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Original poster

Duke of E volunteering whilst in lockdown?

43 replies

SpicyChickpeas · 23/01/2021 14:24

Is anyones DC doing DOE?

How are they volunteering during lockdown? Need ideas.

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Londonmummy66 · 27/01/2021 19:17

Just seen that the London Metropolitan Archives are asking for volunteers to go through old photos and add descriptions/tags to make them more searchable. Might be a good one for those thinking of history/geography/photography type subjects for further study as it could well then count as a super-curricular activity and would look a bit more stand out/self motivating than yet another MOOC.

redsquirrelfan · 27/01/2021 19:01

You could perhaps do Futurelearn courses for the skill eg a language

MechantGourmet · 27/01/2021 14:37

Oh @Smoothbananagram she loves that site, and wants to do all the projects, ALL of them! Grin

Londonmummy66 · 27/01/2021 00:23

Mine came with me to help out at the foodbank and then once back at school has done online admin remotely for them.

Minuting meetings held by Zoom for local charity?

sashh · 26/01/2021 09:19

Clearing s ow from elderly neighbors' paths?

Tutoring / home work help, lots of parents are struggling with hoe schooling.

Do you have any books for younger children? Do you remember Jackanory? I'm sure there is space for something similar.

With one of my child care groups, I had them making models / puppets and then use them to make a film for a small child explaining something. So an operation at a hospital, first day at school, I think there might have even been a trip to visit a parent in prison.

Obviously you / your dc would have to check it was suitable.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 26/01/2021 08:18

BSL are running an online course to learn to sign - a perfect skill activity and a useful one too.

TwelvePaws · 26/01/2021 08:10

Look up Red Cross Missing Maps, they can do it from home if they have a device to use.

Silkiechickscat · 26/01/2021 08:05

Yes it could be, maybe learning French was her skill then though not much of that going on!

Cattitudes · 26/01/2021 07:59

@Silkiechickscat

Skills DD is doing running an hour a day and timing and tracking it.
Wouldn't that be physical? Last time I looked they were fussy about what falls into which category. She isn't really into chess. Campaigning, human rights, ecology are her interests, I did see an online debating club but as usual £££. At least she has volunteering sorted.
Crampon · 26/01/2021 03:49

@squashyhat

I read the title and thought 'surely he's too old'.
That's hilarious! GrinGrin
Silkiechickscat · 26/01/2021 03:38

Skills DD is doing running an hour a day and timing and tracking it.

MechantGourmet · 25/01/2021 23:27

Thank you @Smoothbananagram

Abboo · 25/01/2021 22:57

Another Skills option would be chess through an online site like LiChess which encourages players to upskill through tutorials and to play against the computer or a real person at different skill levels.

Abboo · 25/01/2021 22:52

My son did a weekly online maths challenge for his bronze skills. There are several options, for example Parallel ( parallel.org.uk/) or the one from King's Maths School (www.kingsmathsschool.com/weekly-maths-challenge).

ScrapThatThen · 25/01/2021 19:14

Community shop - an essential service for the local community, doing more deliveries these days too.

striation980 · 25/01/2021 19:01

Skills - cooking? touch typing?

striation980 · 25/01/2021 19:00

There's some links on the D of E website for alternative online opportunities, including social media work for some charities

Cattitudes · 25/01/2021 18:51

We are ok for volunteering but does anyone have ideas for skills development (not music)?

Smoothbananagram · 25/01/2021 18:15

I think so @MechantGourmet. It was through the zooniverse site that is linked above.

SeasonFinale · 25/01/2021 16:27

Google the National Archives. DS volunteered for them for 3 years transcribing scanned WW1 Naval records online. Was useful for his uni personal statement as he applied for History

capercaillie · 25/01/2021 15:37

BTO Garden Birdwatch (not RSPB) - this collects data weekly. Can also be supplemented by improving bird habitats, putting up boxes, sharing info locally on birds. I have several DofE participants doing this and it’s working well.

Also have several doing litter picking.

Fundraising for a charity

MechantGourmet · 25/01/2021 15:30

@Smoothbananagram

My daughter is entering tidal wave data online, via one of the schemes suggested above.
Is that with citizen science? My DD would definitely be interested in that. She was ok for bronze, but needs something for silver.
Silkiechickscat · 24/01/2021 22:59

My DD is doing this and volunteering online with the brownies, it was very hard to get anything.

Bumpinthenight · 24/01/2021 22:55

@YeOldeTrout

DS had done 4.5 months of volunteering when it all shut down in March. They won't have him back to finish. I hope he's right when he says he has 3 yrs to finish. :(
He has until he turns 25 to finish the award.
didireallysaythat · 24/01/2021 22:49

DS was volunteering at his local rugby club so that was curtailed last March and hasn't restarted. No help from the school - just the demands for money and info about the expedition would probably be from the school playing field, probably no overnight camp, etc. I'm assuming it's all be cancelled as we haven't heard anything for of couple months now.

Giggling at the idea of decluttering. DS hasn't put his clothes away for 3 months, I just dump the clean stuff in the corner of his room and extract the full washing basket every week or so. It's amazing how different kids are