Growing Ambitions ::: inspiring career talks for young people

Ian McMillan, much-loved poet, can be heard reciting his droll 14-line poem (broadcast quality) about the UK’s award-winning Career Speaker Volunteering initiative, Growing Ambitions, on www.growingambitions.org/ The poetic creation is released this week during Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June, and urges 100,000s more volunteers to sign up - this week or any time to inspire young people with career ideas.

When told that volunteers from all walks of life UK-wide are signing up to offer half-hour talks to the next generation about their jobs, Ian was suitably moved to write the 12-liner, which he recites in his unmistakeable Yorkshire fashion. The piece can be downloaded from the website for broadcast, to help listeners recognise the value of giving half an hour.

Pioneer for positive social change, Sally Davis, founder and MD of non-profit Growing Ambitions said: “I am delighted that Ian caught the vision of what Growing Ambitions is doing and was inspired to put pen to paper. Radio stations nationwide are invited to download and broadcast the item during Volunteers’ Week and beyond. Secondary schools, colleges and universities nationwide need Career Speakers for their young people.”

Too many young people are in the dark when it comes to what career opportunities are out there for them. They need ideas and inspiration to find what is right for them and so fulfil their potential. The numbers of young people not in Education Employment or Training (NEETS) stays the same year after year, drop out numbers from universities are huge, and vocational take up is too low - and all partly because of lack of career information. “They need to hear from real people in real jobs,” concludes Sally Davis. “Growing Ambitions needs you!”

Volunteers are all ages and levels of experience - from apprentices to retirees and there are special opportunities to benefit employers. To volunteer, and listen to Ian recite his poem visit www.growingambitions.org

JUST HALF AN HOUR

Think what can be done in just half an hour;

Not much, you might say: it’s the blink of an eye.
Do the pots, get dressed, have a hot shower,
Start to do the ironing. Or change a life.

That’s all we’re asking: just half an hour,
To talk about yourself and your career:
To plant ideas and watch them grow and flower;
And leave a thought or two or three in a receptive ear.

Look: Just half an hour and imagination's fired,
A life can be changed and a light can be lit.
Give the time = Young people get inspired
It’s a simple equation and a perfect fit.

Growing Ambitions: visit them now:
Growingambitions.org will show you how!

Justin Davis Smith, CEO of Volunteering England, the volunteering development agency, said:

“We hope that everyone will take advantage of the activities and resources Volunteering England has developed for Volunteers' Week on this special anniversary.

“On its 25th birthday, we wanted to not only look back and celebrate the fantastic work achieved by so many over the years, but to look forward and challenge perceptions about what volunteering means today. We are delighted to be working with so many high profile partners from across the private, public and voluntary sectors to examine the changing image of volunteering and to showcase the contribution volunteers make to society.

“Volunteering is very much in the news at the current time, being identified as having an important role to play in helping us move out of recession, and Volunteers' Week is an excellent opportunity to highlight the benefits of volunteering and encourage more people to get involved”.

ENDS

For further media information or interviews with Sally Davis contact Tel 023 9266 1600 sallyd@growingambitions.org

For further information or interviews with Ian McMillan contact Adrian Mealing at UK Touring on 01684 540366 adrian@uktouring.org.uk

Editor’s notes

Growing Ambitions is an award-winning, not-for-profit NGO brokering volunteer career speakers into education UK-wide.

This unique brokerage service is a 21^st century solution to an enduring national problem: lack of careers information for young people.

Volunteers’ Week is an initiative of Volunteering England, Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Volunteer Development Agency (Northern Ireland) and Volunteer Development Scotland.

In 2009 we will be celebrating 25 years of Volunteers’ Week and will focus on rewarding, recognising and recruiting volunteers.

For more information please visit www.volunteersweek.org.uk

For media enquiries please contact Kimberley Rowley on 0207 520 8932 or email kimberley.rowley@volunteeringengland.org