Volunteer Case Study Form
To be filled in by volunteers and used by VODA to promote volunteering

Name: Kate Bower     Age: 17

How did you get involved in volunteering?
(How did you find out about it?  Why did you want to do it?)

I started volunteering as part of my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award for the community section.  I decided to carry out more voluntary work after hearing a talk from VODA and in order to gain some experience of working with different people.

What things have you done as a volunteer?
(Where have you volunteered?  Who have you volunteered with?)

I have volunteered as a young leader at 1st Monkseaton Brownies, as a classroom assistant at Glebe Special School and as a hospital volunteer at Rake Lane which involved working in the supershop.

In addition to this I did in-class support at Whitley Bay High School and I did 7 days work experience.

How has volunteering helped you?
(What skills have you learned?  How has it changed you?)
I have learned how to communicate and work with young children and children with disabilities.  Working with brownies has taught me lots of new creative skills and improve my patience and teamwork skills.  I think volunteering has helped me become a more empathetic and understanding person.

What do you enjoy most about being a volunteer?
The thing I enjoyed most was meeting and working with such a variety of people.

I am happy for this information to be used by VODA in promotional materials to encourage others to volunteer