If you think students spend all their spare time avoiding studying, going out with their mates and having a good time then you'd be right. Well our student bloggers do anyway. While they assure us they don't slack on the study, they've got a lot to answer for when it comes to enjoying themselves while volunteering.

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Thursday May 04, 2006

How I got into volunteering

I was actually approached first which lead me into volunteer work. A little girl I know (through family/friends) was just about to turn seven and she and her twin sister were on the waiting list for a local Brownies. The leaders of the group insisted someone was with her at all times because of the special care she requires due to her conditions of cerebral palsy and epilepsy. The girl’s mother asked me if I would be interested in going along with her daughter, because I already know how to care for her, and how to work her wheelchair etc.

I thought about it a little and thought hey what have I got to loose and said I would do! After a while I got into the work we did at Brownies and started to enjoy myself (it wasn’t instant!). Shortly after I approached a friend at school who I know was in a scheme called Young Leaders. She told me a little about it, and I went along to a meeting. A little after the meeting I contacted scout troops in my town asking if they were interested in me joining their pack as a young leader. I got a resounding response and three groups invited me to their meetings. Two were on the same night as Brownies though, and that’s when I started my work at the third group that contacted me, Beavers.

I have been at brownies for over a year now (it was a year in January) and Beavers about 9 months or so. I enjoy the work I do, and I can’t wait until I can start a new venture when I leave school, not forgetting my Beavers and Brownies though!  

Posted by Ashley ( 11:44 AM )
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Why I decided to volunteer

There are many different reasons to volunteer as a young person, and many benefits of doing so. I initially decided to join become a St. John Cadet as a way to make new friends outside of school. By joining I was able to meet a whole new variety of different people, from all walks of life including adults and young people, those volunteering their time like me and others who are helped because of St. John.

By volunteering I am able to gain new skills both qualifications and awards such as first aid and different social skills that can’t be written on a certificate but are very important to every day life. When deciding if I wanted to volunteer I looked at the wide range of people, communication and leadership skills I could learn and improve by becoming a St. John Cadet. All of these things enhance my CV which will help me when applying for jobs, college and university. The new experiences and opportunities available to me as a young volunteer; enhance my CV, enable me to gain new skills and experience things that would not usually be available for me.

Overall, I wanted to become a volunteer to have fun, which is a major part of my time spent as a St. John Cadet, with the new friends I met, the new skills I have gained and the new experiences available to me.

Posted by Sammy ( 11:40 AM )
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About me!!

Hiya guys, my name is Ashley Walton and I am fifteen years old. I live in Lancashire but my birthplace is York. I lived in the Salisbury area of Wiltshire for about 10 years until we moved back up north!

I live at home with my mum and dad and my older sister (Hannah who is eighteen) in a small(ish) town near Blackburn. My mum is a classroom assistant and my dad is the project director at a charity based centre. My sister is training to be a hairdresser. We have one dog called Jess and a old mad cat called Suzie! I am not a big animal person but Jess is just my big baby, and I mean baby! I am in my last year at secondary school, working hard for my GCSE’s and I have a passion for shopping! I love buying clothes, clothes and urm more clothes! I love jewellery too! I used to work as a waitress but have had to give this up due to so much schoolwork which means I am learning to shop on a budget!

I also enjoy my voluntary work and as soon as my nasty exams have ended I hope to increase the time I have to volunteer! I am planning on going to college after I leave school to do a childcare course, heading towards a job with children, not quite sure what though yet! I love working with children, don’t ask me why because I really couldn’t answer! They are so funny and spontaneous and not half as judgemental as adults tend to be, I guess that is the reason why! I'm rambling on now so I'm going to end it there!

Posted by Ashley ( 11:38 AM )
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About Me

Hey ! I’m Sammy and I’m 16 living in the UK and currently doing my GCSE's (woo what fun !!! ) I want to go to university and train to be a social worker because i want to work with children. At the moment I am just trying to have some fun, pass my exams and hopefully make some kind of a difference.

I’m tall with dark hair and hazel eyes. I live with my dad and little sister in Lincoln, which is in the east Midlands of England. I told I’m a bit of a perfectionist which sometimes leads to me stressing over things, but overall I try to laugh about things and smile ! J I figured it is best to try and see the best in things.

In my spare time I like to do the same stuff as all people my age really.  i love going to the cinema, St. John and hanging out with my mates and doing spontaneous stuff with them, even most stuff really, and telly my favourite shows are The OC, Friends, Lost, Desperate Housewives (what would I do without channel 4?).

Posted by Sammy ( 10:41 AM )
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