Celebrating the people who make Youth Talk possible
Volunteers’ Week is a moment to pause and say thank you.
At Youth Talk, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. They give their time, energy and skills to help us support young people aged 13 to 25 across St Albans District with free and confidential counselling.
Thanks to them, we can provide up to one year of consistent, trusted support for those who need it. We simply could not do this work without them.
A community effort
Youth Talk is built on the strength of our community. Every role, every contribution, and every hour given helps us create a safe space where young people can talk openly and feel heard.
Our volunteers support us in many different ways:
- Event Helpers and Ad Hoc volunteers who bring energy and reliability to our fundraising and awareness activity
- Specialist Skills Volunteers and Community Champions who share their expertise and make the most out of their connections to champion our cause
- Trustees who guide our organisation, support our team and often get involved beyond the boardroom
- Our Youth Panel, a group of committed young people who help shape our work and ensure we stay focused on what matters most
- Ambassadors, including Olympian Phoebe Gill, Schools Ambassador Rebecca Sugden and singer songwriter Grace George, who help raise awareness and champion our mission.
Each role is different, but they all share a common purpose. Helping young people feel supported, understood and less alone.
Keeping young people at the centre
Our Youth Panel plays a vital role in making sure our services reflect the real experiences of young people today.
As Julia, one of our Fundraising Assistants, shares:
“The Youth Panel are so important to us at Youth Talk as they help us to maintain our focus on young people. They share brilliant insights and understanding on so many topics, all from a young person’s perspective. As a group they volunteer their time and support so willingly, and all really want to help us provide the best support we can to local young people.”
Their voices help guide our decisions, shape our projects and strengthen the support we offer.
Youth Panel member Rosie says:
“The Youth Panel has shown me that young people are never truly alone. No matter what someone is facing, we listen, we understand, and we show up for each other. We may range in age from 15 to 25, and each of us brings our own story and background, but at the heart of it, we are all here for the same reason: to help others.”
Giving back and making a difference
Many of our volunteers bring a deeply personal connection to what we do.
Cara, one of our Event Helpers, explains:
“Volunteering at Youth Talk is especially meaningful to me because I once used the service myself, so I understand how important it is to have someone there to listen and support you. Being able to give back and help young people feel heard, understood, and less alone makes the role incredibly rewarding.”
Stories like Cara’s remind us of the long‑lasting impact of Youth Talk’s support, and how that impact continues through those who choose to give back.
A shared commitment
Our Trustees play a key role in ensuring Youth Talk remains strong, sustainable and focused on delivering the best possible support.
Gaynor, one of our Trustees, reflects:
“The talented Board members, Admin staff, Counsellors and Volunteers are all committed to enabling young people to get the best possible support. It’s a privilege to be part of such a great team at Youth Talk.”
Jackie, Chair of our Board of Trustees, says:
“Our work at Youth Talk supporting local young people struggling with their mental health is urgent and the need is great. Our whole team is passionate, committed, and determined – so being part of that team, working together to deliver, and to grow and develop our charity, and contributing what I can, is a real source of personal satisfaction and pride.”
A message from our CEO, David Barker, to our wonderful trustees:
Thank you
As part of Volunteers’ Week, our Head of Fundraising and Partnerships, Jim, shared this message:
“During Volunteers’ Week I want to say a huge thank you to all our Volunteers at Youth Talk, whether you’re helping to run events, support events, run errands behind the scenes, or whether you’re out there championing the charity, raising money or raising awareness, you are a truly integral part of our team. Your time, energy and passion help us change lives and we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you.”
Looking ahead
Demand for our service continues to grow, with more than 120 young people accessing support each week.
Volunteers will continue to play a vital role in helping us meet this need and reach even more young people across our community.
If you are already part of Youth Talk, thank you. Your contribution matters more than you may realise.
If you are thinking about getting involved, we would love to hear from you.
⏭️ Find out more about volunteering at Youth Talk
Together, we can make sure every young person has someone they can talk to.