A super volunteer from Ripon has clocked up a remarkable 200 hours of community work at the age of just 14.
Zoe Ingham helps out at the Sumer Fun Fest and Green Fair in the city, in addition to working as a Brownie leader.
And the Ripon Grammar pupil now aims to reach her 350-hour target by this time next year.
Recently, her work was celebrated at a major awards ceremony in the city’s cathedral when she was presented with a St Wilfrid’s Star trophy.
The prestigious event was attended by around 300 people after more than 700 nominations to honour those who have made significant contributions over the year to the city and its people.
She shared the Individual Young Person Award with fellow volunteer Bethany Murphy, who were both praised for not just being helpers but taking on real responsibility, being role models for others and always being kind and enthusiastic.
Their awards recognised their completion of more than 100 hours of volunteering in addition to their ambassadorial roles for the local Power of 10 volunteering scheme.
Zoe is about to take part in a major event which will bring her volunteer hours up to 250.
She said:
“My main goal for volunteering is to continue doing what I'm doing, to do what I can to help the community and encourage others to do the same.
“Although, I would also like to get to 350 hours by this time next year, only 150 to go.”
The 14-year-old, from Ripon, explained how she first got involved in volunteering with her mother at Fountains Abbey when she was seven and decided she wanted to do more.
She said:
“I properly started volunteering in 2022 at Ripon Library as a part of the Summer Reading Challenge scheme.
“I was helping children by signing them up and handing out prizes as well as promoting the scheme and helping with other events related to it.
“I first got involved because I wanted to help people and be an active part in the community. It was a fun activity for me to do whilst helping others- both businesses and individuals.
“It has also taught me important life skills that I can use both in school and further on in life."
She added:
“Being a volunteer is a great experience, you get to work with a lot of different people, improve skills from computer competency to people skills and gain work experience without being tied to a job. You can try out many different types of work and see what you enjoy.
“You don't have to be recognised in ways such as getting rewards for your volunteering to count and be useful, the gratitude you will get from whoever you are helping when you help them is rewarding enough, and that is why I enjoy volunteering.
“Volunteering is also very flexible with your schedule, and you can work when you want meaning you don't have to stress if you can't go to an event like you might if it was work. I'm not going to be doing Duke of Edinburgh Award as I feel that I can do more volunteering without doing DofE and that is what I really enjoy."
Zoe, who is aiming for a career in forensics and enjoys drama and music at school, where she plays flute in the wind band, is also a keen Girl Guide ranger and a Brownie leader.
During the city’s Green Fair, she helped promote a greener way of living for businesses and individuals and conducted and analysed the data from surveys.
At the Summer Fun Fest she designed adverts, put up gazebos and helped run activities.
As an ambassador for the Power of 10 scheme, Zoe helps promote the scheme and talks about her volunteering at events such as the Harrogate and District Community Action annual general meeting and at the Ripon Rotary Club.
She also gives awards to people who have completed up to 100 hours of volunteering and collaborates with others to come up with new ideas for the scheme and where it should got next.
She said:
“The Power of 10 scheme is run by great people who are passionate about what they do and helping and supporting young people who are interested in helping their community, offering them the opportunity of new life skills that they can take with them into school and work.
“Through volunteering I have been able to help many people and organisations, and this has brought a sense of pride.”
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