Madeleine, 17 Student

I have been volunteering for over 2 years now on a range of projects from working in an elderly home to working with children and young people.

I am currently a member of the VCM Youth Action Team where my job is to promote volunteering to my peers - young people aged 16-25. Volunteering for me has been and is a chance to use my skills to benefit other people whilst also gaining valuable key skills needed in life and for my CV. I have been able talk about the skills I have gained to put down volunteering on my UCAS university applications. Doing volunteering has given me an advantage as universities will want to see that an applicant has more to give than their academic ability. I will continue volunteering in the future as there is never an end to gaining new skills and never a time to stop giving back to the community.

Recently VCM invited me to become a Trustee and join the Management Committee. This is a great honour and will give me unrivalled experience in management.