Student Volunteer of the Year

While most of her friends were thinking about boys and buying the latest clothes, 13-year-old Vikki Shacklady was starting her first volunteering job at a local charity shop.
No wonder that, aged 25, she has just been voted Student Volunteer of the Year.

“I was always a sensitive child,” says Vikki, who is studying for Edge Hill’s new BA in Health and Social Wellbeing, “and I wanted to change all the bad things in the world that I saw on television.”

At 18, Vikki’s passion for volunteering took her to Kosovo, where she helped the post-war clean-up effort and worked in a centre for children affected by the conflict. She then went to Thailand and China to work with disadvantaged children and, since returning to England, has focused on volunteer work with children and young people.

Vikki now crams an astonishing amount into her life. As well as being a part-time youth worker and student, she also works with the Sure Start Children’s Centre in Ormskirk, is treasurer of Carer’s Link, an organisation that helps grandparents who care for the children of drug or alcohol-addicted parents, and runs a Rainbow Brownie group. As if that wasn’t enough, Vikki also does online work for the UN in Jordan and volunteers for Adoption UK, running family camps and offering respite care.

“I have a real problem saying no,” laughs Vikki. “I do get tired and I expect my husband would like to see more of me but I just love what I do. When I’ve helped a teenage mum get her first flat, for example, I feel like my small effort has made a massive difference to someone’s life.”

Vikki’s success marks the first time an Edge Hill student has been shortlisted for the prestigious national Higher Education Volunteering Awards.

“We’re all so proud of Vikki,” said Volunteering Co-ordinator, Jennie Jackson. “She really is an inspirational person and a passionate and dedicated volunteer.

“People start volunteering for all kinds of reasons – and you certainly don’t have to be a crusader like Vikki,” adds Jennie. “Some are naturally altruistic or do it for the experience, but many students see volunteering as a way of enhancing their CVs and making themselves stand out from the crowd.

“Unpaid work can also be a way into competitive careers and can give students valuable on-the-job experience that complements their studies. Volunteering also brings great benefits to our local community so it really is a win-win situation.”

Vikki, who won an Edge Hill Excellence Scholarship for her volunteer work, admits that winning Student Volunteer of the Year was “mind-blowing”. But even that couldn’t tear her away from helping others. She missed the presentation ceremony as she was in Florida with Sing Live, a choir that helps to raise money for charity.

“I can’t remember a time when I haven’t volunteered and I can’t envisage a time when I won’t,” says Vikki. “I’m having to say no a bit more now so that I can finish my studies, but I plan to go to China again in the summer to work at an orphanage. I can’t see myself stopping volunteering any time soon.”