The Power of Youth Day, which takes place on 2 June during Volunteers’ Week, is an annual celebration of the contributions children and young people make to society through volunteering and social action. It’s a chance to spotlight the achievements of children and young people.

In North Tyneside, children and young people have donated their time to a huge variety of volunteering projects in the last 12 months. Young volunteers from Monkseaton High School, Norham Community Wing, Southridge First School, Woodlawn School, Newcastle University Geography Department, and Phoenix Detached Youth Project, as well as lots of individual children and young people, have actively supported local communities through craft and creative activities, making treat and activity packs, local event planning and much more. Thank you to all who have taken part.

Here is just a snapshot of the contributions made by children and young volunteers over the past year…

Isolation activity packs with Newcastle University’s Geography students

Drawings by local children to brighten up the emergency food parcels

A little bit of time to make someone smile

Thanks to all the children and young people who volunteered their time during the February half-term holidays with VODA’s ‘A Little Bit of Time to Make Someone Smile’ project, making greetings cards, building community and spreading cheer.
 
“I found the sheer joy of receiving this very special gesture so profoundly moving and uplifting – it completely improved my spirits.”
 
Young people can make a difference! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woodlawn School Christmas Hampers

At Christmas, the amazing children and young volunteers from Woodlawn School helped us with our Christmas hamper project.

The children partnered up with VODA for their enterprise and got 15% discount from Morrison’s Tynemouth for the food. They received donations from staff and parents and raised £90 after expenses from Christmas cards they sold as a social enterprise. A big thank you! #PowerOfYouth

 

 

Southridge School cards and Christmas tree decorations

Thank you so much to Miss McIntyre and her class from Southridge School for making these beautiful cards that doubled up as Christmas tree decorations. They fit perfectly into the equally beautiful handmade Christmas envelopes made by the lovely, generous Susan Dawson who normally volunteers with the Linskill Centre. The cards were included in our our festive food parcels.

 

 

 

Thank you to our young volunteers who helped on VODA projects

A huge thank you to all the young volunteers who have helped out in VODA projects during the last year, including Ben, Chris, Lucas, Annie, Chloe and others. Young volunteers have packed Christmas hampers, made quizzes, cards and gift bags and more. Let’s all recognise the #PowerOfYouth.

 

 

 

 

Monkseaton High School

The students from Monkseaton High School created sewing activity packs for people shielding to take part in at home, wrote positive messages which they sent to a local care home, painted decorative rocks and generally supported craft activities for people shielding. As well as supporting student volunteering, teachers donated hand made cards, prints, and inspirational quotes cards for distribution in the local community. Here’s the video from when they featured in the Spirit of North Tyneside celebration in December 2020.

Ignite Your Potential

“It has felt good to help people in the community.”

Thank you to young volunteers from ‘Ignite Your Potential’ @NTAdultLearning who supported VODA’s Good Neighbours project this year. Young volunteers have made all kinds of treats and gifts to cheer up shielding residents, demonstrating the #PowerOfYouth in supporting our communities.