Dorset Youth Association (DYA) were commissioned by Dorset County Council to develop a web based platform highlighting volunteering opportunism, specifically within the voluntary and community sector, for young people aged 16 and over.

The web based platform was widely promoted and supported in School across Dorset as part of the Raising Participation Age Strategy.

The database allowed young people aged 16 and over to search for local opportunities and receive notifications or arising ones via email.

The website also included information and advice for young people such as ‘top tips’ for volunteering, offering support for any volunteers.

Through further development of the website, organisations gained the ability to upload and manage their own opportunities.

The project aimed to open up and promote volunteering for 16-18 year olds. Organisations were encouraged from the start to take on young volunteers, and access to opportunities was made easier for young people through the database.

Impact

With 152 young people registered with the database the successes and feedback of the project were very positive;

100% of the registered volunteers are now volunteering

40% visited the website weekly demonstrating that young people were regularly looking for opportunities

50% recommended the website to a friend, with 40% hoping to do so

The website received 77,400 unique hits

By March 2015 there were 261 live opportunities listed with over 114 voluntary organisations across Dorset