Volunteering with Youth Employment UK is great for your confidence, youth empowerment and your CV! Meet our Youth Ambassador Jack.
You can also read more Youth Ambassador stories, and volunteer as a Youth Ambassador if you live in the UK and you’re aged 16-24…
A bit about me
I am Jack Spencer-Jones, a 23-year old who works in a betting shop and coaches cricket. I also love doing volunteering in sports and with organisations, because you can give a young person’s opinion and help the organisation grow and be better for young people going forward.
What inspired me to be a Youth Employment UK Youth Ambassador?
I wanted to join because I felt more needed to be done in terms of getting young disabled people into work. This is because from personal experience I know how hard it can be to get a role, even though you may be as good as the other person – but, in the end, they get it as they do not have a disability, and for me that can be disheartening. Therefore, I wanted to make a massive difference.
My involvement so far…
I have been involved with the youth voice forum, and recently on the youth board, which for me has been amazing. It has given me a chance to get to know the organisation better and how I can support in it developing going forward.
How volunteering as a Youth Ambassador has helped me
I have gained leadership skills, am better at applications and interviews, and have made some amazing friends for life.
Advice I would give a young person who was unsure about volunteering
Give it a go and you will never look back because the people from Youth Employment UK and the Ambassadors are so friendly and always there to help if you need anything. 100% give it a go.
Being a Youth Ambassador in just one sentence…
Fun, exciting, great people and amazing opportunities – please get involved!
People in charge really need to know …
I feel they need to make sure a % of the workforce is young, disabled and from ethnic backgrounds. I also feel experience should not be all, as there are amazing young people out there who may not have that experience and just need to be given a chance. I also feel apprenticeships are paid too low, meaning people are less willing to actually do them. Finally, much better career advice and support within schools, colleges and universities is a must.
Doing work experience for me was:
Such an amazing experience because it gives you skills and develops you as a person so much. It is also a chance to see if that is the career path you want to do going forward as well.
Advice I would give myself 5 years ago
Utilise the career services! There is so much advice on career paths, applications, interviews and so much more that will serve and guide you.
Aged 16-24? Volunteer with us as a Youth Ambassador
Want to join our amazing team of Youth Ambassadors?
Volunteer with Youth Employment UK and you’ll gain so much more than something great to put on your CV. (You’ll get that too.)
Find out more about volunteering with us
