Voluntary service has its rewards

Monday 12 April 2010

Voluntary service has its rewards

At 70 years old, most people are planning a quiet retirement full of things they enjoy.

But Alice Young had other ideas – she decided to give her free time to volunteer with the charity ChildLine. Now she has been recognised for her efforts with a volunteer of the year award.

Alice, a former secretary, has been with the Glasgow branch of the organisation for more than seven years but shows no sign of slowing down. “I decided to take up charity work to fill up my time when I retired,” she said. “I’d always been very fond of children and had a lot of joy from children so I decided a children’s charity was for me – and ChildLine was the one.” Married to Robert, Alice, who lives with her husband in East Kilbride, has a dual role at the charity in Bath Street. She carries out secretarial duties but also looks after the switchboard – making her the first port of call when distressed youngsters call in for help. The gran-of-four said: “We have excellent staff support at ChildLine. “We get lots of training and there is a briefing before your shift then a debriefing afterwards. “I speak to children who phone in for help and then I transfer them to the counsellors. “It can be upsetting sometimes but it is wonderful to know you’re helping out.” Alice works one day a week for the charity, putting in an eight-hour day. But if the office is ever short-staffed she comes in to lend a hand. Her colleagues say she is invaluable for fundraising drives and recruitment events. Her fellow ChildLine workers were so impressed by Alice’s dedication they put her forward for a UK charity award. The Helpline Association is an umbrella organisation for all non-profit helplines in the UK and Ireland and they run the awards. Alice took the top prize of Volunteer of the Year. Elaine Chalmers, head of ChildLine in Scotland, said: “We are so proud of Alice and delighted that she won. Her commitment to ChildLine over the last seven years has been fantastic, especially as she has two volunteering roles.” Alice said: “Winning the award was really wonderful. I love working at ChildLine.”

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