Volunteering

I volunteer, I am a Scout Leader, Charity Trustee for two places as well as Safeguarding Officer and Lead Recruiter for the Parish Church. I also volunteer in the local Churchyard which I really enjoy as it's Ad Hoc and a beautiful place to be.

My husband and I have been members of initially Round Table followed by Rotary for over 30 years. Both organisations are struggling to get new members, as are all service clubs. I think younger people see them as old fashioned and not fir them. I originally joined RT as we had just moved into the area, which was where I grew up, my husband knew 3 people, who were all the husbands of my old friends. Round Table gave him a group of 40ish people to meet every couple of weeks. We have had a brilliant social life through the clubs, found out loads about the local area, organised loads of fund raising events from Beer Festivals. Quiz nights, dinners, street collections, Santa floats and a series if Pop concerts - all things we would not have dreamed of being involved with. Away from fund raising we have been involved with the local Spinal Unit taking people with long term injuries out, helping them by building raised beds for them to garden, involved with local schools with various projects, involved in International projects with other Rotary clubs from building school rooms in Africa, supporting artificial limb project in India, raising thousands for the 2004 Tsunami victims. I would be lying if I said that the volunteer work is the driving force for our Rotary Club, but it is the glue that keeps us together, and working on these projects is very satisfying. It is a shame that the organisations do not seem to appeal to 30 somethings, I know that older clubs can seem old fashioned in their ways, but I have met some inspirational people through my membership and have enjoyed some great times, as well as helping hundreds of people over the time we have been involved.

CoL must be a factor in that too though? I've barely been out out socialising for much of the last year but that's because my living costs were sky high and I couldn't afford it. Thankfully we've switched to having friends round for meals rather than going out for a meal and drinks which is cheaper.

I used to volunteer but I was treated as an unpaid employee ( told to do more hours, given appraisals, refused a holiday as "too many people were off at the same time" etc), so I stopped. Won't put myself forward for any volunteering again.

Until recently I volunteered for a local charity, have done for 2 years but dhs working hours now make it very hard to continue.

Since Covid I really think that we as a society have become a bit more insular.

My friends don't want to come out and do things as much as before, and I think this drop in volunteering is coming from a similar place.

We haven't really recovered from lockdown - people are wanting to stay home in their little bubbles.

I volunteer once a week for a few hours, but to be honest I do it for career progression because it's in an industry I'm interested in breaking into and I am learning skills. It's also WFH/ desk based volunteering.

I volunteer but it’s on an as and when they need me basis. So some weeks it could be 4-5 hrs including travel, other weeks I don’t do anything, or just do a bit on the phone. The phone stuff I never turn down as I can always fit that it but I will sometimes say no to the in person stuff because I’m just too busy and they are fine with that.

I volunteer in a charity shop: great team, regular drinks/meal out (foc), and at the end of the shift am always thanked for my contribution. I am also a parish councillor and charity trustee.

I volunteered at a Family centre. Helping the leader run her sessions for 2 days and then running a toddler group by myself. Then one of the people on the board got involved and insisted I start taking the Centres trash home with me (on my toddler session day) and not using the centres wheelie bins! Bear in mind, I don't drive, had my potty training toddler in a buggy and it took 20 minutes to walk home. I threw the trash in their wheelie bins and got told off for it! Just wasn't worth it. The actual workers missed me and I genuinely enjoyed helping out but treat your volunteers with respect.

I volunteer most weekends for various running events including parkrun, plus I help local theatres regularly and, while I'm not on the PTA, I help at most events.

My family love things like that. I am really grateful to people like you who volunteer their time to do it. Thankyou.

I've always done some form of voluntary "work", but very different types at different points in my life.

In my 20's I was a special police constable for several years. Obviously, very strict adherence to rules/laws, attending obligatory training courses, but very flexible as to what work you actually did. I could (and did once) literally turn up unannounced and unplanned in the parade room at 10pm on New Year's Eve to do a night shift - the sergeants were always fine with an extra pair of hands! But, if you'd put your name down for a specific duty, then you'd be expected to be there (barring sickness of course).

I've also been a long term "observer" for our local group of advanced motorists (now in my fourth decade doing it), where you go out with a "normal" driver to help them learn advanced driving techniques and help them prepare themselves for the advanced driving test. At different times, I've been treasurer or secretary of the local group.

Currently, my main focus has been on our village library. I started a group about 20 years ago when it was first closed, initially to get the council to re-open it, which we achieved, but then it was closed again a couple of years later, so we took it over and now operate it ourselves, no paid staff at all, just a group of volunteers from the village. In particular, it's been very useful for our village teenagers to get work experience to count towards their cv, uni application, DofE award scheme, etc. All our volunteers do the "proper" job, i.e. they're trained to learn and understand the computer systems, and other procedures/rules, work on the desk, supervise/train people using the computers, etc, certainly not just to brew up or tidy up etc.

I’ve done a lot for my children’s’ school and scouts in the past. However I’m now a single mum to 2 DDs one of whom has SEN and I work full time so it’s no longer as easy as when I was married.

We now live in a society where a mortgage can be 8x salary rather than 4x salary. I consider volunteering an indulgence I can ill afford given high housing costs. If you want me running a brownies club or running the PTA then build a time machine and give me the society of thirty years ago!

I work for a charity which relies on volunteers working alongside paid staff to run its activities. We have a Volunteer Coordinator whose job is to take care of our volunteers, and ensure that they have a positive experience, whether they volunteer very regularly (we have some committed people who come in two days/week) or much more infrequently (we have some volunteers who can only do one day/month).

All of our volunteers are appreciated and thanked, given birthday cards, invited to (free) meals and events throughout the year. We also offer training opportunities, and qualifications which would be useful if the volunteer went on to seek paid employment (with references from us).

They are provided with uniform clothing (and boots and waterproofs if working outdoors in our gardens), fed and offered travel expenses. Any organisation that cares about its volunteers really should cover their out-of-pocket expenses, as a minimum.
In my experience, it's quite easy for charities to get funding to cover volunteer expenses, so there's no excuse for not doing so.

I've volunteered myself since I was a teenager, including many projects set up and run entirely by volunteers. I've been lucky to learn a lot from these very varied volunteering positions and been able to put the skills I've acquired to use in my career as well. I currently volunteer one morning a week at a feminist project very close to my house, and feel appreciated and well-treated there.

At least if you don't enjoy the volunteering you're doing, you can just leave! (preferably after telling them why). And find something that suits you better.

If you would like to donate specific useful skills to an organisation, you might find https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/ interesting.

Who at the council should one ask ?

I volunteer (girlguiding) plus work full time.
It’s not just weekly meeting it’s hours of admin.
The requirements for safeguarding/first aid - I know some leaders who work in schools dislike fact they have to do same course for volunteer role.
Some parents don’t realise we are unpaid and can be demanding, hard work or downright rude.
Very few say thank you or appreciate your efforts.
It costs money to volunteer and time - I use annual leave.
I enjoy it but I can see why lots gave up in Covid and didn’t return.
Less volunteers means more pressure on existing volunteers.

I fill a lot of my time with volunteering work, which brings me in to contact with other people, gives me a feeling of fulfilment and several interesting and varied roles. However, I fully appreciate that I am very lucky to have sufficient household income, so that I have the freedom to do these things. If we were struggling for money, I wouldn't feel able to work for nothing and 'waste' all that time doing things that are not contributing to the family income.

People tend to volunteer for things for about 2 years on average and then move on. We are definitely finding it harder to recruit nowadays. Cost of living rises must surely be a big factor, plus perhaps a bit of a backlash after Covid. A lot of people had more time on their hands and wanted to feel they were doing something to contribute during the pandemic. Now that is fading away and they are turning their attentions back to everyday work and lifestyle.

Previously volunteered at a school where some of the staff were visibly annoyed when I showed up and moaned about the only day I could offer not being the best for them - so I stopped going. Tried to volunteer at the local library who never called me back. Now been at the local food bank for over a year. Most of the other volunteers are retired or unemployed and go twice a week. I do 2 or 3 shifts a month and am looked down on. The shifts are managed by other volunteers who are inconsistent, have poor communication skills and who will often criticise you in front of all the other volunteers in the main office. Several times this has been for things I have actually not been involved in. I am committed to giving back to my community but it feels less and less like something I want to do - after 40 years of volunteer work!

I volunteer for a week each summer at a children’s summer camp that I used to attend - hard work but it is so rustic it makes for a true escape for a short while, and I have good friends there. I also help at the Brownies each week plus additional events for that.

I do so now because I can. I have an 8 week summer at my school so a week volunteering doesn’t hurt. I also have fond memories myself of going off to camp and Brownie camp and Guides and performing in the pantomime our district put on and none of those memories would be if it wasn’t for volunteers. Brownies is becoming a bit more challenging with my teacher work load I admit, although it’s spread between 3 of us. It’s nice to be able to plan sessions and activities and not have to think of differentiation, think of every single learning point etc.

I have a good relationship with the girls and their parents mostly. Some have literally no clue the work involved and that costs in terms of man power. Some parents are just so rude and incredibly demanding and entitled and think the entire organisation should be adjusted to suit their needs. Thankfully these are a small minority.

I want to have children and that will be the final line in which both these things will stop. Been doing both for a decade plus so I’ve certainly done my share. Camp will stop but could return to something like Brownies once any child I have (if I have I hope to have) is older but it will depend on life.

I volunteer as an assistant scout leader. Been doing it for almost six years. It is sometimes hard, on top of working full time and being a solo parent.

It often takes up full weekends for camps, and a full week for Jamborees and summer camps, which rinses my annual leave.

For me, it is worth it. Giving these opportunities to young people and seeing them growth, learn, make new friends and thrive is fantastic. Also, watching young people interact on camps without phones is lovely!

As an adult, I've met a lot of new people and have widened my own support network.

I've volunteered since my youngest started playgroup, so around 25 years. I've done various things, helping in school, Scouting and also helping at the local Children's Hospice.

I feel as I have the time, and don't work, I should give as much as I can to help others. I thoroughly enjoy it as well.

I volunteer very occasionally but used to volunteer weekly. If you have the time, and can afford to do it, then I'd really recommend it.

I work for a charity that relies on volunteers, the vast majority of our lovely volunteers are retired people. We do have a few that aren't, but not many

What volunteering do you do, @rattymol ?

I volunteer at a heritage site because I enjoy it. I WFH post covid and was going stir crazy stuck at home. This helps me get out of the house. I also love local heritage and chatting to people interested in local heritage.

Most of the other volunteers are retired though.