Why I think volunteering is so important

Hands up if you’ve ever fallen into the trap of waiting to enjoy life or for life to bring you different opportunities? Or maybe you are feeling like the future will be amazing once something finally happens…

How did I get involved with volunteering?

My volunteering career started just over 5 years ago with The Market Place, a counselling and youth work service in Leeds as I was receiving counselling at the same time. I joined HYPE (Helping Young People through Experience) in 2013 and I am still there.

At HYPE we consult with other organisations and charities, interview potential counsellors and youth workers as well as many other things. Through HYPE I became involved with YoungMinds, a mental health charity for young people based down in London and then through YoungMinds I helped bring Mindmate to life. I’m still involved with all three.

Why might YOU want to volunteer? 

I honestly love my volunteering and I am in such a better place because of it, I could spend all day telling you many different reasons why you should volunteer, but I will only mention a few.

Becoming a volunteer will open so many doors for you, you will find things out about yourself that you never realised, as well as that you also learn vital life skills that can help you in future career choices. Becoming a volunteer you may also get the opportunity to meet celebrities like I had the honour of meeting HRH Prince Harry at an event.

I have also become an Ambassador for Mindmate.  Our generation has the ability and the responsibility to make our ever-more connected world a more hopeful, stable and peaceful place and by volunteering and encouraging others to do the same, society will be a better place to live in.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”— Winston Churchill

Are you aged 14-24? Do you want to learn more about mental health, have your voice heard and help stop the stigma and discrimination around mental health? You could volunteer with MindMate.