Volunteering for YSS

YSS Volunteering

Volunteers and the ethos and values that volunteering brings to YSS are hugely important to us. We aim to provide the highest standards of training and support to the volunteers that work alongside YSS and value the extra dimension and diversity they bring to our work. All YSS volunteer work is focused and has a specific purpose.

YSS runs volunteer training programmes on a rolling basis all throughout the year. Basic training programmes normally last two days and are run on weekdays and at weekends in a range of locations throughout the areas we work.

At present we have around 300 volunteers involved in a range of different roles within the organisation. We normally ask volunteers to give 2-3 hours per week when they have an ‘active’ case.

What type of person volunteers?

When we look at the profile of volunteers, we see some surprising results. 45% of applications come from young people aged between 18 and 29 years of age. This is by far our highest percentage, with the percentages reducing for each subsequent age band.

71% of applications are female, 9% of applicants are from a Black and/or Minority Ethnic group.

30% of our volunteers actually work full time and another 21% work part time. Students account for about 17%, unemployed applicants account for about 17%, homemakers about 9% and people who are retired 3%.

We would especially like to see more applicants from men, as they are under represented at present and they can act as valuable role models to young people, especially when 90% of our work is with young males.

Why do people volunteer?

It can make a huge difference to a young person if they know someone is motivated and cares enough about them to offer their time free of charge. Volunteers add an extra level of diversity to an organisation and the reasons for volunteering are varied. It can be a great way of developing some work experience, for personal development or to give something back. However, society at large benefits as we concentrate on recruiting volunteers from local communities which in turn creates an understanding and ownership of the issues faced by young people today and creates a greater social cohesion.