CYP Now - Feature: Participation: Virtual volunteers

Youth volunteering levels are remaining static, despite the government spending millions to get young people to be volunteers. Joe Lepper asks whether virtual volunteers are the answer One of biggest hurdles virtual volunteering has had to overcome is its rather gimmicky name. Created in the US, it describes online volunteering roles such as blogging and online peer mentoring.

But "the phrase can be a problem for some people," admits Fiona Dawe, chief executive of YouthNet. "Sometimes when I ask an organisation 'Have you considered offering young people virtual volunteering opportunities?' I'm just greeted with a lot of blank faces."

YouthNet is among a number of organisations promoting virtual volunteering, believing it has the potential to significantly boost the ranks of young volunteers.

"There are a number of young people there who might consider volunteering if it was more flexible," says Dawe. "Virtual volunteering means people can volunteer while they are at work, while at home or at school, all they need is access to a computer."

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