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- Quotes from SYP, to thank the volunteers for all they do.

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Without our  fabulous volunteers Space Youth Project wouldn't be able to function.  They are a most excellent asset and help us ensure that the lives of LGBT+ young people in Dorset are happier, healthier and fun!

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Without our  fabulous volunteers Space Youth Project wouldn't be able to function.  They are a most excellent asset and help us ensure that the lives of LGBT+ young people in Dorset are happier, healthier and fun!

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Without my volunteer the 2 groups I lead simply would not run.

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Without my volunteer the 2 groups I lead simply would not run.

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My volunteer is invaluable, they are enthusiastic, very creative and we have developed a good team spirit working together AND with our young people to be able to run some very creative lessons. Having such a committed  volunteer means the young people get the chance to do a lot of activities they may not otherwise have access to. All young people know they volunteer their time  and show their appreciation, also when a new YP joins I always introduce my volunteers and say that without them the group wouldn't run.  We also have a young leader at 1 group who again volunteers their time. They are very committed and reliable. They bring a younger vibe to the group. They help with various, peer supporting new members helping them to relax and get involved with activities, sometimes leading an activity and doing the register. Again their help is very much appreciated by the team and the young people.

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They supports me in many ways allowing me to try to support our Bridport members fully

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They supports me in many ways allowing me to try to support our Bridport members fully

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Without volunteers our groups would not be able to function, not only are they a valuable asset to the youth worker they can be good role models for our young people.

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Our volunteers have been providing support and listening ear to our young members, supporting them in their development and engagement.

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Our volunteers have been providing support and listening ear to our young members, supporting them in their development and engagement.

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Volunteering their time to Space Youth Project enables us to run the groups regularly, as well as being able to provide other opportunities, e.g. trips and pride events. Our volunteers are a big part of our team and I appreciate the time they volunteer, the support they provide and the commitment that they show to the young people and the project. I would like to say thankyou to our volunteers for all their hard work.

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I truly know and appreciate the value and importance of Volunteers.  We could not survive or thrive without them.  As amazingly talented and passionate as our paid staff are, we could not serve our young people and continue to expand the locations of our groups without volunteers.  

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I truly know and appreciate the value and importance of Volunteers.  We could not survive or thrive without them.  As amazingly talented and passionate as our paid staff are, we could not serve our young people and continue to expand the locations of our groups without volunteers.  

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We are fortunate enough to have people come to us to volunteer their time with our youth groups, in our office, to help at public events and/or become Trustees.   This outpouring of people wanting to give their time to us is a reflection of the great work Space Youth Project does in Dorset and that people see the value and want to be a part of it.

Many charities struggle to get volunteers and cannot survive. We appreciate each person that gives their time and energy to Space.  We hope we let them know how much we value them no matter what their role is.

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The volunteers that we have at Space are terrific and make such a huge difference to the young people they work with through their care, support and vilify to facilitate learning whilst sharing their own experiences. 

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The volunteers that we have at Space are terrific and make such a huge difference to the young people they work with through their care, support and vilify to facilitate learning whilst sharing their own experiences. 

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Without volunteers Space would not be able to function and offer all of the services which we do today. All of the help from volunteers at groups, on the admin team and helping with other behind the scenes tasks are incredible and I hope they know how much the trustees really appreciate every single one of them!

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Our Space Youth Project volunteers are absolutely invaluable to us. 

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Our Space Youth Project volunteers are absolutely invaluable to us. 

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Their unwavering dedication and passion make everything we do possible. We couldn't run our charity without their incredible support and commitment. Thank you for being the heart of our project.

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Our volunteers bring a wide range of life experiences, skills, and support to Space Youth Project. 

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Our volunteers bring a wide range of life experiences, skills, and support to Space Youth Project. 

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Allowing our young people to see what genuine support looks like, from allies and members of the community alike. I massively appreciate every one of our volunteers and how their help enables us to carry out our regular services to such a high quality. Their passion and involvement is invaluable to Space Youth Project and I thank them for their hard work.

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I deeply value the input our volunteers put into the project and their commitment to helping us achieve our organisational aims. I can't thank  these fabulous individuals enough for the help they provide the organisation, the team, and the young people. I'm also glad we have made volunteering a worthwhile experience for them in turn.

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I deeply value the input our volunteers put into the project and their commitment to helping us achieve our organisational aims. I can't thank  these fabulous individuals enough for the help they provide the organisation, the team, and the young people. I'm also glad we have made volunteering a worthwhile experience for them in turn.

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Space Youth Project's Volunteers are the essential driving force behind so much of our work, we couldn't do what we do without the help of our dedicated Volunteers.

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Space Youth Project's Volunteers are the essential driving force behind so much of our work, we couldn't do what we do without the help of our dedicated Volunteers.

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The simple fact is Space Youth Project won't run without our amazing volunteers, so from the bottom of my heart I thank you for all the amazing work, support and commitment you give to our young people and our team.

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The simple fact is Space Youth Project won't run without our amazing volunteers, so from the bottom of my heart I thank you for all the amazing work, support and commitment you give to our young people and our team.

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- Quotes from those that volunteers for SYP in many different capacities

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The work Space Youth Project does for young people is amazing

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The work Space Youth Project does for young people is amazing

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I enjoy supporting and learning from the youth workers, and the great work they do. They have always made me feel very welcome and included.

Volunteering at space youth project is important to me, because I enjoy listening to young people, so they feel supported and happy to speak freely about there gender/sexuality.

I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing the young people enjoy the groups, and engage with other young people in the activities. It is extremely rewarding.

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Volunteering with SYP is important because it is vital that LGBTQ+ young people have a safe space to openly be themselves, without judgement or discrimination.

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Volunteering with SYP is important because it is vital that LGBTQ+ young people have a safe space to openly be themselves, without judgement or discrimination.

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Without volunteers SYP would not be able to run their groups and therefore young LGBTQ+ people may have no one to turn to. I feel that as a volunteer, we make a real difference in all of our young people’s lives.

Being a volunteer is important to me because I was a young person myself and SYP truly helped me turned my life around and I want to give back to the charity that played a huge part in my life and who I am today. Also, I would never want there not to be a group where young LGBTQ+ people have a place to go and I’m aware that without volunteers SYP could not run these very important groups.

Being a volunteer gives me a huge sense of purpose and belonging. I really feel like I play a big part in shaping young people’s lives which is really important to me. Not only that but as a volunteer at SYP, I get a lot of support myself from my colleagues, since I have been volunteering my confidence and self esteem has grown so much because of this.

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Volunteering with Space has changed my life. 

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Volunteering with Space has changed my life. 

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I've met a great bunch of amazing people who have taught me so much. I am really proud of the work our team has done in schools with adults and students. I know it has made a huge difference because we have mountains of positive feedback. Sometimes it feels really hard to effect change in the world, but at Space we succeed at making our little bit of it kinder, happier and more inclusive.

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It is important for young people in the LGBT+ community to have a safe place where they can be themselves, ask questions and get any support they need.

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It is important for young people in the LGBT+ community to have a safe place where they can be themselves, ask questions and get any support they need.

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My daughter has benefited from the support given to her at Space and it is important for me to offer some support back into the LGBT+ community, especially for those that maybe do not have the support elsewhere.

I enjoy volunteering at Space, the young people are friendly and welcoming. I enjoy the activities and spending the evening chatting with them. I have also been given the opportunity to attend some training sessions, which I have found very interesting,

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Volunteering with SYP is important because young LGBTQ+ need in this moment more than ever to know they’re valued for who they are.

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Volunteering with SYP is important because young LGBTQ+ need in this moment more than ever to know they’re valued for who they are.

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Having volunteers there checking in and being aware of young people’s well-being is really significant for helping them develop their senses of self. Being a volunteer is so important to me because we can provide that additional and specific support for experiences that not everyone can relate to. I see SYP as a special meeting of people that is a safe space for volunteers, as well as young people, and it has helped develop my own self-esteem in the process. It is also incredibly rewarding to know that you can have such an impact on young people by being your authentic self.

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Aster was a young person with Space Youth Project (SYP), who joined our supernova group and through that started to volunteer with SYP as they wanted to give back. They have done so well in their volunteer role that the lead youth work team decided to nominate them for the Community Action Network voluntary service award.

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Aster Neil - Young Volunteer Award nominee, Voluntary Service Awards 2025

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SYP is essential for the LGBT+ youth in Dorset. 

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SYP is essential for the LGBT+ youth in Dorset. 

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There is no other service that measures up to Space's work. I was a young person before I began volunteering and the help and support I got from SYP youth workers was amazing. No matter what I was going through, I could always find support at Space.
Being a volunteer is my way of giving back to an organisation that gave me so much. The people running SYP are fabulous and really care about volunteers which makes being part of the team great. I've done training that I wouldn't do elsewhere, not to mention that it looks good on my CV!

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To me its about helping to ensure young people have a safe space to be themselves, meet like minded others & get support I want to give something back having attended a similar group as a young person and finding it beneficial. It give me the opportunity to meet different people, go to different places and know that in a small way I'm making a difference 

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To me its about helping to ensure young people have a safe space to be themselves, meet like minded others & get support I want to give something back having attended a similar group as a young person and finding it beneficial. It give me the opportunity to meet different people, go to different places and know that in a small way I'm making a difference 

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Volunteering with Space Youth Project is important, as anything we can do to make Dorset more safe and happy for LGBT+ young people is important.

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Volunteering with Space Youth Project is important, as anything we can do to make Dorset more safe and happy for LGBT+ young people is important.

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Volunteering with Space means that my time and energy makes a real difference in the lives of local youth. I know that what I do, whether it is creating media on a laptop or speaking to people, helps spread the word and make a change. I have done some fantastic training with Space, felt supported and encouraged in my role, and made friends with other enthusiastic volunteers. I'm so proud to tell people about the work we do!

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I joined SYP as a trainee counsellor, as I am passionate about LGBTQ+ rights.

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I joined SYP as a trainee counsellor, as I am passionate about LGBTQ+ rights.

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Volunteering allows me to be involved in creating safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ young people whilst also gaining gaining professional experience and skills to complete my qualification. I am learning so much from the young people and feel privileged to be able to provide them with the support they need to navigate the stigma and discrimination they face, whilst maintaining their mental health. I feel really proud of being a part of the Space family.

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Volunteering for Space Youth Project is a pleasure. It has given me the chance to develop my skills and learn so much. Seeing the positive changes to young people's lives who attended the groups is phenomenal. They feel empowered and safe to express themselves in their safe space. Space Youth Project really does change young people's lives, and it is a privilege to be a part of that.

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Even small acts can have a lasting impact.

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Even small acts can have a lasting impact.

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Volunteering at Space Youth Project is important because it helps create supportive, welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ young people.

Many young people still struggle with confidence, identity and feeling accepted.

By volunteering, we can offer understanding, guidance and a friendly face - someone who believes in them.
Giving your time means helping young people build community, make friends, express themselves, and feel proud of who they are.

Every volunteer contributes to a safer, happier future and it is very rewarding to see their confidence grow.

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Space Youth Project supported my daughter and our family while she navigated a new and daunting world. 

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Space Youth Project supported my daughter and our family while she navigated a new and daunting world. 

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Through the charity, she made friends, felt accepted for who she was, and blossomed into the confident adult she is today. As her parents, we also made new connections, and it has been wonderful to meet and support others in such an inclusive, non-judgmental environment.
As someone passionate about equality and human rights, it felt natural for me to get involved. I wanted to give back to this fantastic charity, which provides safe, inclusive spaces for young people across Dorset.

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I volunteer for Space because I want to give back to a community that has always made me feel welcome and supported me, especially now when attitudes and policies appear to be going backwards. I wish I had a group like Space growing up, where I could feel supported, heard, meet like-minded people and have my mind distracted from day-to-day struggles. There are fewer and fewer third spaces for young people to spend time in outside of school or work, so it feels important for Space to provide that for people.

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I think that the safe, affirming space that SYP offers for LGBTQ+ young people is incredibly valuable

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I think that the safe, affirming space that SYP offers for LGBTQ+ young people is incredibly valuable

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And I feel proud to be a part of the work they do to ensure that the young people who access their service feel supported and heard. Being a volunteer counsellor is a privilege as it allows me to support a community I care deeply about, by offering compassion and understanding to young people who often don't experience that elsewhere. Through my work with SYP, I gain a sense of purpose, continuous personal growth, and the privilege of witnessing the resilience and confidence that young people develop when they feel truly accepted.

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I volunteer with Space Youth Project because I recognise the importance of creating a safe space, where LGBTQIA+ young people can confidently be their authentic selves. I believe this is essential for helping them build a positive relationship with their sexuality and gender identity. It allows me to spend my time in a way that directly empowers my community. Being a youth worker has given me the opportunity to develop my communication skills and be innovative—whether through planning icebreakers or engaging meaningfully with the young people. I know these experiences will continue to benefit me in the future.

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Space Youth Project is exactly what I needed when when I was younger

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Space Youth Project is exactly what I needed when when I was younger

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It provides valuable services to the youth of Dorset. In a world where there are increasing pressures from all sides and young people are becoming more marginalized than ever, it’s so important that support, care, and advice are available to those who need it. The work that SYP volunteers do is essential and would not be possible without them.

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Having benefitted from a similar group myself, its important to me to help ensure young people have a space safe to be themselves and meet like minded individuals.