Community First was delighted to attend the recent careers fair at Bridgemary School in Gosport, where we had the opportunity to speak with students about volunteering and the many ways they can get involved in supporting their communities.
Representing Community First were Katy Ovens, Volunteer Coordinator, and Beth Fisher, Community Development Officer. We were invited along by the school to take part in the event and spent the day meeting students from across all year groups, talking about the value of volunteering and the positive impact it can have both personally and within the wider community.
Throughout the day we had some fantastic conversations with students who were curious to learn more about volunteering. Many were interested in how they could get involved locally, what opportunities might be available to them, and how volunteering could help them build skills and confidence for the future.
One of the highlights of the day was asking students a simple but powerful question: “What skills do you have that you could bring to your community?”
Students were invited to share their ideas, and the responses were incredible. Very quickly the list began to grow as more and more students contributed their thoughts. From teamwork, creativity and leadership to kindness, communication and helping others, it became clear that young people recognise a wide range of strengths in themselves.
It was inspiring to see how engaged the students were with this activity and how proud they were to share the skills they could offer. The exercise also opened up great conversations about how everyday skills can be used to support local groups, charities and community projects.
Another particularly encouraging aspect of the day was discovering how many students are already volunteering in their communities. Some spoke about helping at local events, supporting sports activities, assisting younger students or taking part in community initiatives. Hearing these experiences was a powerful reminder that young people are already playing an important role in supporting their communities.
Volunteering provides many benefits for young people. It helps them develop valuable skills such as teamwork, communication and leadership, while also building confidence and providing experience that can support future education and career opportunities. Just as importantly, it helps strengthen the connection between young people and the communities they live in.
Events like the careers fair at Bridgemary School create valuable opportunities for students to explore the many ways they can make a difference. By bringing organisations and students together, these events encourage conversations about community involvement and inspire young people to think about how their skills and interests can contribute to something bigger.
We would like to thank the staff at Bridgemary School for inviting us along and for organising such a well-supported and engaging event. It was a pleasure to meet so many enthusiastic students and to see the passion they already have for supporting their communities.
At Community First, we believe that volunteering can start at any age, and it was wonderful to see the next generation already showing such enthusiasm, energy and commitment to helping others.