Alison scoops a COPE level 3 award for her volunteering

Alison is what you might call a serial volunteer! She been volunteering for four years at Harlow Youth Bank, Essex Youth Bank and she has been involved with Youth Bank UK for two years. On top of this she also volunteers at Harlow Alternative Education, on the Integrated Youth Services Reference group and is involed in various other youth projects.

Alison setup and ran a Summer Arts Project where eight young people achieved a National Arts Award at Bronze level and recently helped facilitate the same project in photography where five young people achieved Bronze, four achieved silver, and two achieved Gold awards.  She is currently running another project, an eight week Art and Dance with young carers.

We asked her what she has acheived from all of this volunteering and she said:

"I have gained better communication skills with all young people with different abilities. I have improved my leadership skills and I am able to work with others in any size group to try and meet a target. Through my volunteering I have completed my certificate in community volunteering and the following year I mentored another young person. I have also recently passed my Certificate of Peronal Effectiveness (CoPE) Level 3 – this was done solely through my volunteering.  All six modules were completed through the voluntary opportunities I took."

Alison gained 70 UCAS points through her volunteering which is the equivalent to an 'A' grade at AS leve.

To find out more about  CoPE visit - http://www.asdan.org.uk/cope.php?cont=level3.