It is currently seeking volunteers for their Early Years and Future Work programs.
Volunteering is a wonderful way to make connections in the community and to help children, and young people, to grow and learn.
In the Early Years area, Tomorrow Today needs volunteers for their Parents’ Early Education Partnership, Kinder Pals and Reading Buddies programs.
At PEEP volunteers work alongside Tomorrow Today’s educators providing hour-long sessions for families with children aged 0-5 years.
Each session includes singing, stories, art and craft and other fun activities.
As a PEEP volunteer, you might assist with practical things like setting up the room, tidying up after a session, interacting with parents and supporting children’s play and learning activities.
PEEP runs every school day at Tomorrow Today and you might choose to volunteer once a week for two sessions — about a two or three-hour commitment.
Kinder Pals is a partnership between Tomorrow Today and pre-schools.
Volunteers spend an hour, once a week, reading picture books with small groups of children and engaging with them in conversations about the stories.
These activities help build children’s early literacy and language skills.
For those with a little more time, Reading Buddies is designed to support literacy for children in Years 1 and 2 at Benalla primary schools.
Volunteers work one-on-one with a child, several times a week, reading to them and practising their reading. Students and their buddy develop a caring and trusting relationship.
“I really enjoy working with children in that age group, you can see them gaining confidence and trust in you,” Robyn Maclean said, one of Tomorrow Today’s PEEP and Kinder Pals volunteers.
“Volunteering is a very meaningful thing to do and the staff at Tomorrow Today are very welcoming and accommodating.
“I would encourage anyone who’s a bit on the fence to talk to them and see how they can help out.”
Connect9 is the cornerstone of Tomorrow Today’s programs for young people.
It matches a Year 9 student with a trained adult mentor in the local community.
Together they participate in planned activities that connect young people to new skills, sports and hobbies and gives them the opportunity to meet new people and have new experiences.
When Joanna O’Kane became a volunteer for the Connect9 program she was initially a little nervous.
“I can’t say I knew too many 15-year-olds very well. But over the course of the program seeing my mentee gain confidence and develop skills was really worthwhile,” she said.
Tomorrow Today runs two separate 10-week Connect9 programs every year. Each program culminates in a graduation event which includes a glider flight for mentees over Benalla.
You don’t need any prior experience to volunteer — training and assistance is provided by experienced staff. Volunteers need to hold or be willing to apply for a Working with Children Check.
Training for Reading Buddies volunteers will be held on Wednesday, March 1 from 10am to 11.30am at Tomorrow Today, 66 Nunn St, Benalla.
Training for Kinder Pals will be held on Wednesday, March 8 from 10am to 11.30am at Tomorrow Today, also at 66 Nunn St.
If you are interested in volunteering or would like to learn more, contact Sally Matheson at Tomorrow Today on 5762 1211 or register your interest via tomorrowtoday.com.au/ways-you-can-help/volunteer/
Further information on the Tomorrow Today Foundation and its programs can be found via www.tomorrowtoday.com.au or on Facebook @tomorrowtodayau
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