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!

RNLI, not relief, stupid autocorrect.

I used to teach English as a foreign language at a migrant drop in centre. The local branch closed. Thinking of looking for another similar charity.

So many amazing people doing such good work. This thread is really inspiring.

Not the same thing as going out to do something but during work (desk job) I knit baby blankets to donate to a charity who distributes them in hospitals to families who have just had stillborn babies.

I work in a charity shop, on the till. It’s a bit boring, but it’s something to do and the manager’s nice. You get the occasional grumpy customer, but I’ve not had that many.

Good heavens. What an amazing, inspiring bunch of posters. Wow! Thank you

I host refugees.

Brownie leader and Scout Group Treasurer.

I gave blood for many, many years, but had to stop due to health reasons. I still wanted to do something that gives something back IYSWIM, so I now volunteer as a driver and occasional host for a charity that organises tea parties for lonely older people. I love it! And it fits in with working FT too. I hope to expand my volunteering as my work declines over the next few years, as I get so much out of it. As a PS I would add that, if you are healthy and able to, being a blood donor is the easiest way to volunteer that there is.

Volunteer appropriate adult for juveniles.
Various PTA bits and bobs.
My mum and sister both volunteer at Battersea Dogs Home, walking, socialising and fundraising. They both absolutely love it.

Thanks anotherusername!

Hills I volunteer from home. I take calls for a mental health helpline

Iam, to my eternal shame I was always too squeamish to go and give blood (kept meaning to just do it anyway!) but with DC2’s labour I received blood so now I can’t can still give organs though which I don’t understand!

*JacNaylor

I bake and decorate birthday cakes for children who's families can't afford to do much for their birthday.*

Is that with FreeCakesForKids? I cake for a living and looked at them in the past but I’d have to set up a group in my area and would hate to be the one to decide who qualifies for a cake?

Amazing posts. It certainly proves the saying “if you want something doing, ask a busy person”! Many pps involved with multiple volunteering tasks. In my experience once you get involved with one thing, it opens doors to others. I have certainly gained a lot from my volunteering. Enjoyed being a school governor and Church roles with children and families.

Currently a Cub Scout Leader and Volunteer at Parkrun. I also do the accounts for a local guide company - this is from home as the leader drops in any paperworketc after the meeting.

Hillsdale our scout group would welcome someone working from home managing some of the admin e.g. waiting lists, badge ordering, subs chasing etc.

The country park, where we hold Parkrun, is looking for volunteers to help in the grounds and other projects. There's also a local meadow and woodland maintained by volunteers with work parties.

Very involved with the Parent Council (different from a PTA) and volunteer instructor for Bikeability. I also volunteer to help Scouts and Brownies as well as help out with a sports club fundraising. I also do ad hoc volunteering when needed.

trustee of an art conservation charity
trustee of a child cancer charity
school governor

I am a magistrate. I usually do 2-3 days per month. It can be challenging but is also interesting.

I have previously been a school governor and on the committee of a few local organisations.

Is that with FreeCakesForKids? I cake for a living and looked at them in the past but I’d have to set up a group in my area and would hate to be the one to decide who qualifies for a cake?

yes freecakesforkids there was already one set up in my area, I know the running of it gets a bit more complicated. They don't tend to be that picky tbh, if somebody trustworthy makes a referral it gets accepted and passed to the volunteers, they recruit a lot of volunteers because it's very flexible, you can choose to do one cake a week, a month or even just one every once in a blue moon, when it suits you. So with loads of volunteers they can afford to be generous.

In the past I have volunteered in DC's school, been a Scout Leader, and assisted the athletics club with recording/timekeeping/registration at club meets.

I now volunteer in a well known London theatre as a steward.

Currently STEM ambassador, and club officer with Toastmasters. Also some ad-hoc things like clothing collections for a local charity.

In the past, I'very done things with my local Wildlife Trust - beach cleans, scrub clearance and so on, also a river survey for water voles, and I was looking at becoming a bat warden, but then my father died and a whole load of other things in my life changed, so the timing wasn't right. I would definitely take a look at your local wildlife trust - they may have specialist groups, too (bats, badgers, hedgehogs, etc,) which might do things like look after orphan animals.

I used to volunteer occasionally with parkrun and then became Event Director at a junior parkrun for a couple of years.

I now volunteer 1 morning a week at the local library which I really love.

I would bite the hand off of anyone offering to help from home doing the accounts/admin etc. for Brownies in my case - but I'd imagine any group would be the same.

I think the assumption is that we only need help with the actual meetings but in reality there is a reasonable amount of paper shuffling that is needed and can be done from home. Less than an hour a week but on top of planning and running meetings, it becomes too much - despite it only being a couple of hours a week

I was part of a core volunteer group who set up a junior parkrun in our local park and I am now an Event Director and Run Director for it. It's really rewarding being part of the whole process from start to finish. It's a lot of fun.

I might chat to my DD's brownie group to see if they need any accounts/admin help from home actually