VSU is a youth action agency that has been operating in Kent for over 45 years; it is part of the registered charity VAWK. VSU’s mission is to contribute to the education of young people (aged 14-25 years) by involving them in positive, practical and self-determined action in response to real community needs. VSU does this by recruiting young volunteers from schools, colleges and other community-based centres and supporting them in a wide range of volunteer activity, which benefits their local community.

Each year, VSU engages with over 1000 young people across Kent and Medway. Young people volunteer with VSU in one or more of the following ways:

• Group projects – VSU staff facilitate over thirty after-school and lunchtime group projects including peer mentoring and befriending clubs and clubs for social services referred children, young carers, the elderly and disabled adults.
• Individual placements – set up in hospitals, nurseries, primary schools and leisure centres, etc.
• Volunteering in opportunities brokered by VSU’s vinvolved team and from partner organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit- sectors.
• Youth Action teams – focusing on issues identified by the young people themselves e.g.: Fairtrade, human rights or environmental issues.
• Holiday schemes – including environmental clean ups, children’s outings, redecorating community centres, training residential etc.
• In addition to the above, VSU has several specialist projects focusing on engaging hard to reach young people.

OUR VALUES

• Informal – Whilst we are uncompromising in terms of quality, safety, equality and diversity, VSU is about informal learning, excitement and enjoying yourself.
• Belief in Young People – VSU takes young people at face value; you have nothing to prove and nothing to lose. Your opinion is valued and drives all of our work.
• Caring – Caring underpins everything we do and everything we stand for.
• Service – Without the ‘service’ outcome, volunteering has little value and even less attraction to young people.
• Positive Attitude – We only ever say “can do”, and then find a way to do it!
• Community Partnership – The best work we do is always through community partners with shared values and enthusiasm.
• Quality – ‘Second best’ is not an option, we always strive to be better.

TARGET AUDIENCES

• Volunteers

VSU’s core activity is recruiting young volunteers and supporting them in a wide range of volunteer activity of benefit to their local community.

VSU is working hard to attract more male volunteers and more volunteers from minority groups, as well as other young people who have not previously been attracted to volunteering.

• Partners/Funding organisations

VSU’s annual budget is funded via a number of agencies including, central and local government. Trusts and Foundations including Wearev, Kent County Council Youth Service, KCC Social Services and The Youth Opportunities Fund. We also benefit from support from local Lions and Rotary Clubs and our volunteers fundraise themselves for their own projects and celebration events.