Volunteers' week backed by Ballymena teen

A Ballymena teen is supporting National Volunteers' Week by dispelling the myth that volunteering is '˜just for older people'.
Jordan Law (second from right)  is encouraging other young people  to get involved with volunteering over the summer holidays. (Submitted Picture).Jordan Law (second from right)  is encouraging other young people  to get involved with volunteering over the summer holidays. (Submitted Picture).
Jordan Law (second from right) is encouraging other young people to get involved with volunteering over the summer holidays. (Submitted Picture).

To mark the start of Volunteers’ Week, local 16-year-old Jordan Law is encouraging other young people across Northern Ireland to get involved with volunteering over the summer holidays following his own experience of supporting the community through Northern Ireland National Citizen Service (NI NCS) last summer.

The call marks the start of Volunteers’ Week, an annual event that celebrates the contribution made by millions of volunteers across the UK, which runs until 12 June. Jordan is joining thousands of others across the country who are encouraging others to participate in a variety of volunteering opportunities.

The Ballymena teen wants his fellow peers to remember that anyone can volunteer, no matter what age and is hoping his own experience of supporting the community will encourage other young people to get involved.

Despite initially being apprehensive about the benefits of volunteering, Jordan loved creating his own social action project which involved raising awareness of mental health support within the Ballymena area and developing a peer education video to encourage his peers to seek help and talk about their feelings.

He says: “I’ve learnt whether you are young or old, big or small you can definitely help in some way.”

NI NCS is open to all NI 15-17 year olds. It is a unique two or three week full-time programme with participants volunteering at least 30 hours to a community project they create to address an issue important to them. To find out more visit cooperationireland.org