YOUR VOLUNTEER
Name: Ben Hicks. Which charity do you volunteer for?: Friends for Leisure – I volunteer for the Macclesfield Youth Group. Bio: I’m an eighteen-yearold student currently studying in my last year of A-Levels. Hoping to do Physics with Astrophysics at Leeds University. I have a part-time job as a waiter at the Deanwater hotel in Wilmslow and I enjoy playing squash. What inspired you to start doing this?: I initially started volunteering for FFL for my DofE Gold award, but quickly after joining I knew that I would want to continue the volunteering work long after my DofE was finished. What do you enjoy most about doing this?: Watching the young people grow in confidence and character, seeing them laughing with us and coming out of their shell more and more each week. This goes especially for one of my mates who I was introduced to via FFL, who I meet up with almost every week now. What are your greatest achievement/s?: Passing my driving test and getting five A stars and six A grades at GCSE. Any plans for the future?: Study Physics with Astrophysics at Leeds, after travelling for a bit. Where is your favourite place in Macclesfield?: I’m Poynton born and bred so I don’t know Macclesfield well. Ideally how would you spend every day?: In the sea somewhere along the Welsh or Cornish coast, either surfing or kayaking. What was the best holiday you have been on?: A road trip around the west coast of America, stretching from Route 66 to San Francisco. If money was no object what would you do?: Buy an island in the Maldives. What one piece of advice would you give?: Don’t do your driving test in Macclesfield, there are too many roundabouts. What is your biggest inspiration?: Music, specifically songs that tell a story. Who would you like to invite to dinner?: The panellists from ‘Mock the Week’ and Gordon Ramsay, both the food and the conversation would be legendary.
CHESHIRE-East based charity Friends for Leisure has launched a campaign to recruit more male volun- teers. Friends for Leisure is in critical need of male volunteers, currently 49 young people are left without a volunteer befriender due to the lack of male volunteers (of course we welcome all applicants — not just male).
Friends for Leisure is 22 years old this year and throughout this time have been supporting disabled young people to access friendship and leisure activities.
Disabled young people are continually isolated from activities and friendships and Friends for Leisure believes that everyone needs a friend!
The basic requirements to become a Friends for Leisure volunteer befriender are to be 16 years old and upwards, friendly and enthusiastic. The majority of our befrienders support young people to access sports groups, gyms, online gaming, meals out, cinema etc. This wouldn’t cost you any money—just your time!
Friends for Leisure would love to hear from anybody who would like to give their time to support a disabled young person in their local community.
You can call us on 01260 275333, visit our website www.friendsforleisure.org.uk or email abi@friendsforleisure.org. uk.