Ready, Teddy, Go! Success for Young Volunteers’ Event
After two weeks of planning and learning about event management, young people from across Midlothian came together to host a Teddy Bears Picnic for local children and their families. The event took place on Friday 2 August 2024 in Dalkeith Country Park Community Garden, and was facilitated by Volunteer Midlothian. We had 80 parents/ carers and children in attendance. The volunteers designed a famous bears treasure hunt and there was a pop up café serving refreshments and snacks. Children had the opportunity to meet the bear and guess his name, the children were so excited they could bearly contain themselves!
Carey Douglas, Youth Coordinator at Volunteer Midlothian said:
“The young people were full of enthusiasm and energy from the get go. They became a team very quickly and worked hard to plan and host the event which was a roaring success, I am very proud of them all for their commitment and hard work.”
When asked about the volunteering experience, one volunteer said:
“I enjoyed organising the event and deciding what to include. I enjoyed working as a team and meeting new people. I enjoyed welcoming the children on the day and seeing all the smiley faces. Its been great everyone has been very supportive.”
A member of the public who came along to the event said:
“This is the third event I have been to in the garden it is such a safe space there is always someone on the gate so you can let the kids enjoy their treasure hunt, I had a cuppa. It is such a great event well done to the young volunteers for organising it. I will be back again next year!”
A young guest at the event said:
“It was Pawsome!”
The event was the culmination of two weeks of hard work from the young volunteers, who met weekly to plan the event as part of Volunteer Midlothian’s Summer Youth Programme, ‘Event Volunteers’. The young volunteers took part in team working activities, they learned about poster design principals, marketing, customer service, planning and communication. With the latter in mind young people also helped at our conversation café funded by UK Shared Prosperity fund. The café is dedicated to helping learners in Midlothian enhance their English speaking abilities.
The young volunteers will all now receive Saltire Awards as recognition for organising and hosting this unbearably special event!
Thank you to everyone who came along and supported our volunteers! Learn more about our Transform project for young people here.
Article by Carey Douglas – Youth Coordinator, Volunteer Midlothian