The National Youth Agency: Young use volunteering to boost employment prospects

The research, funded by the Office of the Third Sector, has been carried out by NYA associate Carolyn Oldfield. It is based on interviews with managers and staff in 22 organisations, including volunteer centres, further and higher education institutions, V and V-funded projects, national voluntary and volunteering organisations, youth organisations and Connexions. Most of these staff reported a noticeable increase during the past 12 months in the number of young people showing interest in volunteering, from young people leaving school at 16 (or earlier) to graduates unable to gain paid employment.

The staff interviewed recognised the importance of helping young people talk clearly about the skills and experience they have gained through their volunteering. While some young people wanted to gain experience of particular kinds of work, such as working with children or conservation, for others volunteering offered an opportunity to experience a structured environment where they could develop a range of skills including team work, time management and communication skills.