Volunteering

I run a large charity project that is popular with volunteers - we did see numbers drop post-pandemic but they are steady now. I’m not sure why we remain popular but my guess would be -

flexible (even though some people do the same timeslots each week)
tangible/immediate benefit
no make-work!
community based and very local

I’m very grateful for how loyal our volunteers are to us, and happy to work alongside them (I do the rubbish jobs!).

I recently lost my job on grounds of "we have volunteers who are willing to do this work unpaid". 0 hour contract temp seasonal so technically fair enough but to be honest it did irk me a little...

I used to volunteer for things when my dc were little like Brownies or Beavers occasionally or the PTA. It I never wanted to get roped in on a regular basis as dh worked shifts.

I did do things at church as well

Oh and now that I think of it I arranged a clothes donations drive at work to provide interview outfits for women through referrals. That was great as only took a few hours of my time to drive the donations through and people got rid of unwanted clothing which were then useful to others.

I volunteered for about 10 years but as I took on more responsibility at work and caring for elderly family, I had less and less time for the increasing demands (both in terms of time/commitment and skills/management) of volunteering. When I first left the volunteering role, I was surprised by how much free time I had.

I volunteer at a local grassroots football club. There are a few people who seem to do everything - it's not easy to find people willing to volunteer. I do the welfare stuff, registrations for the junior teams, sort the DBS checks and managers training, deal with league affiliations and FA accreditation, work on the bar, work on the coffee/tea stand, help out at the events. So far this week I have had four issues to deal with/support, one involving driving to and watching an away game, one involving a two hour meeting, plus countless texts, whatsapps, emails, phone calls. I would estimate it takes between 15 and 20 hours a week of my time. I work full time and have 2 DC who also have activities they need transporting to and from, plus DH and dog.

It's exhausting, I don't really have any time to myself at all, but I do it because it's important to me that children have access to football and the benefits that brings - fitness, community, social skills, teamwork, fun, development. To see those who started at age 6/7 now becoming young adults and still being part of the club is wonderful.

I do sometime wish the parents had an idea of how many hours of time are given by volunteers so that their children can play football though!

Apologies pressed too soon !

The food bank wrote a letter requesting money, not food

Everyone decided to stop donations immediately & we voted to raise money for a different charity instead

I have always regularly volunteered (animal shelters, cinnamon trust etc) and a volunteering placement then led to paid employment in the same organisation. Them several promotions and a couple of children happened and there's a lot less time. I still volunteer now, just less frequently. I volunteer on an ad hoc basis for a local charity, they call me as and when they need my skillset. That could be once every 3 months, or it could be a few times a week for several weeks.

Me too ! I feel really energised when I've done it - much better than when I'm waddling round the damn course. When I retire I can see myself getting more involved as a volunteer with it, as it genuinely seems to have a lovely ethos at every different one I have been to.

At one point we started a food bank collection at work & people donated food

The food was taken to the food bank

The food bank wrote a letter

We met when we were both volunteers in Mountain Rescue; we stopped after a terrible experience but have always, ever since both had voluntary jobs or posts on the go. Anything from supporting individuals to gardening, DIY, dog walking, ecological work, treeplanting, huge amounts of diverse fundraising, teaching adult literacy, web design, editing local paper, fitting out then running a charity shop, PTA, scouts, upcycling, sports coaching.

The "do-good" ing bit is just a by product. I volunteer primarily for my own selfish pleasure, because it's fun and very enjoyable and a great way to meet interesting people. If anything voluntary ever stops being enjoyable, I just stop doing it.

People want to do the easy, most rewarding parts. In reality, it's tasks such as admin and cleaning that most need doing, but people don't want to do them.

In fact, it’s often people who are able and willing to donate money who are of most use. Then that can be used to pay professionals, resulting in a better outcome for the charity’s beneficiaries.

Never do anything for free, it costs too much!

I think there is also too much risk these days. We have all embraced the culture of blame and as such we must accept the consequences. Where we live, lots of youth clubs and sports teams have had to close because of a lack of male volunteers. The local kids who are into rugby don't want to be coached by women, and no men are stepping forward.

Mind you I can see why they are reluctant, a single malicious allegation from some pissed off kid could ruin their lives.

Far too much risk involved these days. Also quite a number of employment contracts have clauses about needing permission from HR to take up any volunteering roles, that and the mandatory DBS checks to prove you're not a child molester/serial killer on day release. I suppose for most people the hassle just isn't worth it.

That's exactly why I wouldn't do it

I couldn't deal with being told off for something like that

My previous employer used to provide one paid day per year for all employees to volunteer. We had to organise our own volunteering placement or volunteer activity. It was not compulsory, but a percentage of people did take up this opportunity & the statistics were recorded.

If we raised money for certain charities, this employer also matched the money that we raised pound for pound.

I have seen a few advertisements on the TV where some other companies promote that that volunteering is encouraged.

I am a serial volunteer. Big events like Commonwealth Games, PTA, playgroup committees, now do a morning a week in a charity shop.

The pandemic had a MASSIVE effect on our volunteer numbers. The prolonged enforced closures meant some people just got out of the habit of volunteering so when we reopened, they didn't return because they'd found other things to fill their time. Our older volunteers were told for months that they were taking their lives in their hands leaving the house, so many were not comfortable returning to mixing with other people and volunteering. D of E schemes are only just getting going again here in Scotland so that was another whole pool of people out of the "workforce".

And of course cost of living means people are looking for paid work, rather than volunteer work.

Posted too soon. I have messaged our local parish council clerk regarding this issue… to be told to sign up for the local community Facebook page. The one that admin refuse to let me join…..

volunteering is just part of life, I think most people do some

Sorry, above comment was for you.

This comes up often. There are ways and means.

Having finally settled and sorted out our new home, I would have liked to have volunteered in our local community, even if initially it was only supporting/turning up
at our parish council meetings/litter picks etc. All the information needed to attend these things is placed on a private community Facebook page. Our parish council do not update their own page or website. The irony is that I’m unable to access the local community page because the admin don’t know who I am and I don’t join any groups or activities, because I don’t known when they are being run….Those activities being posted on a page I cannot access…..

so yes, would like to get involved, yet can’t!

I would volunteer and have a list of places to contact once DD starts nursery (couple of years time).

I am put off because 1) how will I get out of it if I don’t like it/can’t commit anymore (things change!) 2) what if I don’t know what to do/am given too much responsibility 3) don’t really want anything to do with the public after the hell of working in a call Center.

So I’m happy to help in lots of ways but not willing to accept miserable positions, especially for free. I’m not THAT altruistic I’m afraid.

My friend volunteers with HomeStart, her only experience being that she’s a mum so I could do that too in theory. But I would not have the confidence to go into someone’s home and help them with their kids.

At the moment I do collecting and washing for an amazing local kids clothes charity. I have also tried to help paint sets with the local amdram but haven’t had chance yet. But I’m not sure that’s the kind of stuff that counts as Volunteering? More just helping for free rather than making a difference.

I used to volunteer but I dont have time now. My work, children and elderely relatives take up too much time.

I ran a beaver group before I had children until they joined themselves. Then I volunteered at the school for 6 hours a week.

Half of our active volunteers are between 13 and 18.

I volunteer a lot but there are less interesting positions coming up now. Theres so much grant writing or backroom work.
I've left two positions who have asked me to go way above and beyond for them at my expense.