52 Small Changes - Week 27

[NightWanderer]

Week 27 - Give Back

Give back by donating your time or energy to something you care about.

Although giving money to various causes is a good thing to do, giving your time and energy to people or an organisation is much more rewarding to both you and to them. It doesn't take a lot of time to help others. Research shows that only one hundred hours a year can provide dramatic health benefits.

Last week's thread

[8FencingWire]

Thank you!

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

Yes.
Thanks.
Will be back at more civilised hour!

[NightWanderer]

I have been volunteering with an organisation for about 3 years now but I recently quit as what seemed like a little work soon became really overwhelming and I am busy enough as it is. I also found that people of the organisation started treating me like an employee, putting pressure of deadlines on me, being kind of bitchy and difficult sometimes. I don't regret quitting.

I am on a PTA committee for organising the summer fete and also I'm trying to start up a local support group for women, so I guess that would be a good goal for this week, to actually get that rolling.

Does anyone else volunteer?

[8FencingWire]

I'm involved with DD's school quite a bit. I have a very long commute on top of a full time job, so at the moment it's the best I can do. I used to volunteer for an organisation, but, like you, I found they were treating me like an employee and the pressure and the bitchiness made me quit! I don't regret going either :)

Tell me more about the women support group please, that sounds right up my street!

[Stellar67]

Thank you for the new thread.
I've just left a few groups as it was taking over life. I run a support group for carers. It's not easy but even if one person feels they've gained something then its worth it.

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

Yes, I've been a volunteer for HomeStart for about 5 years.

[DrDiva]

I don't really although I try and volunteer to help out at DS's school, and I honestly think I go above and beyond for people at work.

Though I could do much more community wise. Hmm. This has got me thinking...

[NightWanderer]

I live abroad so I am a member of a national support group for foreign women. I was hoping to get something started locally but I think I'm going to leave it for now. I recently organised a get-together and it was such hard work. Fun, but hard work. I will organise another get-together in autumn I think, just odd events rather than a regular thing. I have been making more effort to talk to foreign women I come across. I'm quite shy so that's a big start for me.

I will post the next challenge when I get home as my kindle is flat. It's one I like

[8FencingWire]

night, I'm foreign too, and about to move to a new area, I was thinking about looking up a group like you one you want to initiate!!
Look forward to the next challenge :)
And thank you once again for keepig it up :)

[quirkychick]

I volunteer at dd2's school atm. I have done for about 4yrs. I do enjoy it, and hopefully it "keeps my hand in" should I decide to go back to teaching.

[margaritasbythesea]

I'm actually just about to give up the volunteering I've done for the last few years as a breastfeeding peer supporter as I am moving abroad for a year. I suspect I will end up volunteering at dcs new school though as it is in EU country and I am a trained English teacher. I think it will be a good way to get involved.

Hello new thread

[NightWanderer]

New thread