Groups
Youth Action Groups are a way in which to encourage young people to work together and raise their awareness of the role they can play in creating safer communities. The groups encourage good citizenship and develop young people's knowledge and understanding of problem solving, communication and teamwork through an interactive and relevant learning experience.
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/youth/youth19
Kent Safe Schools
Kent Safe Schools seeks to listen, consult, engage and support children and young people to encourage and empower them to actively participate and positively contribute to their schools and communities.
Kentssafeschools@kent.gov.uk
School Councils
A site that shows you how to start a School Council in your school. They offer training days and resources (practical toolkits, videos, posters and badges) for you and your teachers, as well as ways to make your council more effective and able to achieve more.
www.schoolcouncils.org
info@schoolcouncils.org
The British Youth Council
Promotes the active citizenship of young people, working with you to develop your skills and abilities to participate in decision-making and encouraging young people to work together towards collective action.
www.byc.org.uk
Kent Youth Service
There are many ways you can get involved: In a youth forum, committee or the Kent Youth County Council (KYCC)
kycc@kent.gov.uk
UK Youth Parliament
The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) aims to give the young people of the UK between the ages of 11 and 18 a voice, which will be heard and listened to by local and national government, providers of services for young people and other agencies who have an interest in the views and needs of young people.
www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk
mail@ukyouthparliament.org.uk
Amnesty International
Worldwide charity that works towards protecting human rights. It works to free prisoners of conscience, to make sure that political prisoners are given fair trials, to abolish torture and the death penalty, to protect the human rights of refugees and asylum seekers, to protect the human rights of non-combatants in armed conflicts and to stop all enforced 'disappearances' and extrajudicial executions.
www.amnesty.org.uk
sct@amnesty.org.uk
Junior Urgent Action Network (8-12 years):
Junior urgent actions are monthly appeals which have been specially designed for young people aged 8-12 working with the help of an adult (usually a parent or teacher). The actions are part of Amnesty's worldwide letter-writing campaign on behalf of victims of human rights violations.
www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=773
Youth Groups (11-18 years):
For young people aged 11-18 years old who are already taking action for Amnesty or who want to get involved. (N.B. if you are over 14 you can join Amnesty as an individual).
www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10349
Headliners (Formerly "Children's Express")
A UK-wide news agency producing news, features and comment by young people for everyone. Through a unique learning through journalism programme, young people aged 8 to 19 research and write stories on issues that are important to them for publication in national and local newspapers, magazines, television and radio.
www.headliners.org
enquiries@headliners.org
The Site
An online resource for help, advice and information on all issues, aimed at 16 to 24 year olds
www.thesite.org
Natural England
Natural England is here to conserve and enhance the natural environment, for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people and the economic prosperity that it brings. Natural England brings together English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service.
www.naturalengland.org.uk
enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
kent@naturalengland.org.uk
Groundwork
Groundwork supports communities in need, working with partners to help improve the quality of people's lives, their prospects and potential and the places where they live, work and play.
www.groundwork.org.uk
info@groundwork.org.uk
Groundwork Kent And Medway
Groundwork Kent & Medway is a local charity which works in partnership to bring about environmental, economic and community regeneration to address local needs, to help create a place where we want to work, live and stay.
www.groundwork-km.org.uk
gkm@groundwork.org.uk
Kent Wildlife Trust
As well as managing more than fifty nature reserves, Kent Wildlife Trust works throughout the county for wildlife and for people. Aims to maintain and restore Kent's rich wildlife heritage, and to bring people and wildlife closer together. Campaigning for better protection of our precious wildlife and habitats. There are a huge range of activities to suit all interests, from "hands-on" conservation, building otter holts, to recording species, working in visitor centres and shops, with children through Wildlife Watch and fundraising.
www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk
info@kentwildlife.org.uk
Wildlife Watch (Under 16s)
Wildlife Watch is the junior branch for The Wildlife Trusts, the club for all animal fans, nature nuts and young environmentalists
www.wildlifewatch.org.uk
watch@wildlifetrusts.org
BritishTrust For Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
BTCV is the largest organisation in the United Kingdom promoting practical conservation work by volunteering. They offer opportunities to develop skills and careers in conservation and advice to local community groups.
www.btcv.org
Information@btcv.org.uk
British Trust For Conservation Volunteers: Kent
www2.btcv.org.uk/display/btcv_kent
kent@btcv.org.uk
