Volunteering: What Makes YOU Stand Out?

Shamia, our Founder, had the wonderful opportunity to be invited to a local school to deliver a talk on volunteering.

The talk started with a question to the young audience:

• "Raise your hand if you have completed all your SATS exams?" - all hands were raised

• "Raise your hand if you currently study English, Maths and Science?" - all hands were raised

• "Raise your hand if you have one years experience working with a team where you had a challenging situation with one member and can explain how you handled it?" - NO hands were raised

The students were puzzled for how would anyone be able to manage that!?

Wouldn't simply studying hard, submitting homework on time and clearing exams ensure a great role at a big company?

Well - if what we submit for a job application is a piece of paper representing us, and we all have studied so hard for the best grades - What makes YOU stand out?

This would be Volunteering.

A 2022 analysis by TalentWorks found that only about 10-15% of postings truly required no prior experience. A similar LinkedIn report showed that nearly 35% of "entry-level" roles asked for at least 1-2 years of prior experience. To be able to equip yourself with this experience prior to stepping out of education, your special tool would be volunteering.

In addition to the value volunteering has in supporting your next steps, it allows an individual to try something new for a small amount of time, around a time that works for them.

In the talk, Shamia further spoke about her volunteering journey, how getting involved in the smallest thing can lead to another opportunity arising, a strong network developing and a chance to further inspire, support and give back to the community. It can simply be the role of a subject ambassador/ representative or joining a team of event fundraisers, volunteering can be so rich with benefits for yourself and the wider community.

Some benefits of volunteering spoke about are noted below:

Personal Growth:

• Develop skills

• Gain experience

• Make friends / Build a Network

Giving Back:

• Contributing and making an impact

• Supporting societal needs

• Building your community

Try New Things:

• Your Choice

• Your Timescale

• Your Impact

Students were inspired and enjoyed hearing the stories, where Shamia shared examples from her days in Secondary that has helped her shape her journey, develop specific skills and further create this platform to where it currently stands.

"She was very well spoken and confident.  I learnt a lot from her and was deeply inspired."

-Fatimah and Safiyah

"Her voice and expressions were very engaging and enthusiastic. Her content was very informative and presented clearly and confidently."

-Gannah

She further allowed some takeaway examples of how the children can get involved and some of the Volunteering opportunities currently available around their local area:

RSPCA

Community Opportunities

Local Libraries

Does your workplace, local shop or business provide volunteering or work experience opportunities for the youth?

Leave a comment or contact us to let us know what other opportunities are out there so we can further share with the community and continue to support each others development journies.