Ian Wheeler (26) started volunteering with Monmouthshire County Council’s youth service in February 2013, while he was unemployed. He found the experience invaluable and is encouraging other people to give up some of their spare time to help others.

Ian said: “I found the work with the youth service really rewarding. They gave me plenty of opportunities for training and this helped me get two jobs - one as a youth worker and one as a teacher. I owe an awful lot to the youth service for helping me through a difficult time when I was unemployed.”

Ian volunteered with the youth service for 18 months, while job hunting. It provided a weekly structure to his life, while allowing him to socialise with others and increase his employability.

“It is a great way to keep your spirits up and boost your chances of getting a job. More importantly, it also keeps you active, busy and motivated,” Ian said.

“My overall experience of volunteering was extremely positive. I have nothing but praise for the youth service and how it helped me through a very tough time. I would definitely recommend it to other young people, especially young people who are unemployed or struggling to find jobs.”

Monmouthshire County Council aims to support and enable volunteers to make a major contribution to creating sustainable and resilient communities. It also aims to raise the profile of volunteering opportunities in the county and celebrate the achievements of volunteers in the area.

The cabinet member for innovation, enterprise and leisure, councillor Bob Greenland, said: “Across the county, there are thousands of examples of the excellent work being undertaken by volunteers. They are helping to make a real difference to their communities and the lives of others.

“Volunteering can be incredible rewarding. It’s sociable, fun and can open doors to many exciting opportunities that could otherwise never present themselves.

“By giving up a few hours of your spare time, you can also increase your employability, learn new skills and improve your mental well-being. Ian is a perfect example of this. Through his experience of volunteering, Ian was able to secure two jobs and he hasn’t looked back. I’m delighted to see such positive outcomes from such a simple act and I would encourage more young people to come forward and make a difference to their communities.”

To find out more about volunteering in Monmouthshire, call 01633 644420, email [email protected] or go to www.monmouthshire.gov.uk