B’s Story

Volunteering at Space Youth Services

I first came to my local youth centre 9 years ago when I was 12 and I’ve never left. I first arrived when I had been referred for some 1-1 work. I soon became involved in open access, and later on became a young volunteer. After I turned 18 I became an adult volunteer.

Volunteering gives me the opportunity to learn how to run different activities. I enjoy meeting new people and being part of a team. I feel my experience of coming to the centre as a young person helps me to understand what young people are going through now, and means I can be a role model for them, particularly the older members of the group who may want to talk about doing their exams or what they might do in the future.

It makes me feel so happy to teach people things they didn’t know before, especially in the kitchen. It’s a good use of my time, and I always feel tired when I get home. I have had a lot of support from the youth workers over the years, so volunteering gives me a chance to give back and say thank you. It also gives me useful experience of working with young people, and a chance to go to training events and meet workers from across the service.