Click on the faces to read more!!
Name: Asier Carrasco
Where are you from? Basque Country, Spain
What is your role within
MYDG? MYDG
European Staff – encouraging European funding, links and projects, for example,
MYDG German trip in August 2008, and promoting volunteers to go work in Europe.
Why did you want to work
for MYDG? How did you get into it? I volunteered for 7 years
before I worked here, working with children of 6 – 25 years, in local
volunteering. I became the representative of local volunteer of organisations
in the Basque Country Federation, and then was promoted to be the national
representative for these organisations.
Had you volunteered
before working here? No
What benefits does MYDG
bring to the community? MYDG gives a place for young people to come to and feel safe
and secure, offer opportunities to the young people in the community.
What characteristics
should a good volunteer have? Patience, understanding and be good fun
What are your interests
and hobbies? Gardening, cooking, baking
How do you think MYDG can
improve and grow? MYDG could look for new funders, look at new ideas, and
involve the young people. MYDG should find out from the young people what they
need and want.
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Name Cathy
Marshall
Where are you from? Edinburgh
What is your role within
MYDG? Finance
officer
Why did you want to work
for MYDG? How did you get into it? I used to go to the Church at St
Pauls. It started from there with the Don Bosco Club and then Peter Johnson asked me to work for MYDG
Had you volunteered
before working here? No
What benefits does MYDG
bring to the community? MYDG gives a place for young people to come to and feel safe
and secure, offer opportunities to the young people in the community.
What characteristics
should a good volunteer have? Patience, understanding and be good fun
What are your interests
and hobbies? Gardening, cooking, baking
How do you think MYDG can
improve and grow? MYDG could look for new funders, look at new ideas, and
involve the young people. MYDG should find out from the young people what they
need and want.
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Name Joanne Stewart
Where are you from? Pilton, Edinburgh
What is your role within
MYDG? Employment
Development worker
Why did you want to work
for MYDG? How did you get into it? Began by volunteering with youth
groups in the local area – found out about MYDG, liked the organisation’s
approach and managed to get a job as a development worker.
Had you volunteered
before working here? Yes, I had volunteered for MYDG and also at Craigroyston
Community Centre
What benefits does MYDG
bring to the community? MYDG gives young people something to do. MYDG can take
troublesome kids and give them something positive to do with their time.
What characteristics
should a good volunteer have? Approachable, friendly, enthusiastic, caring for the
young people in the community, interested in young people and fun
What are your interests
and hobbies? Rock climbing, cycling, arts and crafts and playing the
guitar
How do you think MYDG can
improve and grow? MYDG can improve by sticking to its values, but it also
needs to listen to new ideas and keep up with the times. MYDG should continue
to encourage volunteers as the organisation depends on them.
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Name Peter Beagley
Where are you from? Muirhouse, Edinburgh
What is your role within
MYDG? Part
– time worker
Why did you want to work
for MYDG? How did you get into it? I knew about MYDG in the local area
and thought it would be fun to work for them. I volunteered for the
organisation for 2 weeks, 9 years ago. I followed that up by doing training for
6 months, and then started as a part time worker.
Had you volunteered
before working here? Yes, I volunteered at the Klub
What benefits does MYDG
bring to the community? Offers young people more opportunities.
What characteristics
should a good volunteer have? Open minded, who can offer something different from
what is already at the organisation. Different characteristics and someone who will
listen to the kids.
What are your interests
and hobbies? Different sports, driving
How do you think MYDG can
improve and grow? MYDG should get more funds from the council and have their
own space such as a house/building that belongs solely to MYDG.
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Name Matthew Franks
Where are you from? Edinburgh
What is your role within
MYDG? Outdoor
education –sports and climbing – getting kids active and interested in the
outdoors.
Why did you want to work
for MYDG? How did you get into it? I had been doing youth work through
climbing and then I met Peter Johnson
and he offered a position with MYDG. The skills I held within climbing and the
outdoors were useful at MYDG. I also help organise residentials and do risk assessments
for future projects.
Had you volunteered
before working here? CSV – Community Service Volunteers.
I volunteered for CSV 11 years ago for 7 months.
What benefits does MYDG
bring to the community? MYDG gives the young people in the community the opportunity
to do thing they had never done before, for example, new sports or working at
the bike shop. Such activities are good for them as the progression of their
work - it gives the kids an aim and a vision.
What characteristics
should a good volunteer have? Enthusiastic, got to be a good listener. Be friendly
and be able to build up relationships with young people. You have to be a
responsible and be a role model.
What are your interests
and hobbies? Rock climbing, mountain climbing, biking, music – bands and
clubbing and the outdoors, hill walking etc.
How do you think MYDG can
improve and grow? MYDG must ensure that volunteers are involved – not just
locals. MYDG could involve University students more as volunteers. Locals are
important but also other links around the city.
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Name Alex Collop
Where are you from? Island of Orkney
What is your role within
MYDG? Youth
Development Worker
Why did you want to work
for MYDG? How did you get into it? I worked as a banker, but found
it very boring, so I began volunteering with PYCP (Pilton Youth Children
Project). I got a part time job in MYDG then went back to University in order
to get a qualification in Youth Work. A full time job became available with
MYDG which I took.
Had you volunteered
before working here? YES, PYCP, Barnardos Children’s Charity, and with a local
school in Orkney
What benefits does MYDG
bring to the community? We work with all young
people, providing opportunity to access resources within their local community.
We value the experience of young people. We value the contribution that they
make to the community. We help people to
further themselves and develop their skills and confidence.
What characteristics
should a good volunteer have? Hard working, flexible, happy and willing to learn,
willing to be open minded.
What are your interests
and hobbies? I love to play and watch football, music, baseball and the
outdoors
How do you think MYDG can
improve and grow? MYDG can improve by continuing to work closely with local
communities, by continuing to value the contribution of the young people, by
continuing to have great volunteers from both the local community and from
other countries.
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Name Caryn Lumsden
Where are you from? Pilton, Edinburgh
What is your role within
MYDG? Sessional
worker, I work with all the clubs e.g. Junction, girls group etc. I am also in
charge of admin for the Forum.
Why did you want to work
for MYDG? How did you get into it? I used to work at Granton Youth
Centre, I got to know the young people. First experience with MYDG was a trip
to Dublin in
2005 and I have worked and helped for MYDG since.
Had you volunteered
before working here? Granton Youth Club (3 years), 2) Fetlor Youth Club (1
month), 3) PYCP – Pilton Youth Childrens Project.
What benefits does MYDG
bring to the community? MYDG lets young people
raise their voice to see what they want within the community. In the forum -
try to achieve what the youths of the community want.
What characteristics
should a good volunteer have? Confident, good sense of humour, patient.
What are your interests
and hobbies? Travelling, sports, basketball, football (Hibs) and climbing
How do you think MYDG can
improve and grow? MYDG could participate in linked work with other youth
centres – there by bettering itself. MYDG could share staff / volunteers with
other youth centres.
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Name Ellie
Harte
Where are you from? Edinburgh
What is your role within
MYDG? Active
Futures Youth Development Worker
Why did you want to work
for MYDG? How did you get into it? I knew about the good work they did
and wanted to work with young people, so decided to work for MYDG as the job is
fun.
Had you volunteered
before working here? Yes – Venture Scotland
What benefits does MYDG
bring to the community? Too many!!! MYDG enriches
the community. Benefits the whole community through working with the young
generation.
What characteristics
should a good volunteer have? Hard working, cooperative, good sense of humour, lots
of energy, excited to meet new people,
open, happy.
What are your interests
and hobbies? Skiing, snowboarding, food, cooking, eating, camping.
How do you think MYDG can
improve and grow? MYDG should never stay the same. It should continue to
evolve with the young people in Muirhouse.
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Name Dean
Shanks
Where are you from? Edinburgh
What is your role within
MYDG? Sports
Activity Coach (working with Kenny)
Why did you want to work
for MYDG? How did you get into it? Since I did my HND in coaching I have had a passion for getting involved in coaching and volunteering. I got
into MYDG through Kenny Cameron
whilst at college on a Sports coaching with development course.
Had you volunteered
before working here? Yes: Football festivals/Basketball/Badminton. I volunteered
at ‘Olympics for kids’ in Edinburgh. I also work with first year kids who don’t get into 1st teams
for sports and I help keep them involved and interested in sport.
What benefits does MYDG
bring to the community? MYDG keeps kids involved and focused – if they are not
academic, they have the opportunity to focus on other things such as sports and
arts. It also brings other communities together and helps kids develop
friendship
What characteristics
should a good volunteer have? Patience, enthusiasm, focus, adjustable and be able
to work with people of different age levels. Important to have a good
understanding of kids.
What are your interests
and hobbies?All sports, but especially football. Big Scotland fan. Travel (South America in particular)
How do you think MYDG can
improve and grow? MYDG has the potential to work further afield and develop
more programmes such as the Midnight league. MYDG could also incorporate more
sports and increase participation of girls. Sport can do so much to unite
people and improve confidence in people.
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Name Martin Munz
Where are you from? Germany, Kaiserback, a small
village near Stuttgart
What is your role within
MYDG? EVS
Volunteer (European Voluntary
Service)
Why did you want to work
for MYDG? How did you get into it? An organisation in Germany – made
contact with MYDG, I had had no previous contact with MYDG. The German
organisation explained about MYDG and I agreed to volunteer for them for a
year.
Had you volunteered
before working here? I had volunteered around my local area in Germany: - Kids
clubs, youth camps. 5 years of volunteering experience.
What benefits does MYDG
bring to the community? MYDG brings some good
perspective to people working and living here. IT gives opportunities to move
outside their local area and experience new things. A chance to participate,
get involved and increase awareness of local issues.
What characteristics
should a good volunteer have?A good volunteer should want to experience new things
and be patient.
What are your interests
and hobbies? Sports, politics, and business (EU/World politics) and I
also enjoy getting to know people from all over the world.
How do you think MYDG can
improve and grow? I haven’t been here long enough to fully understand the
situation.
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Name Sandy Carlin
Where are you from? Edinburgh, Muirhouse
What is your role within
MYDG? Casual
Volunteer
Why did you want to work
for MYDG? How did you get into it? Since I was 8 I came to the club.
Then when I was 12 I went to the junction and the rest of the clubs like St
Pauls, Open Provision etc. when I was 15 I did my work experience at MYDG
and since then I have volunteered. I have been volunteering for 10 months so
far….
Had you volunteered
before working here? No
What benefits does MYDG
bring to the community? Give the children
something to do. Help 16+ get jobs. Help them get more confidence. Give them
clubs to go to like junction, St Pauls and climbing
What characteristics
should a good volunteer have? Good with children, helpful, good to speak to
What are your interests
and hobbies? Skiing, Pc, kayaking, football but not very good!
How do you think MYDG can
improve and grow? More publicity, more activities.
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Name: Peter
Johnson
Where are you from? A
mixed bag: Originally Ireland but brought up in South West Midlands
What is your role within MYDG? “Strategic
Manager” – maintaining the vision that Young People and the Management
Committee have for MYDG and looking to how things develop in the future; this
means supporting staff and volunteers as well as taking part in groups and
residentials
Why did you want to work for MYDG? How did you get
into it? I volunteered for 7 years before I worked here, working
with children of 6 – 25 years, in local volunteering. I became the
representative of local volunteer of organisations in the Basque Country
Federation, and then was promoted to be the national representative for these
organisations.
Had you volunteered before working here?
What benefits does MYDG bring to the
community?
What characteristics should a good volunteer have?
What are your interests and hobbies?
Being outside (walking, climbing,
skiing…), camping, staying in bothies, spending time with friends, recently
discovered the joys of an iPod
How do you think MYDG can improve and grow?
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