That it’s impossible for 14 year olds to get volunteering experience.

As a sports ckub we have had loads ofv14 year olds volunteering.

My friend's teen was offered work at Kumon tutoring. Is there a branch near you?

That's not true. DD has been volunteering with Brownies since 13 for DofE.

My 14yo was allowed to volunteer at our church. Had to take some safeguarding training, and was never 1:1 with any of the kids (always an adult volunteer or member of staff present).

Not true my son volunteered to help at tennis with helping set up/ coach tennis lessons the coach has a DBS. Teens also run summer reading challenges in libraries no dbs needed. Library staff supervise.

It's a bit sad that a 14 year old is focusing on her CV.

In a few years - NCS then VSO. I don't know the age you need to be for Workaway.

Our local food bank lets 14 year olds volunteer to organise bags of food.

She can, as long as she doesn't have sole charge of kids and is always supervised by a DBS adult. My daughter volunteered at a local community centre kids art club at that age. DBS is only for over 16s anyway.

Guides or scouts is a good idea too.

If you have any friends or acquaintances with primary age children maybe see if they'd have her babysit. My daughter started at that age but only with people who knew me, and not with toddlers/babies. Eg a 9/10 year old who is really capable of looking after herself but not quite old enough to be left alone all day/in the evening and would enjoy hanging out with a sensible teenager. Older primary kids might prefer this to school holiday club.

We get DoE students volunteering from age 14. You just need to look around for opportunities.

My local council area has a website for volunteering opportunities, and one of the toggles is 14-16 year old so there are definitely opportunities. It looks like most of them are in charity shops but there are definitely options near me!

She wouldn't need a dbs at 14 but the company would likely not allow her alone with children.

14 is a really tricky age for work experience unless it's arranged via her school and obvs that won't be in the school holidays.

I think she might have to wait a year to be honest.

How great tho that she is keen to do something - you must be very proud OP.

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At that age I’d recommend helping at youth groups including brownies / cubs. Church groups also might have openings.

Both of mine did DoE bronze at 14 and it was really difficult to get the volunteering. Eldest got something through school and youngest through local church though we are not church goers. Work experience was also really difficult to organise. It seems that they need to be a bit older to have much hope.

I’m not sure that’s true. There were guides who helped at my daughter’s rainbow unit, I’m sure they were under 16! No use for summer holidays though.

Mine did Rainbows when she was 14 asna guide, then volunteering at an after school spanish club for DofE in year 10. She also did work experience at a primary. A friend’s did park run. There are some around.

Volunteer at a care home to chat or read with residents?

Mine did RDA from 14 as well, it was the making of her in a lot of ways. She was home schooled and highly anxious and it was the pathway back into school. Also looked great on her uni application and she got an unconditional offer

Could she get a holiday job, would that he easier to find? Babysitting/dog walking for neighbours, life guard at local pool, cafe?

She’s a bit young yet but Dd volunteered with the National Saturday Club once she was 16. She’d been to it from about 13yo. It was genuinely life changing for her and has led her to her current career.

Young leader at scouts (personally also guides) - absolutely available and in scouts also links her into activities for her age group.

they probably want a year-round intention, not just the summer holidays though (I certainly would for my troop). And are you planning to go away over the summer holidays? That might take a chunk of her available time out…

That's not true.

She can volunteer with RDA (Riding for the Disabled). Under 16s are not asked for a DBS check, all volunteers are asked to provide the names of 2 referees. She would not at any time be alone with any disabled child or adult.

I can't see why she wouldn't be able to volunteer with other organisations.

When I was looking for my DC a couple of years ago the sticking point was always that she wouldn’t be covered by their public liability insurance until at least 16 sometimes 18

My son volunteers at a children's club. They just need to supervised, they shouldn’t be left alone in charge of the children at that age anyway. But can still be useful.
It’s a bit specific but the club is a charity that has lots of volunteers, look for something like that?

There are very limited opportunities at that age. 14 is still a child and she really doesn’t need to worry about adding things to her CV at that age!

Parkrun, local sports teams - helping with younger age groups, young leaders at brownies or cubs, holiday clubs, riding for disabled, conservation groups