Lee is Marsh Trust Regional Volunteer of the Year

Twenty nine year old Lee Maddocks from Newtownabbey has been volunteering with Barnardo's Newtownabbey Family Connections Service for two years. The service is based in four schools in the Newtownabbey area with the aim of supporting families to live and learn well together through parenting programmes, after school clugs and providing family and education support.

Lee started volunteering in 2011 initially helping out with a lunchtime games club at Newtownabbey High School two days a week for 12 -15 year olds. He also because involved with the family learning programme at Rathcoole PS helping children with their homework adn advising parents on establishing homework routines. He also took on a leadership role with the Active Dads programme taking part in outings and residential trips.

Newtownabbey Family Connections Manager Claire Humphrey said: “Lee is a fantastic asset to us and we are delighted he has been named as the Marsh Trust regional winner for Northern Ireland. He has a real connection with the young people and the teenage boys especially relate to him. It’s brilliant to see how he helps to build their confidence and self-esteem. We’re also delighted that through his experience with us Lee is now hoping to follow a career in child care.”

Lee says his volunteering experience has opened up a whole new world: “The Barnardo’s team at Family Connections have been brilliant, they have given me opportunities and encouraged me. When I started initially they saw something in me that I didn’t know was there and through my experience I’ve found that I have an aptitude for working with young people and that’s definitely where I see my career going now. One of the best things for me was one boy who would have been on his own a lot, helping him integrate in the Games Club and then a year later seeing him walking down the school corridor in group of friends and knowing I played a small part in that. It’s realising that through small interactions you can leave a fingerprint on someone’s life and make a positive impact and that’s a real privilege.”

Lee says his volunteering experience has been rewarding, fulfilling and is something that has enriched his life: “I think when people look at children they see a homogenous group and they’re not – they are all unique and when you begin to appeal to them as individuals they really respond to it. The kids I work with also really appreciate that you’re a volunteer and that you’re there because you want to and not because you’re obligated.”

And Lee is clear that he would encourage anyone thinking about volunteering to go for it: “I would say do it. It might seem like a big commitment at first but it’s not – one or two hours a week is really nothing and that domino effect won’t happen if you don’t do it. Volunteering will impact more upon you more than you can imagine. But there is also a real need for men to volunteer so that boys and teenagers can have someone to identify with and when there are other men working with families dads are more like to become involved, which benefits everyone. One of the things I am proudest of being involved in was taking part in a residential in Newcastle with the Active Dads. It was such a rewarding experience to see Dads who maybe don’t have a lot of contact with their kids enjoying activities together as families, forming stronger bonds and positive memories.”

Since starting volunteering with Barnardo’s Lee has taken an NVQ Level 3 Childcare Course at Northern Regional College and he continues to volunteer with Newtownabbey Family Connections.

For more information about volunteering with Barnardo’s NI contact Barnardo’s NI Volunteering Advisor Helen Connolly [email protected]. For more information please visit www.facebook.com/BarnardosNI