RU safe volunteers receive Marsh Trust award

Volunteers from Barnardo’s RU Safe? Bucks were presented with the accolade at Barnardo’s National Excellence Awards.

Volunteers at the service help project workers to support young people at risk of sexual and criminal exploitation.

Once the project worker has completed their work with the young person, the volunteers then help to reinforce this, such as by revisiting online safety discussions or continuing exploration of healthy relationships.

The team of seven volunteers were nominated by Emma Harvey, Volunteer Coordinator at Barnardo’s.

Emma said: “The support from our volunteers is invaluable as it means the young people we work with are able to retain a connection to the service while allowing staff to be available to others who require more intensive support.

"They help young people to accomplish things that they might otherwise struggle to do without additional support. One volunteer for example helped a young person apply for jobs and prepare for interviews, giving them a much needed confidence boost.

“Our volunteer team all possess warmth, commitment and enthusiasm, working without judgement and have the resilience to build strong relationships with vulnerable young people who may have experienced, or been vulnerable to, exploitation.

"They all go above and beyond, juggling their own personal commitments, to ensure the young people have a continuity of support with them.

“I am delighted that they have been recognised for all that they do.”