0:00:18 > 0:00:21Hello and welcome to Lifeline.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26'Today, we're at a conference on welfare reform...
0:00:26 > 0:00:33'volunteering opportunities are given a Maori-style launch here at the BBC...
0:00:33 > 0:00:37'and are these the young broadcasters of the future?'
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Those stories in a moment.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44But first, today's appeal is presented by Lindsey Armstrong
0:00:44 > 0:00:48on behalf of a charity which helps to give a voice to young people in care.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53VOYPIC have been working with young people here
0:00:53 > 0:00:55for almost 20 years,
0:00:55 > 0:01:00allowing them to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03- Do you have a good relationship with your PA?- 'Young people like Rosie,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06'who know there IS a VOYPIC advocate who'll help her in a life
0:01:06 > 0:01:10'which has so far been spent living away from her family.'
0:01:10 > 0:01:12So, Rosie, how do you feel about living by yourself?
0:01:12 > 0:01:17Um...I'm positive about it, cos I think it'll go well.
0:01:17 > 0:01:23I'll have support from a social worker and my PA and VOYPIC as well.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25I think that is the key to it all.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27If things are getting difficult, ask for help.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30VOYPIC has helped me, when I was leaving care,
0:01:30 > 0:01:36to get on, like, my own two feet and be able to live on my own.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40And I've always had support from them for, like,
0:01:40 > 0:01:45problems that I've been dealing with. I've always known where to go
0:01:45 > 0:01:47and always been able to pick up the phone to them.
0:01:47 > 0:01:53'They're very supportive to myself and other young people that I know as well.'
0:01:53 > 0:01:56OK, can I just take a few wee details?
0:01:56 > 0:01:58The first thing that I would like to tell people about VOYPIC
0:01:58 > 0:02:01is that we are independent of Social Services.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05We're a Northern Ireland charity that works with young people
0:02:05 > 0:02:07who are cared for away from home.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10By that I mean that some young people can't remain
0:02:10 > 0:02:15with their parents and are cared for by extended family, live in foster families,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17or live in residential care.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19..And you would cut it...
0:02:19 > 0:02:23'VOYPIC helps children and young people to mix
0:02:23 > 0:02:25'and meet others with similar experiences.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28'The volunteer programme, Young Reps, makes sure it's them
0:02:28 > 0:02:32'who inform everything that VOYPIC does.'
0:02:32 > 0:02:34I've worked with an artist, I've done hip-hop,
0:02:34 > 0:02:39I've done outdoor pursuits, I've done loads of different things.
0:02:39 > 0:02:40It's all been great craic.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45I enjoy VOYPIC groups cos they give you opportunities to do stuff
0:02:45 > 0:02:47that you wouldn't normally get to do,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50like banana boating or canoeing.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53And it's nice knowing you're not the only one there
0:02:53 > 0:02:55that's had a care background.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01VOYPIC listens and learns from what the young people tell them about living in care,
0:03:01 > 0:03:06and they share those views with the government and other decision-makers.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09What about the training that you've received?
0:03:09 > 0:03:14- So...- It's accredited.- OK, it's accredited. What level?- Level 3.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Level 3, yeah.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21'The VOYPIC training and employment programme called Working Together For Change
0:03:21 > 0:03:24'involves training and employing care-leavers,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28'and their experiences help to inform VOYPIC's policy and research work.'
0:03:28 > 0:03:32We go in and inspect the children's homes to find out
0:03:32 > 0:03:34what their views are on the home they're in,
0:03:34 > 0:03:36and feed that back to the manager.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40And then we make recommendations.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44I have a lot of life experiences - I've been told by many people.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47But I feel that if I can take my life experiences
0:03:47 > 0:03:49and take the work I've done with VOYPIC and put that all together,
0:03:49 > 0:03:54that it'll give me a good foundation to build on in a youth-work field.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02'VOYPIC's mentoring service relies on volunteers like Thomas,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05'who's been helping Gareth with his personal development.'
0:04:06 > 0:04:11'I've achieved so, so many things that wouldn't be possible beforehand.
0:04:11 > 0:04:17'I've gained a lot of independence and confidence that's been gained'
0:04:17 > 0:04:21throughout the year that he's been with me.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25It's just been a fabulous experience, so it has.
0:04:25 > 0:04:30And all the time, he's put in a lot of time with me, so he has.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34And a lot of dedication. And he's listened very well
0:04:34 > 0:04:40to some of the problems - one of my goals was to actually talk
0:04:40 > 0:04:44a lot more than I would have been, and I've achieved that, so I have,
0:04:44 > 0:04:48so I've come a long way, so I have, yeah.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51'We met once a week, for a couple of hours a week,
0:04:51 > 0:04:56'and we were both kind of on a journey together, in the fact'
0:04:56 > 0:05:00that I was helping Gareth develop his independence skills,
0:05:00 > 0:05:02his confidence, getting him out and about a wee bit more,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04and getting him to do things for himself,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07things that he might not have done before in the past.
0:05:07 > 0:05:08It's been a privilege to work with Gareth,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12'and I'm quite proud of what he's achieved within the space of the year.'
0:05:12 > 0:05:15'We really need more mentors like Thomas.'
0:05:15 > 0:05:17We've got offices across Northern Ireland.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22We're in Ballymena, we're in Lurgan, we're in Belfast, we're in Derry.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26'If you think you could make a difference for children in care, contact us.'
0:05:35 > 0:05:38So if you're looking for a volunteering opportunity
0:05:38 > 0:05:40which really will make a difference to young people's lives,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43VOYPIC would be delighted to hear from you.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45Thank you for watching.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50If you'd like to find out more about VOYPIC
0:05:50 > 0:05:53and its volunteering opportunities, then visit their website at...
0:05:55 > 0:05:56Email them on...
0:05:58 > 0:06:00..or call them on...
0:06:04 > 0:06:10Now, concerned charities recently met at the Northern Ireland Council For Voluntary Action
0:06:10 > 0:06:16to hear more about how the Welfare Reform Act is overhauling the welfare system.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19'Charity representatives heard that it could be
0:06:19 > 0:06:24'a year before politicians here agree on similar reforms.'
0:06:25 > 0:06:30It's a massive change. It's a very radical change.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34And there are lots of people who I think will have great issues
0:06:34 > 0:06:37with that, and they'll need quite a lot of help and support.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Our organisations, I think, are in the front line of that support,
0:06:40 > 0:06:44so we want to make sure that they really understand what is going on here.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Now, the BBC recently hosted an event,
0:06:47 > 0:06:51allowing charities to showcase their volunteering opportunities.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55'With First Aid demonstrations...
0:06:55 > 0:06:58'a spine-chilling haka...
0:06:58 > 0:07:01'and a pre-school playgroup on stage,
0:07:01 > 0:07:05'it was an opportunity for charities and voluntary groups
0:07:05 > 0:07:08'to find the next generation of volunteers.'
0:07:09 > 0:07:12I think there are a lot of people who want to volunteer.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14People say they don't know how to get involved.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16If they aren't already a volunteer,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19they sometimes find it difficult to know where to go.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21That's why events like this are so important,
0:07:21 > 0:07:25because they do provide people with an access point to find out information
0:07:25 > 0:07:31and then to take that information and go to the organisation - or the activity - that suits them.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35'And it was lights, camera, action in Enniskillen
0:07:35 > 0:07:38'as the BBC Experience rolled into the town's library.'
0:07:38 > 0:07:42'This new initiative of ours, BBC Experience,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45'allows us to take different aspects of the BBC's work to libraries'
0:07:45 > 0:07:49right across Northern Ireland. We've got digital technologies,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52showcasing all that's happening in that area,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55radio drama, jingle making, newsreading,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58weather presenting, telling people about the work of the BBC Trust,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01and, of course, all that's in prospect with digital switchover.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03So lots to see and hear and do, and, importantly,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07a very good opportunity for us to connect with our audience.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09I think it's great for BBC Radio Ulster,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11for us to get out and about,
0:08:11 > 0:08:12because we have a great listenership,
0:08:12 > 0:08:14and it covers all of Northern Ireland,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17'and it's an opportunity for us to get out there
0:08:17 > 0:08:20- 'and just let the people see what's happening on the programme.' - I'll play a wee tune...
0:08:20 > 0:08:23'If you can make it to the Playhouse in Derry this week,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26'you can catch the Lilliput Theatre's performances.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31'Lilliput is an inspirational theatre group for people with learning disabilities,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34'and the dramas are well worth a watch.'
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Remember, you can visit our Community Noticeboard at...
0:08:41 > 0:08:43..where you'll find lots more news,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45contacts and upcoming events.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54So that's Lifeline for this April. More details on Ceefax page 619.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd