Sean wanted to volunteer in order to gain experience in working with young people with a view to following this route as a career path. He started volunteering with Cedar in May 2018, working with Community Inclusion (Children & Young People) in Belfast. He normally volunteers once or twice a week and this increases during the Cedar summer schemes.

Sean said:

“Before volunteering I was never out of Belfast and during this last year I have travelled to Ballymena and Antrim. This was a big step for me and a new adventure. I also felt my life experience would enable me to offer something positive to young people.”

He continued:

“My volunteering experience has had a positive impact on me personally. I feel my confidence has grown, I have better people skills, I am more assertive, and I enjoy being part of the Cedar team. I also feel that the skills I have developed through volunteering helps me to deal better with challenging situations in my personal life.”

Reflecting on his experience he added:

“I find volunteering with Cedar rewarding as I see the improvements in the young people that we support. I can see them growing in confidence and I know that we are making a difference.”

Volunteering offers the chance to build connections that really make a difference. If you would like to get involved in creating an inclusive society for all visit our volunteer information page or go directly to view our current volunteer roles:

Volunteer Information Page   Current Volunteer Roles