Ivy Project (Exeter)
Contact: The Ivy Project, C/o Wat Tyler House, King William Street, Exeter, EX4 6PD
Tel: 01392 686688
E-mail: info@theivyproject.org.uk
The Ivy Project believes that all young people should be given an equal opportunity to volunteer and that these opportunities should be tailored, flexible and exciting.
The Ivy Project has a proven track record of supporting young people with additional support needs to develop towards their full potential. This is achieved through a supportive and inclusive environment, where a policy of no-refusal and working with the young person, rather than the problem, enables even the more hard to engage, young people to gain as much as possible from being an Ivy Member; helping to realise their potential.
Ivy volunteers can get involved in a number of ways:
-
Taskforce; one-off volunteering with a group. This could take place over half a day or a day and is a chance to try out different things. Recent events included marine conservation, sponsored boat race, Children In Need cake sale, Commando Challenge, a rubber duck race. Volunteers can take part in a single event or more often. Volunteers are also invited to join the Taskforce Action Group to decide on future events.
-
Placements; if you would like to help a not-for-profit organisation by giving a little of you time on a regular basis, we support young people to find a placement that suits their interests and availability. Many volunteers find that doing something on a regular basis allows you to develop particular skills in a chosen field. Volunteering placements are very varied, from helping out in an office, to conservation work, to helping at a baby group or after school club, to campaigning for a cause.
-
Youth Action Projects; if a young person or group of young people have an idea about how they would like to improve their community, The Ivy Project can help turn these ideas into reality. Support may include advice about where to find a grant (from £50 to £10,000), guidance on how to set manageable goals, speaking to experienced staff to help shape ideas and information about what other help is available. Youth Action Projects have included; setting up a charity football match between Brazil and Exeter City FC, a weekend of graffiti workshops at a local art gallery, setting up a youth perm a-culture project, getting the City Council to build a skate park and many more.
-
Young people are invited to get involved in running The Ivy Project itself; helping out in the office, producing articles for the newsletter or website, planning future volunteering events, giving presentations about volunteering or becoming a trustee.
Training is also available for young people to get ready for volunteering, to take their volunteering further and to develop personal skills.
For more information contact Dan Kjellgren
Back to VYS Members