Just over a third of people living in Dartford today volunteer their time on a regular basis to charitable and community causes. Many of them have been doing so for years having got into the habit early whilst at school or college.

There are lots of reasons why people volunteer. For some it’s the satisfaction they get from giving something back to the community. For others it’s a chance to meet new people and develop new skills and expertise. Virtually all volunteers though would say that it’s a life-enhancing experience that has a positive impact on their work and family life. They invariably feel happier and more relaxed as a result of their volunteering work and have a healthier perspective on life.

It’s an experience that all young people should have the opportunity to sample. Fortunately many Dartford schools now have very well developed volunteer programmes. My own sons for instance spent time working as volunteer bingo callers in a local retirement home thanks to their school – an experience they still talk about today.

A new pilot programme that starts this month in Kent looks set to provide even more young people with the chance to become a volunteer. Aimed at 14-16 year olds in Kent the programme will be led by the local authority in partnership with schools, businesses, parents and ‘V’ – the national youth volunteering service. By promoting the benefits of community service within the school environment and beyond, the programme aims to achieve a ‘universal or very high level of participation’ in volunteering among teenagers. As well as increasing the supply of volunteering opportunities that are available to 14-16 year olds, the programme will also encourage them to generate their own activities.

It’s an exciting initiative. Not only is it a fantastic opportunity for young people, it will provide an all too rare chance for people of different ages to work together for the benefit of our community – a goal that I’m sure we can all welcome.