What sort of volunteer work would you/have you got involved with?

[pickingstrawberries]

I'm really interested in involving myself in something that I hope would benefit my community, and the people in it, and I suppose I'm just asking for some ideas and suggestions for what others do or what inspires others?

Thank you :)

Wow didge I can see why you're upset.
In our county the cases have already been moved 90% to one court so the closure of the other is not a shock.

Every Christmas I do a Christmas present collection for a charity.
I get my friends, family and local people involved and normally give around 200 presents to them.

This year, I am also doing a 2nd hand toy collection..

I also volunteer with Missing People and Age UK (Help the aged)

When I was at school I used to do conservation volunteering (e.g. hedgelaying, scrub clearance, step building).

Have also helped lead horses for Riding for the Disabled and worked in the Oxfam shop.

There is a good neighbour scheme where I live, which gets people to visit elderly people for companionship. I used to do something like that in London when I accompanied a lady to the supermarket once a week and called in daily when her daughter was on holiday.

Right now I don't do anything. I had more time and energy pre-kids.

In 1992 I started as a volunteer helper at Ds' playgroup. I then became a leader, did a course them ram the playgroup. All voluntary. I then ran the mother and toddlers group when dd was born. The playgroup closed down when I was pregnant and had dd as there was none else to run it
I then volunteered at another playgroup in a different part of the country when dd was older. I ended up running that one too and being the nominated person for Ofsted, all still voluntary
It was all worthwhile though as on now an early years professional and a nursery manager
I really enjoyed my time as a volunteer and I would do it again if I had any spare time

I run our local toddler group, I'm the chairperson of ds1's preschool and the treasurer for our local village hall. as well as doing the accounts that involves generally mucking in with community events etc. I love it all but will probably have to give something up next year when I go back to work.

Volunteer Coordinator for a group running out of school activities for children and youth with disabilities (then President of same), Parent Governor for Infant school, guide leader, Cub leader, Treasurer for adaptive sports organisation, President for therapeutic riding organisation, Secretary for School Council, Secretary for Scholastic society, Brownie leader, Guide leader, Pathfinder leader, Ranger leader, District Commissioner, Treasurer for 5 units, Trainer for adult leaders - plus ad-hoc stuff volunteering for specific events at school, reading buddy for younger years etc. there's probably more but I forget.
With a child with a disability, it is painfully obvious that there are not enough services or volunteers to go round, and so very very often the parents of the kids with disabilities are the ones running the organisations. Apart from the schools, everything I have done is not-for-profit and run entirely by volunteers.
A lot of the stuff I do is because no one else will step up. I often feel as though I am fitting in my full time job around my volunteering commitments, and this is literally sometimes true. Last year I used my two weeks of annual vacation (yes, my annual leave entitlement is two weeks) to volunteer- run a 14 day trip.
My husband has the patience of a saint

When I was at uni I worked at a women's centre helping out with admin mostly. They also ran classes (assertiveness training etc) so I helped with those a bit - just as sort of an assistant really. I did bits as and when. Learned a lot though and went on some really useful training.

Then I worked on our local rape crisis helpline for a couple of years. It did start to get to me a little bit after a while though, it's not easy by any means. We had one regular caller that I just couldn't stop thinking about, I was so worried about her (I still sometimes wonder about her now). I had other personal stuff going on so I stepped down and eventually left. I felt awful when I did leave though.

I'd like to get back into something in future but until DD is a little older I don't think it'd be practical.

I did adult literacy one evening a week, helping mainly older African Caribbean women from South London with their reading skills. One on one, not classroom. It was excellent. Loved my regular student, loves the group, loved doing something outside the usual round of work and play.

I'm on the committee of our local WI, I love it.

We work with local charities and we organise meetings every month on all sorts of topics - from financial planning to self defence and mental health awareness.

It's been a great way to meet new people, & get involved in community projects, I'm so glad I got involved with the group, it's a really great positive environment :)

I volunteered in a school for mentally and physically disabled children.
I absolutely loved it, the kids were utterly wonderful and the staff just fantastic.

I've now got a paid job there starting soon.
That wasn't the intention to start with I just wanted to help.

Now I want to be part of their lives.

Can't WAIT!

I'm involved on the professional, as opposed to volunteer, side of Independent Custody Visiting (known as Lay Visitors ages ago). Introduced post Brixton riots/Scarman report.
Volunteers turn up unannounced at a police custody suite and check on the welfare of all the detainees.
Really important and I'm quite passionate about it; would highly recommend people get involved.

I worked for cab for four years

Worked in homeless outreach/soup kitchens for about 3 years then, officially volunteering with substance misuse charity for a couple of years which finally gave me the contacts, experience and proper training to apply and succeed in getting paid work in this field despite lack of formal qualifications. Still volunteer when possible as it's where my heart belongs.
I really would do my full time job for nothing but being paid is always a bonus!

I've done a few. PTA Chair, Parent Council Chair, Group Scout Leader and also worked in admin in the local Children's Hospice.

Of them all, the one I've found most rewarding is the Scouting one. Seeing young ones growing in confidence and able to look after themselves partly because you've shown them the ropes and given them the tools to do so is just lovely.

To the PP who said they'd never do anything voluntarily, I imagine you're one of those who expects a lot when their child does something which involves volunteers?

I'm now looking into becoming a Justice of the Peace to do something a bit more adult. I think it's time young people had younger people running things for them.

I belong to the RVS which has lots of volunteering opportunities. I choose and deliver library books for the household. But the one I enjoy the most is coaching readers through the Read Easy scheme. It's a great way of helping adults gain confidence in reading and writing.

Sorry....housebound

I started off being a school governor at the local primary school and then became a school governor at their secondary school.

I then trained to be a counsellor with Relate which I did for 6 years and alongside that I also trained to be a bereavement counsellor with Cruse and did that for 10 years.

I'm currently a trustee for a national charity and have done that for five years.

My dad when he retired did voluntary work for the red cross and the wrvs as a meals on wheels driver. He loved it . Especially when Christmas came and he had to deliver toys to disadvantaged families. He also trained as a magistrate till he had to retire at 70. My aunt worked in the kitchen at the local hospice.

Reading everyone's experiences I think the country would fall down without the volunteers.

homestart
befriender for mental health charity
Rainbows

In a few years, when DD is older, I would like to volunteer for Victim Support or The Children's Panel (Scotland)

I would warn though that most volunteering opportunities require some kind of commitment and I would ask that you carefully consider if you can make that commitment before signing up. Training volunteers can be very expensive and you wouldn't believe the amount of people who start with good intentions but just can't follow through.

St John Ambulance (amazed no-one else had mentioned it!) I have both a first aid role and a management role, both voluntary.

I run a support group for a medical condition I suffer/ed with.

Team Up (macmillan) is a great volunteering organisation that fits around your specific schedule.

I used to be in St John Ambulance too WyldChyld. Also volunteered at DC's primary school, manning the library, listening to reading, cooking and sewing, school trips etc