Reuben Davidson, a lead volunteer with the Brighton-based Allsorts Youth Project, has won the national Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen Award 2015 for volunteering for people under the age of 26.
Allsorts Youth Project is a registered charity. It has three full-time staff, three part-time staff, a team of volunteers and provides a variety of services for LGBTU young people, among them weekly drop-ins, a mental health and well-being group and a Trans Kids group. It works in partnership with a wide range of third-sector organisations, public services and schools, colleges and universities and runs a parent support group. Its youth volunteering hub offers opportunities in campaigning, fund-raising, educating and offering peer support.
Reuben aged 22 said: “I am so pleased to have won the award.
“I love Allsorts and feel passionately about the project’s mission to support and empower lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans and unsure (LGBTU) young people to take a lead in raising awareness of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and challenge prejudice and discrimination in all areas of young people’s lives.
“Allsorts supported me when I first came out and has done every day since. Having the opportunity to give back in such worthwhile ways has been amazing. I would recommend volunteering to any LGBTU young people interested in being part of a community and developing their skills.”
LGBTU Youth Volunteer Co-ordinator Anna Roscher, who nominated Reuben for the national award, said: “Reuben is an extraordinary and dedicated lead youth volunteer at Allsorts, devoting huge amounts of his time weekly to the project, while studying and working part-time.
“He spends a day a week on office admin, is a peer supporter in our under 16’s group (TAG), leads a youth volunteer campaign group (The Hub), is a peer educator helping to deliver LGBTU awareness workshops and training and supports the running of our trans and gender questioning group (Transformers).
“On top of all this Reuben is a committed and active Trustee and represents Allsorts at high-level meetings across the city. He is a phenomenal young man, and hugely valued volunteer who gives so much of himself and his time to Allsorts. He is a wonderful role model for other young people we work with.”
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