Students from Rumworth 6th Form have been learning new skills and gaining work experience in different volunteer roles by giving back at Emmaus Bolton.
Volunteers and people supported by the charity work alongside each other in a wide range of different charity shops and services to help provide affordable goods, clothing and food for people in Bolton.
Skye Davies and Charlie Cookson have been helping once a week in the charity’s on-site café and charity shops which overlook our courtyard of social enterprises off Fletcher Street in Bolton.
Skye, 18, who has been a pupil at Rumworth since Year 7, helps by sorting the children’s books, toys and games and serves in Emmaus Bolton’s café once a week. Skye said: “I just like the fact that I’m helping people: both the people coming into the café and the people at the charity. I’ve felt welcome by the lovely people whom I’m working with. They are always willing to help you. It’s good to have this experience on my CV for future employers.”
Charlie, 18, who joined the school in Year 12, helps serve customers in the charity café. He said: “I enjoy contributing to the charity work here. I feel like everyone who is supported by the charity deserves a second chance. I enjoy my work experience here, to progress myself. Everyone has a great sense of humour and are very approachable and likeable. It’s great to have this on my CV so employers can see I’m hardworking and enjoy working with lots of different people.”
Tony Stephenson, our Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’re very grateful to Skye and Charlie for their support and we are proud to be able to offer a range of work experience and skills to help students’ personal and professional development for the future. Our thanks to Rumworth School for working in partnership with Emmaus Bolton to help us provide these opportunities.”
Jenny Dunne, headteacher of Rumworth School, said: “I’m incredibly proud of our young people and I am looking forward to seeing them progress.”
Emmaus Bolton provides volunteering in a supportive environment, governed by the Bolton Volunteer Charter, which the homelessness charity was instrumental in setting up with the local community and volunteer organisation, Bolton CVS.
Anyone over the age of 18 can apply to volunteer for Emmaus Bolton and there lots of different ways you can get involved. To find out more about how you can help, come along to the Volunteer Open Event on Wednesday 27 November from 11am to 1pm. Visit here for our current volunteer opportunities.