In February last year, YPO launched our new volunteering policy providing employees with the opportunity to volunteer for up to one day for a charity of their choice. Sam Watling, project manager shares her experience of taking up the opportunity to volunteer for Kidz Klub in Leeds.
1. What did you use your volunteer leave for?
I used my volunteering leave to help at Kidz Klub, Leeds for the day. Kids Klub works with children in every area of their lives, communities, homes and schools. They currently work with 1,250+ children and their families in the most challenging areas across Leeds, each week.
A small part of Kidz Klub is the Central Klub which is an event for 300+ children, operating one Monday a month during term time. This is open to all and consists of an hour of fast paced fun, prizes, games, worship songs and relevant teaching each week. Children are collected on buses from several locations in Leeds and dropped off after the event.
Throughout the day, I helped set up the main room and stage, wrapped Christmas selection boxes (donated by local supermarkets) with other volunteers from local companies, attended a volunteer team briefing then went out on one of the buses to collect 70 children from the Beeston Hill and Holbeck areas. There were three other volunteers on my bus who were all extremely friendly and welcoming.
Following the club, we dropped the children back off with their parents – lots of Christmas games and singing went on, as it was the December Christmas club night. We had a team briefing and raised any safeguarding issues. Although it seems a lot, it’s no way near as taxing as it sounds because there’re so many volunteers helping each other out, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
2. What did you enjoy most about volunteering?
- Feeling part of a team with the other volunteers and getting to know others.
- Volunteering with children – it’s SO MUCH FUN!
- Giving back to my local community.
- A sense of achievement and pride at the end of the day.
3. Which of the YPO values linked to your volunteering experience? (be kind, do the right thing, embrace creativity, make a difference)
All values were linked to my volunteering experience:
- Be Kind – to volunteers, staff, children and parents
- Do the right thing – Follow Kidz Klub rules and safeguarding policy and representing YPO in the right way
- Embrace creativity – I had to get creative from the minute I stepped through the door, especially helping set the room and stage up!
- Make a difference – Kidz Klub definitely makes a difference to children and families’ lives in Leeds through their social support and donations and every volunteer is part of what makes the club so successful.
4. Would you recommend volunteering?
I would whole heartedly recommend volunteering. I’ve volunteered for more than ten years with Leeds Refugee Council and Leeds City Council as an independent visitor, and it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done which is why it’s a huge part of my life. It feels good to help young people and hopefully have a positive impact in shaping their future.
5. If you could summarise your volunteering experience in 3 words, what would it be?
Rewarding, fun and fulfilling.
6. Any further comments
Volunteering with children/for large charities often involves safeguarding training and interviews before being appointed as a volunteer, which is something to consider as I had to complete this in my own time. I enjoyed the day so much though, that I’ll be volunteering with the club again this year and throughout the rest of the year, in my own time during evenings.
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