Volunteer opportunities still available for youngsters

v@groundwork volunteer Ryan Smith at Hollingworth Lake.

A project which has engaged young people in volunteering for the past two years has come to an end.

Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale’s v funded v@groundwork project finished this month but organisers st Groundwork say that a number of partnership volunteer projects established through v@groundwork will continue to be coordinated by the Trust.

The v@groundwork programme started in September 2006 with the aim of engaging young people aged 16-25 in volunteering within their communities. The programme has provided a wide range of opportunities from physical conservation work to environmental art projects across Rochdale.

More than 420 young people have since been engaged in volunteering. Nearly 300 of those participated in directly delivered part time/long term volunteer projects and 200 had never volunteered before.

A spokesperson for v said: "Not only have these volunteers helped improve the local environment and their local community, many have gained new skills, improved their job prospects and had fun in the process.

Chris Taylor, v@groundwork volunteer, said: “It’s been good. It has kept me busy and out of trouble! I have made a lot of new friends and picked up some valuable skills.”

Successful partnerships have been established with Rochdale Council's Countryside Service, Peak District National Park Authority and Heywood Young Spirit.

The ‘Ranger 4 a Day’ environmental project, delivered with the Countryside Service, allows young people to work alongside the Countryside Rangers, learning new skills by taking part in physical work such as fence building, tree felling and footpath maintenance.

Beth Sutcliffe, Countryside Ranger at Rochdale Countryside Service, said: “Ranger 4 a Day has worked really well. It has given me the chance to work with local young people, taking them out in to local green spaces and carrying out improvements for the benefit of local people and visitors alike. Their energy and enthusiasm has been invaluable!”

‘Ranger 4 a Day’ is just one of a number of projects being continued by Groundwork.

Anyone interested in volunteering with Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale can contact Laura Roden:

0161 624 1444

07947 794584

v.projectassistant@groundwork.org.uk