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Motivate

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Motivate is Southend YMCA's flagship volunteering programme, continually recruiting volunteers aged 16-25 to run projects in Basildon, Southend, Castle Point & Rochford Districts every quarter.

Motivate is not about dull voluntary work, but it is about creating a flexible range of new, dynamic, and innovative opportunities. Full time, part time, and one off youth led volunteering opportunities which will stimulate and engage you in the places and spaces that you want to volunteer in.

Every stage is volunteer led - from project concept and planning to practical activity and evaluation. Young people acquire the ‘know how’ to successfully take action at each stage.

Young people may undertake a voluntary campaign or inter-generational project on a lone basis, as part of a small group and as part of a larger team or task force. Authorised out of pocket expenses such as bus fares are available to support you.

If you would like to register an interest in Motivate or our volunteering programmes email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , call 01702 608850 or 07854 790 925, and apply online by clicking the button on the left.

We have a Frequently Asked Questions section for Motivate to find out more about volunteering with us.

Volunteers for Leigh Folk Festival needed

05 April 2013

Southend YMCA's 'Motivate' youth volunteering project are once again teaming up with Leigh Folk Festival to look for a group of enthusiastic 16-25 year old volunteers to assist at the Leigh Folk Festival 2013.

In the 10 week run up to the festival, volunteers will meet on a weekly basis to receive free training in manual handling, event stewarding, sound engineering as well as producing promotional material for the festival and Southend YMCA's own stage.

During the festival volunteers will be given the responsibility of assisting with the set up and take down of the festival, its stages, and sound systems, stewarding, collecting donations, selling merchandise, assisting at information points, litter picking and helping to organise their own stage.

In 2012 20 young people from around Southend took part in preparing for the festival, all gaining a level 2 qualification in event stewarding.

Kayleigh Voyse, 25 from Shoebury said 'Getting involved with Southend YMCA and Leigh Folk Festival was not only a lot of fun, but gave me invaluable experience to put on my CV, got me connected with our local community and meeting new people'.

Tony Prior, chairman of the Leigh Folk Festival committee said 'Southend YMCA's volunteer involvement at last years festival provided us with essential help and support that we need to make sure this large scale event ran smoothly'.

The meetings start at the end of April, if you would like to sign up to take part, fill out the form below.

You can also connect with them on Facebook or twitter @SouthendYMCA / @leighfolk. See the photo gallery from last years festival here.

To sign up - please fill out the form below.

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Volunteers needed

11 March 2013

If you are interested in any of these opportunities - hit the Apply Now button, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Part time volunteer dancers

Age: 14-25
Start date: Week commencing 22nd April
Hours: 2 hours p/w

As part of the ACT project Southend YMCA are working in partnership with the Royal Opera House, Cie - Eco and the Thames Gateway Academy to deliver a ten week project based around the fairy tale 'Donkey Skin'.

We are looking for 15 participants between the ages of 14 – 25 to attend the sessions, learning and choreographing a dance routine which will be showcased at the Thurrock Festival of Culture. The participants will also have the opportunity to attend a Ballet performance of Peau D'ane.

The sessions will be delivered by a teacher from the Royal Ballet, and will begin the week commencing 22 April 2013.

In addition to this, dancers from the internationally renowned Emilio Calcagno Dance Company in France will come to England to deliver a 3 day workshop in the week leading up to the performance.

5 Minutes to Change the World Survey

29 August 2012

Volunteers on Southend YMCA's Motivate project are conducting research to find out what the most important issues are to young people in Southend.

They have been taking to Southend High Street to get people on camera, they have been asking 16-25 year olds to fill out surveys, write on a chalk board of issues and be interviewed on camera.

After the research has been conducted, the top 5 issues will be used for a Question Time style event.

The Question Time event, that will take place in October, will feature a panel of experts on the top 5 issues, with a live audience of young people that will put questions to them on what can be done for change.

You can fill out the survey now here: Complete the survey.

Leigh Folk Festival 2012

13 June 2012

group of enthusiastic 16-25 year old volunteers working with Southend YMCA's 'Motivate' project will be giving up their time on the 23rd and 24th June to assist at the Leigh Folk Festival 2012, as well as organising their own stage with bands from around Essex.

Emily Mayhew, 19, commented that 'I am looking forward to supporting a well loved local music event. This is going to be an exciting year with Southend YMCA's debut stage'.

This year Southend YMCA is bringing to the stage: Sheila Lord (a local acoustic solo artist), Boy Cries Wolf (folk rock band, winners of 2011 Rayleigh Mill Battle of the Bands), The Banana Club Sandwiches (Great local rock!), FranClassic (Brighton based three piece, vocal harmonies and beatbox!) and Missing Andy (Chelmsford based indie, pop rockers), all performing at The Victoria Wharf Car Park Stage in Old Leigh on Sunday 24th June, next to The Mayflower.

Volunteers will be assisting with the set up and take down of the festival,as well as getting involved with sound engineering, stage managing, stewarding, collecting donations, assisting at information points, selling merchandise and litter picking.

In the run up to the festival, volunteers have met on a weekly b

asis to receive free training in manual handling, event stewarding, sound engineering as well as producing promotional material for the festival and writing this press release as part of their training.

Paul Collier from the Leigh Folk Festival Association said: 'We are delighted that Southend YMCA is working with us in our 21st year to give young people the opportunity to get involved with volunteering at the festival, as well as supporting us'.

'Leigh Folk Festival is a great example of where our local community is able to work together, to produce an event for people of all ages and backgrounds' Joshua Mayhew, 18.

The partnership between Southend YMCA and Leigh Folk Festival came into place after Southend Borough Council's Leisure and Tourism department connected the two charities.

More information: www.leighfolkfestival.com. Include #LFF2012 in all festival related tweets. Follow @LeighFolk & @SouthendYMCA on twitter.

The Big Lottery & James Duddrige visit Motivate & Team YP

29 February 2012

February saw Southend YMCA projects Motivate & Team YP visited by their funders, The Big Lottery alongside James Duddridge MP for Rochford & Southend East. The visit was in aid of promoting the projects and updating their funders on the achievements to date, and what they had planned for the year ahead.

Full time volunteers Simon Hampton & Shante Scarlett both spoke with Mr Duddridge about their experiances of volunteering so far, and what they were looking forward to doing over the next few weeks of their placement.

Sara Betsworth of The Big Lottery fund expressed she 'was delighted to be able to find out about the fantastic work going on at Southend YMCA. It’s good to see young people empowered with decision-making and that’s what Motivate & Team YP is all about.

There’s some really innovative work going on allowing young people to increase their skills whilst benefitting the wider community. The project gives a whole new energy to volunteering.’

Motivate is working closely with local schools, colleges, Job Centres and other youth organisations to promote the benifits of volunteering and recruit full time and part time volunteers for future projects. Including presenting in local schools assemblies over the next month.

Team YP is about to embark on its 9th and 10th team, recruting 11-25 year olds to take part in its 20 week personal development and sports recreation project. In the past 18 months Team YP has worked with 269 young people on its project helping them to get involved with sporting activities they otherwise might not.