Teens keen to become volunteers (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Teens keen to become volunteers

5:40pm Sunday 10th May 2009 in Search By Chris Wickham

A group of youngsters have started a 10-month volunteer programme working in Richmond Council’s children services and culture department.

The 15-strong team is working with the authority as part of the national vTalent Year programme.

They will be working in youth, sports and children’s centres, the Duke of Edinburgh awards team or children’s library service and are taking part in national recognised NVQ training in either business administration, customer service or the VRQ youth work qualification.

Members will also have the chance to undertake in-house training and complete the Duke of Edinburgh gold award.

Charlie Aric, 18, who is working at Hampton Youth Project, said: “I was unemployed for eight months before this.”

He added: “Since I started, I’ve got a lot more confident, and I’m working on the Duke of Edinburgh gold award, which is the same as an A-level, so hopefully it will give me more chance of a job in the future.”

“If people want to come and talk to someone their own age I’m here and they can, but if they want someone with life experience, there are older people around as well.”