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Craig Morbey

Find out about Craig's vtalent volunteering and what happened next...

What did I do?

Hello, my name’s Craig Morbey, last year when I was 23 I started work as a full-time youth worker for the Participation and Play team at Oxfordshire County Council, as part of the vtalent year programme!!

Why did I do it?

Youth work always interested me; as a kid I was always active, being involved in school sports teams and also doing loads of extra curricular activities. 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 made 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 involved me in loads of stuff; including working with the UK’s 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!!

Through vtalent, I went on a week long residential trip to Lee Valley, where we got to do some pretty outrageous activities, including rock climbing, canoeing, and even an egg and spoon race. 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 was neck deep in work – but relishing every second of it!!

What did I get out of it?

My work with the vtalent year programme and the Participation and Play (P&P) team staff was very important in my development as a professional. It was without doubt the best thing professionally that I’ve ever done. I’ve now been a Connexions employee for one year. When I got here – to be honest – I was still a bit rough around the edges; but the help, development and most importantly the passion that was instilled in me whilst in the P&P team put me in a position to excel. I’ve developed a lot over the past year, and my achievements have been recognised by my managers. I’ve just been appointed as project coordinator for a new programme at the Abingdon Bridge, and I’ve also applied for a role as a youth worker with the Damascus youth charity focusing on hard to reach, disengaged young people not in education, employment or training. Both projects are extremely challenging but I can’t wait to get started! If it wasn’t for vtalent and the staff at P&P I wouldn’t be as happy and pleased with the work that I’m doing today.

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