Are you looking for an opportunity to share your knowledge or skills or become more involved in your local community? Have you got some spare time and a passion for helping children and young people to learn and thrive?
Volunteering is a wonderful way to connect with others and Tomorrow Today is currently seeking volunteers to assist in the delivery of their Early Years education programs and their Connect9 program for teens. No matter your age, experience or availability, there is sure to be something that suits you.
If you would like to assist babies, young children and their families, then PEEP (Parent’s Early Education Partnership) is a good choice. As a PEEP volunteer, you would work alongside Tomorrow Today’s educators to provide hour-long sessions which include singing, stories, art and craft and other fun activities. You might assist with practical things like setting up the room, tidying up after a session, interacting with parents and supporting children’s play and learning. PEEP runs every school day at Tomorrow Today.
Kinder Pals is a partnership between Tomorrow Today and local pre-schools. Volunteers spend an hour, once a week, reading picture books with small groups of children and engaging with them in conversations about the stories. These activities help build children’s early literacy and language skills.
Kathy Ellis-Ragg has been a volunteer in some capacity since her daughter was very young. Every year she chooses a different program or organisation to volunteer with. In 2023, Kathy was a Kinder Pal at Ride Avenue Kinder.
“I took a bag of books with me each week and the children would choose a book for me to read with them. Or I might be involved in other activities the children were doing”, says Kathy. “What I enjoyed most about it was the connection with the children. At 3 and 4 years old they are spontaneous and open to learning. Volunteering is very rewarding – even though you’re giving, you’re actually getting a lot back too. You gain new skills and grow as a person.”
For those with a little more time, Reading Buddies is designed to support literacy for children in Years 1 and 2 at Benalla primary schools. Volunteers work one on one with a child, several times a week, reading to them and practicing their reading.
Leanne Lefebvre was a Reading Buddy in 2023, “I felt that being a Reading Buddy was a chance to help children at an age that they need that extra assistance, so it had the most impact. It doesn’t take long to get to know the children well, and you can really see them progressing and their confidence growing. I would say to anyone who is a little hesitant about volunteering to just do it, you will be surprised at how rewarding it is on many different levels.”
Connect9 is one of the most well-known of Tomorrow Today’s programs for young people. The program matches a Year 9 student with a trained adult mentor in the local community. Together they participate in planned activities to deepen their experiences and connections. The 10-week program involves exploring new skills, sports and hobbies and helps to connect them to the Benalla community.
Tom Harrison (pictured) shared his experience as a volunteer mentor. “I was inspired by a couple of friends to become a Connect9 mentor. I wanted to give back to the local community and I liked the structure of Connect9 because it gave the mentees a chance to try so many different things. I really enjoyed most of the activities so I got a lot from the experience as well as forging a strong relationship with my mentee.”
Tomorrow Today Executive Officer, Jodie Fleming, encourages anyone with an interest in volunteering to get in touch. “Volunteers are vital to us and there are so many people within our community who have a wealth of skills and knowledge that make them ideal candidates to help us deliver our educational programs. If this is something you’d be keen to be involved in, we would love to hear from you.”
If you are interested in any of the volunteer opportunities please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Janene Humphries on 5762 1211 or email janenehumphries@tomorrowtoday.com.au.
You don’t need any prior experience to volunteer – training and assistance is provided by experienced staff. Volunteers need to hold or be willing to apply for a ‘Working with Children Check’.
Training for Reading Buddies volunteers will be held on Tuesday 20 February from 9.30am – 12pm at Tomorrow Today, 66 Nunn St.
Training for Connect9 Mentors will also be held at a date to be announced soon.