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Craig Morbey

Find out more about our vtalent volunteer.

What am I doing?

Hello, my name’s Craig Morbey, I’m 23, and I’ve just started work as a full-time youth worker, for the participation and play team, as part of the Vtalent year programme!! Vtalent is a new national programme for young people who want to work with children and young people but need to get a foot on the ladder.

Why am I doing it?

Youth work has always interested me; as a kid I was always active, being involved in school sports teams and also doing loads of extra curricular activities. However, I didn’t consider youth work as a career, simply because I didn’t realise the opportunities out there.

At school I was constantly in trouble, I couldn’t concentrate, and was getting into serious bother. I was lucky enough to have good people around me, and I got lots of help. However, I realise that not everyone gets the help that they need, and this makes me even more determined to succeed in my role.

What have I done so far?

My role as a volunteer for the Vtalent year programme has me involved in loads of stuff; planned projects include working with the UK’s brand new ‘youth parliament,’ helping to plan a massive fun day on the river for kids aged 8-13, helping to get children together to get their views heard on massive issues such as knife crime and teenage pregnancy, and loads of other amazingly exciting things!!

So far, through Vtalent, I have been on a week long residential trip to Lee Valley, where as well as learning loads, we also got to do some pretty outrageous activities, including rock climbing, canoeing, and even an egg and spoon race. I have taken part in a two week induction, where I learned a lot on children’s rights and the opportunities that children have. We also got our teeth into more serious issues such as bullying and child abuse. I’ve now started my placement and I’m already neck deep in work – but I’m relishing every second of it!!

What will I get out of it?

When I finish the Vtalent year programme, I know that the experience and skills that I’ve learned will stand me in good stead to get a job that I’m interested in; I’m thinking of a job where I can travel, but I don’t know yet!!

Get involved

One message that I want to shout out is ‘PEOPLE GET INVOLVED!!’ I wish I’d known of the different volunteering opportunities available earlier, because then I would have been doing what really drives me, making a positive difference in other peoples lives!!

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BigVoiceOxfordshire.com
for 0-21 year olds: your voices, your views, your rights.