DMK Potential, Andover-based youth charity, formed a formal partnership with The Geek Emporium last month to create volunteering opportunities for young people in the local area, within the shop unit as well as during events in the High Street in the summer holidays.
The young-person-led charity, led by local Youth Parliamentarian Dmitrijs Meiksans, will now work side-by-side with The Geek Emporium to develop the important safeguarding structures that will enable young people to come on board.
“Lots of companies and organisations are hesitant to bring young people on to volunteer,” said Dmitrijs, “and it is for the simple reason of safeguarding. Young people need to feel safe, and of course happy, when volunteering with any organisation, so we [DMK Potential] will be the third party between Andover young people and The Geek Emporium, making sure all forms and procedures are being followed but also that the young people recruited benefit from this opportunity.”
Funded by Test Valley Borough Council, the project will enable DMK Potential to create all policies, procedures and forms that are required, and to launch a call-out for young volunteers from the local secondary schools. Young people will get some experience in working within The Geek Emporium retail unit in Waterloo Court, as well as volunteer at the events they are planning to hold over the summer.
Young people who are keen to volunteer with The Geek Emporium this summer, should register their interest by emailing thegeekemporium@dmkpotential.org