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

[OldTiredMum1976]

I have a very sensible 14 year old girl who is hoping to be a teacher when she grows up. She has a 9 week summer holiday and gets so fed up! She would like to do some volunteering to get some things on her CV, however, it seems impossible to find anything these days.

Has anyone got any ideas?

Unfortunately due to DBS requirements she wouldn’t be able to volunteer with anything with children.
Do you have any neighbours/friends with kids who would like tutoring?

Summer Reading Scheme at your local library?
I have known teens do that. They pretty much just have to give the stickers out to the younger kids for reading books.

My daughter volunteered with Riding for the Disabled from age 12 and recently volunteered with cubs for her DofE, might be worth looking into

Parkrun is good for that age group - my DS did it for his DofE.

Park run volunteering has been fantastic for my DDs. They know more locals than I do now! They’ve tried different roles and it’s really built confidence. Some of their friends volunteer in charity shops or food banks too. There are some community gardens near us too which I think would welcome teen volunteers.

She could volunter with guides. It's from 14 yo. Ut of course it isn't the holiday.

www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/young-volunteers/young-leader/

Church groups often do summer camps and older dc can help round here. Dd2 is 14 and helps weekly at an evenings drama club.

Another thought, more child specific, is to put out a request on your local neighbourhood group to see if anyone wants babysitters or a hand with kids in summer hols? My older DD did this and got a couple of takers. I would have loved having a teen to just play and craft with kids while I was working from home in holidays. Volunteering at rainbows/brownies etc also good experience.

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

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!

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?

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

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.

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…

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

X

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!

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