Youth Volunteering Project

The Parasol Project has over 20 years’ experience of working with disabled, non-disabled, vulnerable and at risk children and young people across Oxford City.

Many of the children and young people we work with suffer from environmental, health, social and/or economic disadvantage. They are often socially isolated and find it difficult to access services without significant tailored support.

Parasol’s inclusive Volunteering project is designed to provide disabled and non-disabled young people the opportunity for supported Volunteering placements at Parasol CHILD and TEEN activities.

In order to allow young people to find their own level of involvement and develop at their own pace our Volunteering Project is designed to offer 5 tiers of Volunteering – Junior Role Model’s, Role Models, Volunteers, Senior Volunteers and Workforce. The opportunity for advancement within the project also helps with prolonged engagement. Each role has differing levels of involvement, responsibility and expectations around attitude, focus and behaviour.

Through our partnership with agencies referring young people our project includes those that are disabled, disadvantaged and vulnerable and young people that are in the looked after system, young carers, at risk of exploitation, excluded from school, young offenders and/or victims of crime.

Parasol’s inclusive ethos enables us to create a safe and supportive environment in which young people can be diverted from risky behaviours whilst gaining work related experience and improving social skills, independence and self-confidence. The Parasol Volunteer Co-ordinator offers support to young people and helps them recognise and work on areas of weakness and celebrate strengths and achievements.

Through involvement in the project young people experience writing application forms, organizing references, attending interviews and receiving appraisals. The project helps young people focus on work based skills and behaviours that employers care about such as timekeeping, focus, attitude, honesty, reliability and interactions with co-workers and management.

Young people involved in the project are given free places on Parasol TEEN activities and residentials and receive certificates of achievement. We also provide references to young people seeking employment and help writing CV’s.

Youth Volunteering Project report

5 types of Parasol Volunteer