There are plenty of ways you can get recognised for your volunteering.
British Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen Awards
These have been set up to recognise the achievements of young people and celebrate the contribution they make to help the lives of others. Any individual or group aged under 25 years can be nominated each summer. You don’t need to be members of the Red Cross to be nominated for this award, so you could always put forward a friend! Read about the award or ask your local youth staff for more information.
The deadline for 2008 nominations has passed. Please bookmark this page to find out when the 2009 award submissions deadline is.
Millennium Volunteers
Anyone aged 16 to 24 inclusive can become a Millennium Volunteer. You receive a certificate recognising your commitment after a number of hours of volunteering. Schemes vary slightly throughout the UK.
England
Visit Millennium volunteers or ask your local youth staff to find out more.
Scotland
Visit Volunteer Development Scotland or ask your local youth staff to find out more.
Wales
Visit WCVA or ask your local youth staff to find out more.
Northern Ireland
Visit Millennium Volunteers Northern Ireland or ask your local youth staff to find out more.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a personal development programme for young people aged between 14 and 25. It gives young poeple the opportunity to learn new skills, help others, experience adventure and enjoy a great sense of achievement.
Visit the Duke of Edinburgh Award website or contact your local area youth staff.
NVQs
If you are intending to volunteer for 16 hours a week for at least six months and are volunteering in a Red Cross charity shop in England, then you can work towards an NVQ. This is a nationally recognised qualification and great for those wanting a career in retailing. It is available in retail operations, distributive operations and customer service. There are no exams – you just need to build a portfolio of what you do in the shop. Ask your shop manager for more information.
Youth Achievement Awards
The Youth Achievement Awards are a peer education approach to recognising and accrediting your achievements and are designed to encourage you to take a more active role in the activities that interest you. They are available at four levels, each with increasing levels of responsibility. Strongly endorsed by the Red Cross, the Youth Achievement Awards build life skills such as team work, confidence, managing feelings and negotiation, and study skills including organisation, portfolio building, planning and reviewing. They require significant commitment but this is well rewarded.
Ask your local youth staff for more information or visit UK Youth.
True story: Young heroes get citizens award
The extraordinary achievements of ordinary young people were recognised at the latest British Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen Awards.
The annual Humanitarian Citizen Awards celebrate the actions of young people aged 25 and under. At an exclusive ceremony in London on 17 November, the overall winners – selected from more than 70 nominees – were announced.
The overall group award went to a team of Red Cross volunteers from the Isle of Skye and Lochalsh young carers project. The four friends were recognised for their support work with young carers and their dedication to volunteering, which includes teaching first aid to classmates and travelling throughout the highlands of Scotland to provide first aid cover.
Sarah Thomas (14), from Shrewsbury, was overall winner in the individual category for her efforts in caring for her mother – who has multiple sclerosis (MS) – and providing support for other young carers.
The thrilled young winner said: “I am very shocked and can’t quite believe I got it.”
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