Have you got helping hands?

Barnardos announces awards for young people with 'Helping Hands'.

Barnardos, Ireland's leading children's charity, is calling on all young volunteers to check out the "Helping Hands Awards" – a competition for young people who give something back to their community through volunteering.

"Barnardos believes that everyone can play a part in shaping the society we live in. We are particularly keen in promoting volunteering among young people. Volunteering is a positive way for children and young people to make a contribution towards a better future. The Helping Hands Awards is open to anyone under the age of 25 and who volunteers for any organisation – not just Barnardos," Angela Walsh, Volunteer Co-Ordinator said.

"Organisations such as Barnardos would not be able to do their work without the support of hundreds of volunteers – young and old. Volunteering is not a one-way street. Volunteers who give their time to a cause they believe in or give something back to their community can also gain valuable experience, meet friends and get the training they need," Angela Walsh continued.

"We're calling on all young volunteers who have "helping hands" to check out the Barnardos website. They can nominate themselves or others for this fantastic award, or someone who has benefited from their volunteering can also nominate them. Barnardos believes that our society would be poorer if there was no volunteering and the work of Barnardos and other organisations like us would be impossible," Angela Walsh concluded.

The "Helping Hand Awards", sponsored by IT company Softech, are open to anyone under the age of 25. Anyone interested can either nominate themselves, or they can be nominated by others, for example teachers or community workers.

The awards will be presented on December 5th and there are 3 prizes, with a top prize of a laptop donated by Softech. For more information on how to enter the competition check out www.barnardos.ie/volunteering. The closing date for nominations is the 18th November 2005.

Barnardos is Ireland's leading children's charity. It operates a nationwide network, working with over 12,000 children and their families each year. Barnardos is committed to the best interests of children and young people in Ireland, promoting and respecting their rights in all of their work.