Giving back through Neighbourhood House

Keeping a group of primary school students engaged in their homework for hours is no easy task.

But for 16-year-old Angus Niggl, who volunteers as a tutor at the Kensington Neighbourhood House, he takes it all in his stride.

The Haileybury City campus student has been tutoring children since the start of this year and so far, he said it had been “so worth it and so rewarding”.

He is one of the hundreds of volunteers in the community whose contributions were celebrated as part of National Volunteer Week from May 17 to 23.

Every Monday afternoon he dedicates his time helping students with their homework while balancing his school studies.

He also helps deliver flyers in his spare time that promote the Neighbourhood House and its services to the community.

“I’ve helped with working-bees before, but I hadn’t considered volunteering properly until the end of last year,” he said.

“The biggest reward is the relationship you build with the kids and the other tutors.”

As the youngest volunteer at the Neighbourhood House, Angus said he “didn’t have any prior expectations” before joining.

But he said he now loved the opportunity to help students strengthen their literacy and numeracy skills through the study support program.

“Applying was probably the easiest part,” he said. “I had been looking into doing tutoring for quite some time when a friend of my Mum’s told me about the volunteer program.”

“I’d already been to the Neighbourhood House quite a few times as I went to the primary school across the road, so I was quite familiar with it.”

He said he had always enjoyed helping friends when they were stuck on something at school or with their homework, “and a few teachers had noticed that and told me I’d be a good tutor”.

Such is his passion for helping kids learn and build confidence, Angus said he had now considered a career in teaching.

“Being able to engage with the kids like they’re your friends is a huge reward for me, and it makes the whole thing 10 times more enjoyable.”

“You feel that sense of trust between yourself and the kids, and they can feel comfortable around you. It’s great.”

“I’ll be honest, it’s quite hard to stay engaged with work after school. Most of them try to stay on task but what’s most important is that they’re in an enjoyable workspace, even if that means they’re only running at 50 per cent of their capacity.”

“I’d say though that they’re almost always enthusiastic and I applaud them for that.”

Angus said he always made time to study and do activities outside of school on top of volunteering.

“Plus, I love doing it, so sacrificing a Monday afternoon is worth it,” he said.

Kensington Neighbourhood House was established in 1975 to provide a space for the community and its various groups to meet.

Today, it offers a range of adult education, art, and hobby, social, children’s activities, childcare, and health and wellbeing programs •