Volunteering crucial to a prosperous future

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 24th Oct 2005

North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley has congratulated young people in Northern Ireland involved in volunteering programmes, and said they are crucial to a prosperous future.

Speaking at a young people's event to celebrate 2005 being the Year of the Volunteer, the Young Alliance Chairman stated:

"Volunteering is crucial for a huge number of reasons -- some obvious, some less obvious.

"Firstly, community projects run by volunteers across Northern Ireland, ranging from fire-safety promotion to transport services, often provide crucial services to the highest standard. Secondly, many provide young people in Northern Ireland with their first real experience of working in a cross-community environment, and so they help break down the ignorance and fear which has a negative effect on so many communities here. Thirdly, volunteering provides young people with hugely valuable life skills which will be as helpful as any qualification to securing future employment.

"Having met a number of volunteers, I know they all so the true picture of Northern Ireland's youth -- responsible, well-educated people willing to contribute voluntarily to help their own communities or the vulnerable elsewhere. This is far from the picture of mindless yobs which too often passes in the media as representative of young people today. Many volunteers have stories that need to be told and heard. This year provides the perfect chance to do that."

ENDS