From Harvey Nichols to Channel 4 , Zahid Aktar, 24, did it all on his placement with Agents4Change.

Zahid Aktar’s experience of volunteering yielded an unexpected and especially worthwhile result. Photography student Zahid, aged 24, was awarded first place in a national competition for the photograph he took of the charity shop window display he helped to create. A significant part of the prize is a work experience placement at Channel Four Picture Publishing, offering an invaluable opportunity for Zahid to improve his photography skills. ‘I have had many great experiences through volunteering,’ says Zahid, ‘and would encourage more young people to get involved because you never know where things can lead’.

Zahid was one of a group of young people from Birmingham who took part in an Apprentice-style challenge to give a makeover to Cancer Research UK shop windows in order to modernise them thereby increasing their appeal to young customers. The project was organised by Agents4Change, a CSV (Community Service Volunteers) initiative funded by v and Tesco. Through v’s Match Fund programme, government funds can be accessed to match the five hundred thousand pounds pledged by Tesco, giving Agents4Change a one million pound budget for delivery of the project. Launched in May 2007, Agents4Change aims to inspire and empower 16-25 year olds to make a real difference in their communities by providing opportunities to volunteer for the first time at a wide range of events. Twenty-one full-time volunteers, called Community Catalysts, currently set up exciting opportunities for other young volunteers, or Agents, like Zahid. In total, forty Community Catalysts will be recruited from across England, and will be instrumental in engaging twelve thousand young Agents over a two-year period. With support from experienced local CSV teams, these Agents will continue to deliver a wide variety of projects and events across the country. Another example of a community project is when Agents refurbished the Somali Women’s Support Centre in Birmingham. After the revamp, Agents helped to run a family fun day, bringing together members of the Somali community as well as people from the wider community, including refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan, to enjoy activities such as a children’s bouncy castle, henna-painting, and craft projects. Proceeds from the event contributed towards running the centre.

Zahid’s volunteering experience put him in contact with design professionals from Harvey Nichols, who trained him and eleven other Agent volunteers, aged between 16 and 25, in basic window display design before setting the challenge of transforming the window displays of five different Cancer Research shops across Birmingham. With a budget of twenty pounds per window, the Agents spent a Saturday morning at work in the shops. Harvey Nichols personnel judged with windows, and a hamper was awarded to the pair who created the best display: Zahid, and his team-mate Anees Malik. Helen Clare, the Community Catalyst who organised the project, said it was ‘a fun and interesting way for art and design students to volunteer to help the community without even realising it. The experience was particularly beneficial for this group of students as they learned to work within a budget, and gained experience of working with professional designers who gave them feedback on their work.’

Personal benefits for Zahid went further. His photograph of the winning window display was entered into the Young Whipper Snapper competition, which called for young people to submit photos with the theme ‘show us what you love about volunteering’. As well as the Channel 4 work experience placement, Zahid also won two hundred pounds’ worth of electrical vouchers, and a large canvas print of the winning image. Zahid is very appreciative of the opportunity that arose as a result of a morning’s volunteer work, and plans to continue volunteering. As he says, ‘one opportunity can open many doors’.

Caroline Pearce 16.5.08