Teenagers are among the UK’s finest volunteers

Teenagers are among the UK’s finest volunteers

12 February 2014

THE selfless work of two teenage volunteers has been recognised in a national awards programme.

Matthew Campbell (17), from Downpatrick, and James Graham (14), from Anahilt, have been ranked among the top 20 youth volunteers of 2014.

Matthew, a St. Patrick’s Grammar School student, has been a fundraiser for the Northern Ireland Hospice for the past two-and-a-half years and has raised almost £10,000.

James has been volunteering for the past five years in his local church, which organises humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards is the only programme in Ireland that honours youth volunteerism, and the judges described the efforts of Matthew and James as “remarkable and inspiring.”

Matthew has raised almost £10,000 by releasing a solo CD of classic pop and theatre songs that he helped produce. Matthew chose the music, performed some of the songs, recorded and mixed the music, designed the cover and promoted the CD.

He is also a committee member of the local St. Patrick’s Choral Society and volunteers 12 to 16 hours per week rehearsing, running the Friends of the Choral Society programme and performing administrative tasks.

Matthew says he has been given a great gift in his voice, but more importantly singing allows him to bring enjoyment to others.?

He is also head boy for his year. Vice Principal at St. Patrick’s, Joe McCann, said: “Matthew is a truly remarkable young man who gives freely to both his school and his local community. He is a firm believer in giving back and his activities and voluntary work are irrefutable proof of this fact.”

James, a student at Friend’s School, Lisburn, began volunteering in 2008 when he helped prepare, sort, label, pack and load two lorries of humanitarian aid for delivery to Ukraine.

Since then, he has visited the country four times, twice to help run the children’s summer camps and twice to help operate a children’s club in a state-run special needs orphanage.

James has also raised more than £10,000 through various fundraising events for humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Matthew and James have each won an engraved silver medallion and €500. They will also be invited to a gala awards ceremony on March 26 in Solis Lough Eske Castle,

Donegal, where the two overall 2014 Youth Volunteers of the Year will be named.