Volunteers' Week 2026 in the UK runs Monday 1st June to Sunday 7th June. Volunteering plays an important part of the lives of both students and staff at Notre Dame with many of our community giving of their time to support others on a regular basis. Our recent Stella Maris Leadership Award celebrations highlighted some of the opportunities that students get involved with. Lower Sixth students, Charlotte and Salma have been telling us about the volunteering they undertake and the difference it makes to both themselves and the wider community.
The Twelve - Charlotte Mendy
The Twelve Youth Leadership Team was founded in May 2019 within the Diocese of Leeds in order give young people a voice and the opportunity to engage more actively in the church while sharing their faith. For me, being part of The Twelve feels like a dream come true because I have long wanted be part of a community I can share and grow in faith with.
Some of the key benefits I hope to gain from The Twelve are developing strong leadership, teamwork and communication skills. As The Twelve brings together a team of young Catholics from across the county, I believe it is the right space to develop all these skills as we will each have different lived experiences that can help inform decision making. The Twelve work in collaboration with Bishop Marcus, representing the voice of young people across the Diocese and this makes the opportunity even more impactful and engaging.
Ultimately, The Twelve stands as more than just a leadership team; but a community that empowers it’s young to take an active part in their faith and society while encouraging spiritual growth, participation and shaping the future generation to become strong in their Catholic faith and ready to make a positive difference both within the church and beyond.
Joining The Twelve has been a great privilege for me as a young Catholic as I am exploring and deepening my faith, journeying with other young people. I had this opportunity through the Notre Dame College faith activities and especially with the support of our Lay Chaplain, Anne. Although I am new to the team, I already feel fortunate to be part of such a meaningful group, and I am really excited about what lies ahead.
Butterfly Conservation - Salma Boutazzout
A few weeks ago, I volunteered for the Butterfly Conservation organisation, seeding and planting wildflowers in a local green space. This was a very fun experience, and I would encourage everyone to try something similar. I met new people, made new friends, and gained newfound knowledge on butterflies and the plants they are drawn to, which was very fascinating!
As well as this volunteering opportunity being a fun experience, it is an exciting thing to talk about, whether that be in a CV, a personal statement, or just in a random conversation, especially if you are interested in a career related to nature conservation, or simply if you want to do your part in helping the environment!
Volunteering shows a willingness to contribute and a commitment to making a positive difference. Alongside this, the skills developed through volunteering are transferable to employment, education or hobbies. To find out more about the volunteering opportunities, have a look at the Careers SharePoint page where we advertise the organisations we work with, or drop in and have a chat with a Careers Advisor.
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