An Aberdeenshire teenager who has won an award for his commitment to volunteering has been sharing his experiences with other young people to help them make a difference in their communities.
Callum Brunton (17) has dedicated more than 500 hours of his free time to Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) over the past two years and won the Aberdeenshire Youth Volunteer Award for contributions to Health and Wellbeing in 2016.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Health and Wellbeing Young Leaders initiative, which is delivered in partnership with NHS Grampian, aims to increase opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills and to impact on their communities through projects that improve health.
Callum, who is currently in his final year at Portlethen Academy, has been speaking about how his volunteering efforts have helped changed the lives of others and his own, as the Health and Wellbeing programme launches for another year.
Callum said: “Volunteering is a great way of giving back to your community and an invaluable tool to help you develop as a person, so I think it’s important that more young people know about the opportunities available to them.
“Before I started volunteering for Aberdeen FC Community Trust I had no confidence and really struggled to speak to people. Now, through my involvement with the charity, I have developed those skills and feel more comfortable making conversation.
“I’ve helped participants from nursery age to retirement age lead healthier and more fulfilling lives by volunteering at the Trust’s activities and programmes. It’s been a hugely rewarding experience and an opportunity I’d urge other young people to explore.”
Callum has volunteered at Aberdeen FC Community Trust’s walking football, health walks and summer soccer school initiatives and is now a sessional member of staff.
Last year, AFCCT chose Callum to join their Eurotrip to Nijmegen in the Netherlands as a reward for his devotion to volunteering and putting others ahead of his own social life.
Senior community projects officer at AFCCT, David Smith, said: “Callum is a dedicated volunteer who has committed a huge amount of time to help others and his support is invaluable to us. He has really grown in confidence since he started and we are extremely proud to have him in the team.”
Callum believes that AFC’s proposed plans for a new stadium and community centre will provide even more opportunities for the Trust to engage with more people and says that an upgrade is much needed.
Callum said: “At the moment we are really limited in terms of space and facilities for participants. The plans will create more opportunities for people from every age group to benefit from amazing facilities. If we get it, the world’s our oyster.”
The proposals are to be considered by Aberdeen City Council in October.