by Hayley Longster and Caroline Grandjean
DOG loving students from Leeds Trinity are being called to help raise funds for a much needs charity as part of national volunteering week.
The week, which runs from Feb 23 to March 1 and now in its 14th year, aims to encourage young people to give back to the community or causes who need extra help.
One of these organisations is Guide Dogs for the Blind, who are suffering for a shortfall of volunteers in Headingley and have already launched recruitment campaigns with Leeds Beckett and Leeds University.
Ruth Wood, from the Leeds Branch, said: “Students can apply for regular for more casual positions helping us to fundraise”
Volunteer Karen Piotr, a member of the volunteer team, said: ““People know how much a dog can help a partially sighted person and they give generously. I started volunteering after I heard about a blind person and their dog being attacked. It really upset me. That poor dog was so defenceless. I knew this was a great cause for me to become passionate about and get involved with. More people need to feel concerned so that“partially sighted people can still get out and about like everyone else”.
And Carol Green, volunteer coordinator for Leeds Trinity University, said: ” “87% of employers regard volunteering as having a positive impact on the career progression of young people. We’re always looking for people to help out in a variety of ways, and not only by applying for the roles we advertise.”
Contact the Leeds Trinity volunteering service by accessing their page on the intranet, and also visit the Student Volunteering Week website: www.studentvolunteeringweek.org.uk