• Leanne Donaghy

    My name is Leanne Donaghy and I am 24 years old. I got involved in volunteering when I turned 16 in February 2002. My first volunteer role was in Save The Children charity shop in Bangor. I volunteered there for six years in total. Throughout my time there I gained a lot of experience. (read more)

  • Joanna's Story

    Joanna Jones, 32 from Lisburn has been a volunteer with Guide Dogs for over four years ever since she completed a tandem sky dive for the charity and wanted to get more involved. (read more )

  • I would recommend volunteering to anybody!

    When I first started volunteering with CVNI I had no interest in conservation work, I didn't even want to get my hands dirty, but that all changed. I have gained qualifications I didn't think I would get and I have never looked back and I would recommend volunteering to anybody. (read more )

  • The Wonderful World of Volunteering

    I read an ad in the newspaper and it intrigued me. Little did I know just what I was entering into.... the wonderful world of volunteering.... a year that was going to give me direction, confidence, where I would meet lots of amazing people and best of all, have plenty of fun and laughter along the way (read more)

  • Make New Friends Whilst Helping a Worthwhile Cause

    Mount Stewart House is a National Trust property near Newtownards. The National Trust relies on the support of volunteers to maintain some of their best-loved sites and buildings as well as some of their 'hidden gems' (read more )

  • Rachael Sewell

    Rachael Sewell, 21, from Belfast has been a volunteer with Mencap's Shout Out Self-Advocacy Group for the past four years. Shout Out is about young people having the right to shout out and develop their self-advocacy skills and take part in consultations, campaigns and workshops. (read more)

  • Cathy Gallagher

    I was brought up in a 'volunteering' family where my mum, dad and other relatives were all heavily involved in our local club. That was probably my 'grounding' in volunteerism. (read more)

  • Catch the Volunteering Bug!

    Before I went away I never really did any volunteering at all, I always thought that there were other people out there who could do it. But I have now learnt that it is everyone's responsibility to get involved in some way. (read more)

  • Overseas Volunteer Finds Magic Volunteering

    It's in Northern Ireland where I have felt most at home and where I've experienced like nowhere else an overwhelming understanding that we are in fact able to change things if we all work together with one goal in mind: helping others. (read more)

  • Millennium Volunteer Gains Career Insight

    Rachel Moore is a student at Lumen Christi College and has been volunteering at Altnagelvin Hospital since October, as part of the Millennium Volunteers programme, which recognises sustained commitment to volunteering. (read more)

Leanne Donaghy

MV 10th Birthday

My name is Leanne Donaghy and I am 24 years old. I got involved in volunteering when I turned 16 in February 2002. My first volunteer role was in Save the Children charity shop in Bangor. I volunteered there for six years in total. Throughout my time there I gained a lot of experience.

Later on that year I started an NVQ in retail which meant I was placed in another charity shop (Ulster Cancer Foundation). The shops were located in Bangor, Newtownards, Lisburn Road and Finaghy. I found the experience helped me with the coursework which was required for my NVQ. This lasted until May 2005.

After this I began volunteering in Oxfam Main Street Bangor and now I am in my fourth year. My duties include working as a cashier and assisting the customers. My colleagues are mostly senior citizens which involves building good relationships with them.

Also I have volunteered in Clic Sargent for 2 years but due to the number of new courses I have taken on I decided to leave.

Through a volunteer in Save The Children I was advised about the Millennium Volunteer Programme available through Volunteer Now in the Bangor office (previously known as VSB). Through the Millennium Volunteers Programme I became acquainted with other volunteers and attended relevant courses. Some of us went to Elmwood Hall to receive our 200 hours award of excellence from Catríona Ruane I also achieved my 50 and 100 hours certificate. Young people appreciate the fact that their work has been recognised in this way.

After I completed the Millennium Volunteer Programme I was advised that Volunteer Now's Shaftesbury Square Office had another programme for my age group called Young Citizens In Action. Through this I have been involved in lot of projects such as volunteer fairs at Queen's and the Mela festival. I was Editor of the most recent Action magazine and also help with the new website.

I am very pleased with all the help and support I have received from Volunteer Now.

The Millennium Volunteer Programme definitely influenced me in terms of my career and the skills I have learnt. I would definitely encourage young people nowadays to get involved in the Programme.

I hope to continue volunteering with Young Citizens in Action and Oxfam in the future. I intend to carry on with IT courses and I am hopefully doing essential skills in September.

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