Young volunteers, professionals and dignitaries came together to celebrate youth volunteering through the vinvolved programme in Rotherham at a special event held on Wednesday 23rd February.

Launched in April 2008, vinvolved, the national youth volunteering programme, aimed to get half a million more young people positively involved in their communities.  They engaged with over 500 voluntary sector organisations and over 150 private sector partners to create innovative youth volunteering opportunities including working with several organisations in Rotherham.

Locally, the programme was delivered by SAFE@LAST, Age Concern and Voluntary Action Rotherham.

SAFE@LAST has led on a vinvolved project working with seven other organisations in Rotherham.  The project has created over 600 new volunteering opportunities for young people over the last three years.  Opportunities that engaged young people’s passions have been available in a range of opportunities including Design and Photography, Dance, Administration, Fundraising, Gardening, Befriending and Buddying, Gardening, Media, Marketing and PR.

Funding for the project programme ends next month after over three years of delivery and the event on Wednesday aimed to celebrate all the young volunteers who have given their time for the benefit of others.  At the black and white themed event volunteers were greeted by a magician and stilt walker and presented with their certificates by The Worshipful the Mayor of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Rose McNeely.

Although this project is coming to an end we hope that the legacy of what it has achieved will continue in Rotherham.  SAFE@LAST will continue to work with young volunteers wherever possible utilising their skills, experience and knowledge and providing them with quality volunteering experiences.