Youth & Opportunity United’s Post

VOLUNTEER WORK When engaging in volunteer work and to avoid feeling abused, it is essential to: 1. Conduct a self-assessment to ensure that the chosen volunteer opportunity aligns with your personal vision, interests and motivations. 2. Establish clarity regarding the alignment of the volunteer opportunity with your long-term vision and goals. 3. Familiarize yourself with the organization you intend to volunteer with, and ensure that a formal agreement or contract is in place. 4. Clearly define your expectations and communicate them effectively to the leadership don't just plug in. My involvement in a school volunteer program since 2013 has resulted in a remarkable outcome. In 2018, individuals who had previously benefited from our support emerged as the primary financial contributors to the program, not only in that particular school but also in other schools across the country. Our motivation was to build a community where those who benefited can sponsor children access such services and higher education. This has exceeded our expectations as these children are creating room for their poverty-stricken "siblings" to pursue their dreams. We are no longer running the program. These champions are the ones running it.

TWO IMPORTANT ASKS: 1. LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS! Please click on the link below to learn about this super easy, super flexible way you can help nonpartisan voter turnout (no phone calls or door knocking, just using your existing skills to help the groups who DO the phone calling/door knocking): https://lnkd.in/eExQPQUh 2. LOOKING FOR MORE GROUPS TO HELP! If you know of any under-resourced state or local nonprofit that works on voter turnout, please share the application link below! We are prioritizing groups that are led by people of color and who have small staff/budgets: https://lnkd.in/ggY76hYp

Have you discovered the many benefits of volunteering? National Volunteer Week, 20-26 May, highlights the importance of community engagement and interaction as we age. Volunteering is a great way to connect with others and, at the same time, offer valuable contributions to society, which is crucial to our health and wellbeing. Learn more ways to empower yourself through social engagement here: https://bit.ly/3JY5qIl

New Resource from Clan Childlaw: Offence Grounds at a Children’s Hearing – Understanding when offences will be disclosed. This briefing paper is designed to help children, young people, and practitioners understand the disclosure process in the Children’s Hearing System. Knowing what will be disclosed can help ease concerns and prevent young people from missing out on opportunities in education, work, or volunteering. The paper also guides how practitioners can support young people through this important process. Read the briefing paper here: https://lnkd.in/eNxan6pt

Join Outdoors On Purpose on Friday, September 20th, 8:30AM for "Hike Out the Vote" #NationalVoterRegistration on 9/20 to help celebrate democracy by getting every eligible American registered & #VoteReady for 2024! Register here: https://qr.link/4eJAyk As the Founder of OOP, it is my belief that nonprofits should support voter registration efforts because civic engagement directly impacts the communities we serve. By encouraging voter registration, nonprofits empower individuals to advocate for policies and leaders that align with their interests and address critical issues like healthcare, education, housing, and environmental justice. Furthermore, fostering active participation in the democratic process strengthens community voice and influence in shaping policies that affect nonprofit missions, ensuring a more inclusive and representative society. Lastly, voter registration efforts align with the broader goal of promoting equity and access to resources, as marginalized communities are often underrepresented at the polls.

🌟 It’s Volunteers Week! 🌟 Use these tips to recognise and support volunteers in your community! 🤝 Express Gratitude: A simple "thank you" note or a heartfelt message of appreciation can go a long way. 🤝 Highlight Impact: Share stories and testimonials that showcase the impact of volunteer efforts on your organisation or community. 🤝 Offer Flexibility: Recognise that volunteers have different schedules and commitments. Provide flexible opportunities for involvement, such as remote volunteering options or varied time commitments, to accommodate their needs and preferences. 🤝 Provide Training: Equip your volunteers with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their roles. 🤝 Foster Connection: Create opportunities for volunteers to network with each other and build camaraderie. Let's celebrate the spirit of volunteering and express our appreciation for their invaluable contributions! At CWCC Business Support, we are committed to fostering community engagement through our comprehensive support programmes. Learn more about how our programmes can assist your business in creating positive change and making a difference in your community here: https://bit.ly/4b8btGc Together, we can make a difference in our communities and create positive change. #VolunteersWeek #Recognition #BusinessSupport

Best help is being of service…

It's day 4 of #Volunteersweek and let's hear more from our Appropriate Adult Sarah, about how volunteering as an Appropriate Adult has impacted her and what she has learnt from volunteering. How has volunteering with YSS impacted your life? I feel even more passionate about youth justice and more educated about the myriad of complex reasons a child ends up in custody. I feel I have the knowledge to help children and young people outside of custody, should there be any inkling that their environment, associations, behaviours and/or reactions could be guiding them in that direction. What skills have you developed during your time volunteering? Creating conversations with people who really don’t want to chat to you! Finding commonalities where there appear to be none. Being confident to challenge police were needed and put mine and the young person’s needs first if I feel we are not being prioritised. Finding ways to lighten the mood in a tense environment. The power of distraction. Empathy. Bucketloads of patience!

Do you look after volunteers in local governments? If you do, come join us at this informative session!

Today's post is about community involvement. How do you choose to engage with your community? Check out my blog post https://wix.to/RlmdVdq