Youth Participation & Volunteering Overview

Young Volunteer Opportunities!

We've got an loads of exciting volunteer opportunities for young people aged 12+, and have a role in supporting a number of youth-led volunteer groups. There's opportunities for young people:

• who are often not heard in decision making i.e. care experienced young people
• with a specific interest in a social issue i.e. the environment, service design
• who want to get involved in supporting the delivery of youth groups and events in their local community i.e. Young Leaders

All of the below groups are supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council's Youth Work Service, however a number of them are independent constituted groups, led by young people, with arms length support provided by the Youth Work Service as and when needed. Our role is to support young people to become involved, the work each group, network, forum or council take forward is at their own direction and based on young people's lived experience. 

Young Leaders Programme (14+): For young people interested in helping out at local Youth Groups, Projects and Events. Young Leaders are supported to undertake training specific to their role and is an excellent opportunity for young people with an interest in working with communities in the future to build up skills for life, learning and work.

Young Inspectors Project: This project is about young people getting out and about, scoring and reviewing different projects, services groups and events that are open to young people to attend - including youth work, leisure, libraries and more. The Young Inspectors are stealth, anonymously visiting and evaluating projects with their feedback being used by services to improve their offer for young people. 

Youth Climate Champion Project: For young people interested in taking action to ensure our communities are fit for the future. Youth Climate Champions organise and run events for young people in their local community, coming together with others to brainstorm solutions their communities face when it comes to environmental issues including climate change. 

Chameleon Group: This group is open to LGBT young people + allies and their focus is on designing the annual LGBT Youth Gathering for Dumfries and Galloway. The Gathering brings together 50+ young people to take part in workshops and activities which inform the work the Chameleons do in the year ahead. The Chameleons are activists so if you've got something to say, and want to see opportunities for LGBTQIA+ young people throughout D&G - get involved! The page to find out more information about the Chameleons is here.

Listen2Us: Listen2Us is a youth advocacy group for young people who have experienced care - this group is about working with others to change the system and they volunteer their time to improve care experienced young people's access to information, opportunities and services. The page to find out more information about Listen2Us is here.

Young Women's Network: This group is open to young girls and women who want to create a platform to empower others, raise aspirations, build confidence and resilience and take steps towards making meaningful change across Dumfries and Galloway for young women. The page to find out more information about Young Women's Network is here.

D&G Youth Council: Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council is an organisation for and by young people - 35 young people are elected to represent their local communities or communities of interest every 2 years and their role is to champion the rights of all young people throughout Dumfries and Galloway to local and national decision makers. The Youth Council is made up of Nominated and Ward Youth Councillors, and Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament. The page to find out more information about the Youth Council is here.

Youth Matters Steering Group: Youth Matters was the name of an event that took place in November 2022 - designed and delivered by and for young people with additional support needs and disabilities, the Youth Matters Steering Group exists to make sure young people's voices are heard by those with the power to change how services are delivered for, to and with young people with additional support needs and disabilities throughout D&G. To read the Youth Matters Report, visit here.

All of the above groups are supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council's Youth Work Service, however a number of them are independent constituted groups, led by young people, with arms length support provided by the Youth Work Service as and when needed. Our role is to support young people to become involved, the work each group, network, forum or council take forward is at their own direction and based on young people's lived experience. 

If you want to know more about any or all of the above exciting opportunities, please sign up here and a Youth Worker will be in touch!

Contact Us

By e-mailing YWVolunteering@dumgal.gov.uk or youth.work@dumgal.gov.uk 

By calling 01387 260243 or texting 07827 954 588

Or by Direct Message @YOUTHWORKDG on Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook or Instagram!