Tim ‘Does His Bit’ for JLGB
Our valued partners JLGB are promoting a new campaign called ‘Do Your Bit’, asking adult volunteers to get involved in their fun and innovative programmes for Jewish young people. Tim Knott has been involved with the JLGB for a number of years and here he tells Sue Rifkin about his experiences and why he chose to promote the ‘Do Your Bit’ initiative.
The ‘Do Your Bit’ campaign poster, featuring Tim
“It’s a surreal experience seeing my face on tens of thousands of leaflets,” says 21-year-old Tim Knott – aka the ‘Do Your Bit’ cover boy, for JLGB’s new campaign to address a national shortage of adult leaders who can each commit to a few hours once a week at a local JLGB group. He was one of 32 JLGB volunteers from around the country who took part in the campaign photo shoot – all made possible thanks to the support of the Cabinet Office and Youth United.
“I went to the photo shoot, got on with my life, then one day Neil Martin (JLGB Chief Executive) called me into his office and I spotted a huge A3 proof with me on the front cover,” says Tim. “It was a bit of a shock – quite unexpected – but it has filled me with pride to be part of the campaign and as a representative of all the other JLGB volunteers who ‘do their bit,’ week in, week out.
Tim has received countless messages from friends, asking why his face has popped into their letter box or email, or as a poster in their kosher butchers. “This was topped off when I arrived to play football, when a group of fellow players mockingly asked for my autograph, and jested each time I touched the ball, saying: ‘Tim, do your bit!’” This shows the tremendous reach of the campaign which includes social media.
Not only does Tim work as JLGB’s social action coordinator but he also volunteers two nights a week – at Redbridge JLGB juniors (King Solomon High School) and Woodford JLGB seniors, at Woodford Forest Synagogue.
“Some might say it is easy for me to volunteer because I work for JLGB but there’s more to it – because of what JLGB has done for me. I left school at 17 with little prospects and convinced JLGB to take me on as a staff intern – since then I haven’t looked back – and I have progressed in every way alongside my volunteering. They built up my confidence and skills and I will be going to university as a mature student next year.
“At Redbridge juniors I volunteer with young people aged seven to 11 and create programmes for them. They are full of life and energy – I come back shattered, but it’s fun. My [volunteer] role at Woodford JLGB is a very different one, mentoring older members and training them to become leaders who can create informative, educational and fun programmes, and make a difference in the local community.
“I’ve been a member of JLGB since I was thirteen and a volunteer leader for four years. Volunteering is thoroughly enjoyable and also incredibly rewarding seeing the tangible fruition of your efforts as a young person develops into a peer leader and a bright prospect for tomorrow. It sounds cheesy but JLGB really is a family and a community – there is no clique – and I like it that there are people from all walks of life, from different backgrounds, and from all over the country, who are working together for a common goal.
“I am immensely proud to be part of something on this scale and for such a worthwhile cause, and I hope that anyone reading this blog will want to become part of JLGB, as an adult volunteer.”
Whether you are a student, full-time parent, a busy professional or a retired person – JLGB would love to hear from you to discuss volunteering opportunities. Please call the Do Your Bit campaign hotline on 0300 123 2363 or email doyourbit@jlgb.org. For full information and to register your interest, see www.jlgb.org/doyourbit.
Follow JLGB on Twitter @JLGBHQ and on Facebook. #DoYourBit
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