Finlay Anderson

I was initially introduced to volunteering when I was in the first year at secondary school. I volunteered at a youth café that helped run primary-secondary transition evenings and I then took a break for a few years. During that period where I wasn’t involved in things as much, I received independent advocacy. And as I was transitioning out of that, they recommended that I should maybe get involved in these sorts of things to keep proactive and I just started saying yes to everything! That was seven years ago now, but it’s something I can remember the most because I just wanted to make friends. It was a new opportunity to get to meet people. I was someone who didn’t have the best experience, both in terms of education and socially in primary and secondary school. Volunteering became a platform for me to meet people, work collaboratively, and help others.

I have been a volunteer young advisor for the Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland and within Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council where I had the privilege of being the chairperson of the Youth Council for around a year, representing young people on a huge number of panels, including the council’s education committee, playing an active role in creating positive change.

I am also an #IWill Scotland Ambassador and volunteer and campaign for more accessible volunteering opportunities for all young people to include unheard voices and to remove barriers to volunteering for young people.