If you wanted to do voluntary work, what would you do, if you could do anything

[Lardlizard]

Other than working in a library

I'd like to visit people in care homes who don't really get visitors. I remember being a child and visiting a relative and going over to people who were and their own and sitting next to them I'd end up hearing lots of fascinating stories. I think if I tried that now I'd look like a weirdo.

I currently volunteer at a Food Bank and it is true, we are inundated with offers of help and operate a ‘waiting list’ for volunteers.

That's something I'd like to do as well, Silversky70 and getting stuck into decluttering or sorting out hoarding. I'd be keen on renovating overgrown gardens for people who can no longer manage them for age or health reasons too.

long I am sure care homes would welcome a volunteer, particularly charity run ones (MHA for example) which have experience of working with volunteers. Many residents get no visitors at all.

The thing where you cuddle babies in hospital when their parents have to go home.

Anything outdoors. Nature conservation, gardening, animals (except dogs).

Helping people when they've been ripped off and they can't get anywhere. Ditto flight delay compo. I'm dogged and get what i deserve even if it takes years.

Nail painting for elderly, inpatients etc. I'm excellent at nail painting.
Shoulder massages at peoples desks.

Ragwort I will have a Google and see if there is anything near me I could try. Thank you

Bat warden

I'm a volunteer governor at an FE college. Not the most glamorous but it's actually really interesting and (is part of something that) makes a huge difference to the local community and improves people's lives.

I would love to go and work at a monkey rescue sanctuary.

Meals on wheels

I used to volunteer for the Samaritans, they provide training and it's very rewarding

Gardening in the local park.

I would volunteer to be a tandem.pilot for people who are visually impaired. I know someone who.lost her sight in her 30s and had to give up cycling. She was put in touch with someone who was the guide on a tandem so she could still cycle.

My dh has volunteered as a sighted guide for a visually impaired runner.

Oh didn’t know it was so popular to volunteer at food banks

I though you had to be very highly/specially educated to work at cab ?

I'd like to volunteer at an outdoor lido, or do something like helping to restore a seaside pier or other interesting old building. I joined the Friends of Brighton's West Pier ... and then some disgusting bastard or bastards burned it down, before I could do anything.

Lardilizard , no not especially, there's an online training programme to work through, you would also shadow experienced advisers, and also plenty of specialist staff to help, there's a massive online information system to refer when dealing with Client issues
I can't recommend it highly enough, I've
never met a more supportive lovely bunch of people, theres a good social side too

Are you volunteering OP or are you looking for suggestions?

I’ve always volunteered, ever since I was about 12 and a friend and I used to visit people in a care home. I find volunteering really rewarding and I’ve been involved in loads of different projects over the years and met so many new friends (& my husband ).

We’ve moved around a lot, including living abroad, and volunteering with something that interests you is such a great way to immediately meet a circle of like minded people. My (paid) job now involves recruiting and training volunteers and it really helps that I have so much experience as a volunteer myself, and I volunteer with different projects outside of my paid work.