Let's face it, most people who volunteer are passionate about helping people - but for some influencing social change is also important. Volunteering for a campaigning organisation allows volunteers to help make things happen for large charities. Find out what the grass roots activists get up to here.

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Thursday Mar 22, 2007

Barnardo's Annual Confrence

Hi Everyone,

What a week I've had, I was requested to go down to the first ever Barnardo's Annual Confrence.  There was six young people 3 from Barnardos including me. Its even got into the bbc news check this link out to read bit more about it, see if you recognise me.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6472115.stm

There was two of us from Barnardo's North East, 1 from Barnardo's LEaSE and 3 young people from the South of London.

We all talked about different issues which are affecting chldren and young people in the UK.  Issues talked about were Disability, (my bit); another young person talked about being in care; gangs and barriers between adults and young people; families in poverty and another spoke about  young people volunteering.  Another young person from the UK Youth Parliment spoke about funding to help support projects for children and young people.  I have to say the young person talking aobut volunteering got it spot on.

Before the confrence started we spoke with the children's commisioner; he asked us all what we were going to speak about.  So he could lead into some of the things we were going to talk about in his speech.  He talked about more participation from children and young people to happen everywhere, even in schools and for it NOT to be tokenistic.

What else happened this week.....

Last night Barnardo's YPRAG had thier monthly meeting and planned meeting with Barnardo's NE corporate forum thats Barnardo's top suits in the region.  The group has met with them once before and after deep discussion yesterday, we've a lot to take to the meeting on Monday.

Think that's enough for 1 week.

Posted by Moira ( 10:20 PM )
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Wednesday Mar 14, 2007

A night with Kaiser Chiefs...

Doesn't time fly when you're having fun...I definitely had fun and times flied by since, so apologies for not writing and filling you in on this sooner! A couple of weeks ago I was given the fantastic opportunity to go to a Kaiser Chiefs at Shepherds Bush Empire, as an Oxfam Campaigner. Shepherds Bush Empire is a fantastically small venue, which means that you get the added bonus of campaigning while being in the gig atmosphere. Most campaigning opportunities usually involve having a stand in the foyer and catching people as they walk on by. Kaiser Chiefs were definitely in their element with a song at the top of the charts – they were good, and they knew it! We were also collecting signatures for a campaign that very few people disputed... challenging the harmful role of global patent rules in blocking poor people's access to vital medicines. Although it was raining outside the fantastic atmosphere and support we were getting inside made it all worthwhile.

Posted by Helen Bryant ( 5:27 PM )
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