Calling all volunteers: Tips for Young Canadians interested in getting involved in their community

(NC) – Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, try new things and gain valuable experience – but for many of young Canadians, it’s difficult to know where to start. Rick Ashbee, National Executive Director for The, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award offers some tips and advice for young Canadians interested in making a difference.

Find your passion

There are so many different ways that you can get involved in the community it can be difficult to know where to start. As a first step think about things you like to do or something new that you’d like to try, and do some research to find out what’s out there. Volunteer opportunities come in all shapes and sizes so keep an open mind to find something that’s a fit for you.

Look around you

One of the best ways to get started with volunteering is by finding opportunities in your own community. Chances are, there’s an opportunity for you to volunteer your time right in your own backyard where you get the added benefit of seeing the impact in your own community.

Be creative

If you see an opportunity to initiate a new project or want to volunteer with a particular organization, look into it. There are always new ways to have an impact and you may find that it’s a great opportunity to take the lead with something that hasn’t been done before.

How to get involved

One of the ways to get involved in the community is through The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a unique program that offers young people a balanced non-competitive program of voluntary activities that encourages personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and service to their community. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is nationwide and has more than 37,000 young people from across Canada engaged. Volunteering is just one aspect of The Award that you work towards in order to achieve Bronze, Silver or Gold Award levels.

To help increase the accessibility of the program, the TD Waterhouse Investing in Youth initiative provides funding for local field officers who introduce the Award to communities and provide support to participants.

More information about The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the TD Waterhouse Investing in Youth initiative can be found online at www.dukeofed.org.

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