Marion McAfee:

Hi, My name is Marion, I’m a PhD student (yes I am avoiding getting a real job!) and have been involved with YCIA for basically all my student years, (ages!). I started by taking part in an International Volunteering project in Romania that was running back in the day, and much to my surprise found myself somehow getting involved in all sorts of other things since then – the Management Committee being one! I’ve helped out on some YCIA publications to promote awareness and action on various issues - the election campaign with the middle-aged politician posing as an Ali-G ‘down with the yoof’-type was probably the most surreal…. I also seem to have been to lots of events with free food and entertainment – hmm I was sure volunteering was meant to be very self-sacrificing - not sure where I went wrong there!

Angela McGregor
Hello my name is Angela, I won't disclose my age but let's just say I'm the mummy of the committee. At present I spend my working life in pubs, cinemas and KFC (the joys of market research). I have been a member of the management committee for 5 years and chairperson for 1 1/2 years, so I'm just about ready for my long-term service medal.

I've been involved in numerous projects over the years with highlights including my trips to Romania, our political awareness conference, Your Voice, Your Choice , and more recently the peer education project, Sex, Drugs, Rock N' Dough.

Its been great watching the committee grow and develop over the past 5 years and it never gets boring as there is always something new. I hope to be involved for a few years yet, although they'll probably throw me out at the grand old age of 30!!

Conán Burns
Hello, my name's Conán Burns and you join me having just signed up as a member of Young Citizens In Action Management committee. I've recently completed my Millennium Volunteers 200 hours certificate and now beyond the point of no return, I'm eagerly looking forward to the challenges ahead. I enjoy seeing the huge difference that your man hours can make to a community or an individual, it certainly made me the man I am today (whether that's a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen). I have great expectations for the management committee and here's hoping that when I look back many years form now, I wont be able to recognise the young man now sitting at this computer typing an article for a magazine because he broke the photocopier and can be trusted to do anything else…wish me luck!

Young Citizens in Action is currently recruiting for their committee.

Do you want to develop further skills and encourage young people to become more active in their community?  Are you a volunteer aged between 16 and 30?  Would you like to become involved in the Young Citizens Committee?

If the answer to all these questions is “Yes!” email Emma at emma@vsb.org.uk or phone her on 02890 200850.