Dean is 22 years old, and has a history of offending. He came to a Raising Your Game group in Leeds five months ago, and has been volunteering at the Dogs Trust for a month.
“Volunteering is fun,” says Dean. “I like the different dogs. It gets me out of the house and off my games console, and keeps me out of trouble.
It allows me to meet other people and make new friends – it has given me a lot more confidence to talk to people and be around strangers. And I get a bit of exercise too.”
Emma Cooper, assistant manager at the Dogs Trust, Leeds says:
”We’re always grateful to anyone who’s happy to help out at our re-homing centre.
Dean is a really keen worker and always turns up with an enthusiastic, can-do attitude. We have noticed his confidence grow and it’s clear the work experience means a lot to him and his future work prospects.
We have lots of volunteers working with us at any one time, and we would be happy to welcome more of the young people taking part in Raising Your Game to volunteer with us.”
Dean is keen to recommend the volunteering experience. “I have learned better social skills, and it’s taught me how to get on with people and respect other people more. I feel I can trust people there and don’t feel on my guard. I hope it will help me get a new job, as it shows I have experience and that I can commit to something.”
Find out how you can get involved or offer a volunteering placement to one of our young people here.