Residents in Calderdale are being asked to spare some time to help transform young people’s lives.
Calderdale Council is looking for volunteers to support its work with children and young people in a range of services aimed at giving them the best possible start in life.
Whether it’s helping out at a youth club, befriending a child in care, helping to run play activities or mentoring a young offender, there are lots of ways to get involved and help young people to socialise, learn and develop. Home-Start Calderdale – a charity that the Council commissions to support families with children under the age of five – is also inviting people to volunteer.
Just like Joanne Love from Bailiff Bridge, you could help make a big difference to a young person’s life. Joanne volunteers in the Council’s ‘Independent Visitors’ team. Independent visitors befriend young people in care and meet them once a month to help with their personal and social development. This could be something as simple as taking them bowling after school or to the cinema at the weekend. Joanne says:
“I decided I would like to volunteer following a short course in counselling. I had also, for many years, helped my friend develop her relationships with her children. I really felt I could make a difference to a child’s life through being an Independent Visitor. It’s a great opportunity to help children who are not as fortunate as your own. It can be a really wonderful experience seeing your special person grow into a lovely young adult.”
If you’re interested in volunteering you can find out more at a recruitment event on Saturday 6 December at Halifax Central Library, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Staff from Calderdale Council and Home-start Calderdale will be there to give advice and answer questions.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, Cllr Colin Raistrick, said:
“Volunteers have a really valuable role helping the Council to support local youngsters and their families. Together we can make a real difference to people’s lives in Calderdale, but we need more volunteers to come forward so we can keep providing fantastic services. There are so many benefits – not only is it rewarding, challenging and fun, you can also develop new skills, improve your confidence and gain experience of working with young people. We have lots of volunteering opportunities and encourage people to come to our recruitment event to find out more.”
You can volunteer weekly, monthly or less often, and can support any age group from babies to teenagers. Full training is provided. Volunteers need an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (previously known as Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check) – the Council will cover the cost of this.
Do something amazing, volunteer and help change a child’s life.
For more information please email sarah.maligranda@calderdale.gov.uk or call 01422 288253.