Voluntary help gets £300k boost

A charity based in Sandwell has been awarded a £300,000 grant to help youngsters in the borough get involved with their community.

The Government-funded volunteering body V has pumped the cash into the West Bromwich-based charity vflex which it is hoped will allow them to create almost 3,000 opportunities for 16 to 25-year-olds to do good in their own area. Among those set to benefit is the Sandwell branch of Injury Minimisation Programme for Schools (IMPS).

Youth engagement adviser for the Midlands Madge Milligan-Green said: "Volunteers are the life-blood of organisations such as IMPS. This grant will allow them to train more young people to go into schools and teach children how to spot danger and minimise the risk of injury."

Music programmes, mentoring schemes and even litter-picking projects could also receive many helping hands thanks to the project.

Speaking at an event to showcase the work of vflex, the Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Bob Price, said: "This is my year of the community and vflex puts young people at the heart of the project. I urge all young people in Sandwell to become involved."

Three young volunteers who have already got involved in their communities were also in attendance. Great Barr 24-year-old Christian Velayo is about to start teaching teenagers how to dance, while Kelly McGeough is helping struggling school children to gain confidence through drama workshops. Meanwhile, photographer Jade Moran is determined to capture life in her community on camera.

Vflex Sandwell has been tasked to develop volunteering opportunities for young people aged 16-25 across the borough of Sandwell as part of the national youth volunteering programme developed by the independent charity V.

Terry Ryall, national chief executive of V, said: "Instead of seeing young people as a problem to be fixed, we are giving them the chance to become a positive force for change."

The funding in the Sandwell will create 2,800 volunteer opportunities.