If you volunteer, what do you do?

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

I’ve had a hankering to do something worthwhile lately so I’m wondering about volunteering. I’m particularly interested in any environmental/eco-friendly/climate changey type things. Also would be great if there was something ad hoc or maybe like a monthly beach clean up or something maybe? Something the kids can come along to as well? Tell me about any good opportunities/movements you know about please!

Also just want to hear about whatever you do, environmental or non-, as I’ve definitely not considered everything!

I volunteer for Home Start (in the office, not visiting families), and a primary school library. My DD is very into green/environmental issues, and volunteers with a lot of these types of thing, but all at university, She is also a Samaritan.
I would look and see if you can join "Friends of (local) Wood or Pond" as, at least near where I live, they organise the monthly litter picking or pond dredging. I have seen information about this on the notice board in the car park.

I volunteer for a mental health crisis line. It's like the Samaritans but through a different charity.

I volunteer in a wildlife hospital, so cleaning out pens, feeding the patients, helping with meds etc. I find it very rewarding.

I am one of the trustees for our local Food Bank, I also cook lunches for elderly folk and am Safe Guarding Officer for a local charity (don't recommend that one!!) and support my DS's sports team - if that counts!

I've done lots of different volunteering over the years and found it incredibly worthwhile, I met my DH through volunteering & now have a paid job in the charity sector so my experience is clearly valued. We've moved around a lot over the years & I always get involved in volunteering straight away as it's a great way to meet like minded people. (Four different PTAs .)

Guide leader
Run a website

Cub leader
Sports coaching
Wrap around club committee

I'm a volunteer business consultant for African startups. I'm also a UN volunteer and am currently mapping parts of rural Tanzania to assist a project on FGM.

I love this thread. Thank you op. I volunteered the first several years after leaving home, but 20 + years on I'm at the end of sorting out my own life and am looking forward to a time that I can return to volunteering. I'd like to make a contribution to the local community. I'm in a small town. How would I locate someone in the know who could steer me in the right direction re my skills matched against local need?

PTA Secretary and Committee member of a Toy Library. I also bake once a month for a charity that organises home baking to go to people need a bit of sweetness in their lives, Woman's Refuge, local hospice, homeless shelters etc.

@dudsville do-it.org

I volunteered with Girl Guiding for ten years

Now I volunteer with The Royal British Legion, as Branch Secretary and year round fund raiser for the Poppy Appeal.

Breastfeeding peer supporter, I love it!

This is amazing, thanks so much everyone!! Some really wonderful posts here. I have so many internet tabs open now 😄

UN volunteer, I never knew that was a thing! Wildlife hospital sound fab too. I forgot that I volunteered at a cattery/kennels for my DofE and it brought me so much peace and happiness, lovely way to spend time.

In the past I’ve created in my head a school gardening club, school cookery club, local eco/green festival, BUT the thing that holds me back is that I have NO expertise in these areas so how could I pull them off, and if I did no-one would take me seriously!

Also been looking at the Women’s Institute, they have lots of good campaigns going. But I’m reluctant to join as I’m under 30 and don’t want to be the only young un, and the monthly meeting schedule eg pamper night, Christmas crafts, doesn’t appeal to me . I’d like to help with the campaigns but not attend the meetings??

ANYWAY I’m off track but thanks for the posts, keep them coming! I’m inspired!

Treasurer for the local heritage centre.
Treasurer for the community garden.
(Retired accountant!)

Also do our village news column for the local weekly newspaper.

I’m a section assistant within scouting. Plus I’m one of the Run Directors for my local parkrun and help with beginners running courses when I can get there 😁

Listen to primary school children read, usually a couple of hours per week.
Kids (mostly!) love it, teachers appreciate the support & I get satisfaction from seeing their improvements and their positive, energetic personalities!

www.onlinevolunteering.org/en

Here you go OP, register yourself and have a look at the projects needing assistance. Some ask for specific skills but others just need pairs of hands, so to speak.

Also an asst Beaver Leader - love it as you get to teach the kids so much we live in a coastal location and take the entire troop out oncea month for a beach clean and we also maintain the village flower beds.

Listen to children read at our village primary
Help out with lunchtime supervision
Lock up the church
Clean the church
Do flowers for the church
Help run a kids club
Man a Speedwatch team

It’s amazing what a Sahm actually gets up to.

BeachCare and RiverCare might suit you, plus your local Wildlife Trust.

I'm a Brownie leader and a STEM Ambassador.

Soroptomists may appeal to you, Op, also have a look at the volunteer roles for your local Museums and British Red Cross- lots of different roles and good support for their volunteers.

parkrun and parkrun juniors.

Used to do brownies but it was soooo much work!

Less outdoorsy but I'm the Social Media Officer (voluntary position) for a section of a national charity - I do 2-3 hours per week from home which suits me really well and the experience helped me to get a promotion at work so it's great!

I'm on my school PTA and do bits for the residents association. I also organise a regular food bank donation drive on the estate I live. I also help local mums who don't have family nearby and are at risk of isolation - take them to groups, introduce them to others, be a general shoulder to cry on. And a bit of informal shopping and keeping an eye on a couple of elderly residents.

Mostly it's unofficial stuff but all at a local level and all little bits that families would have done in days gone by.

Otherwise, I donate to a few charities I believe in.

Have done all sorts of things over the years, school governor, cub leader, PTA, wildlife trust membership recruiter.

I am currently going through the selection process to be a JP. My dad was a JP and I grew up with it being part of his life, always thought I would like to do it. I was going through the process in another county and then moved and had to wait until there were vacancies advertised where I moved to to apply again.