come and talk to me about your charity work

[Cinammoncake]

I fancy doing some volunteering but don't know where to start. In terms of time commitment probably one day or one evening per week, or something less regular. I'd rather not work in a charity shop. Any ideas? Would be interesting to hear what other people do. Thanks

I used to help cook a weekly lunch for a drop in group run by women's aid.

Some of my friends volunteer in food banks, sorting the donations, assessing eligibility and handing food out sort of thing. Another friend of mine helps organise a peer support group by doing the admin side of things- applying for funding for biccies etc.

I volunteer for the Cinnamon Trust, I walk a dog once a week for an older lady who can't manage any more.

All great ideas purpleframes thank you

That sounds lovely allgooddogs I would love that. Going to look them up

I volunteered for a marine rescue organisation on the east Anglian coast for a year. Don’t have the time currently, but when the kids are older I’m hoping to volunteer for Home Start as they helped me a lot when I preschool kids.
One of my cousins volunteers for the Samaritans (finds it very hard though) and another one at a local Hospice.

Just parkrun. I can do it when it suits me.

PTA Chair, NHS Trust Governor, transport for local Hedgehog rescue, homechecker for national dog rescue charity, local community farm weekend cow checker.

I'm a trustee for a small campaigning charity - highly recommend it, it's a great challenge but very manageable in terms of time commitment. I feel passionately about the cause and love doing it.

I work for a charity.
Our volunteers do a variety of tasks including admin, social media scheduling, marshalling at events, skills sharing (we were tendering to contract a project outside of our expertise and a volunteer helped us write the spec), decorating, photography at events, companionship and loads more

I befriend people held in a secure facility. It's a really flexible role on a one to one basis that I can fit around other commitments, holidays etc and I really enjoy it.

I'm not allowed to go into details of the work of the facility on public forums, but happy to communicate by PM if there's a facility near you and you'd be interested.

I foster for an small local animal rescue. Used to volunteer in a small local charity shop but was rather put off by the "volunteer mafia" who seemed to think they were running Chicago or something.

I used to work at a very senior level in huge corporates but they were something else!

I am on the waiting list for RDA.

On PTA for two schools, volunteer at a preschool, on the board of a community group and on the patient advisory group of the local GP surgery. All very different in terms of skills needed and type of commitment!

I volunteer at school which is technically a charity! My daughter volunteers at a cat rescue centre for her Duke of Edinburgh award and they’re always looking for volunteers. A friend drives a small mini bus for elderly people. Libraries?

Wow, so many amazing responses, thank you, and I think you all are brilliant for all the different things you do
If anyone knows of any specific vacancies (London) please do PM me. But I shall re-read and look into all the suggestions, so many great ideas

I used to be a trustee of a charity that provided advocacy services to adults with intellectual disabilities. It was interesting and rewarding but a bit stressful due to the legal responsibility. However, if you have the skillset then many medium and small charities do find it hard to recruit trustees so may be worth considering?

I trained as a run leader and volunteer at my local running club , its great running the Couch to 5k courses and seeing habitual non exercisers doing what they thought they couldn’t. We see lots of people doing it for mental as well as physical health reasons too ....plus I get off the sofa as well !

Homestart!! It’s brilliant. I have been volunteering for a few years now and I love it. A couple of hours a week, you’re on your own, so no Chicago mafia , but you have regular support.
I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Good luck

I'm a trustee of a medium sized arts charity and we have people doing all sorts of roles - some on a more intensive basis than others. It really depends on your own skill set and interests though! If you'd rather do something which has a flexible time commitment for example, we have people who spend time searching online for funding opportunities - they don't apply for them (unless they are keen to do so) but find out about them and consider whether we fit the criteria, and then pass it on to a trustee. We also have volunteers who help out just maybe 6/7 days per year, stewarding at concerts/conferences.

You might find that you'd be able to help 2 or 3 different organisations in that sort of way which would still be greatly appreciated but without being more time than you'd like to commit!

Sorry, wish I could edit! I just mentioned those roles as they tend to be the sort of thing that people don't realise need done, if you see what I mean?

I volunteer at a baby bank, which gifts donated clothes and equipment to families in need. I sort donations and help keep it all tidy, it's one evening per month. It's been really nice as I've gotten to know new people, and it gives me something outside of home and work to focus on.

In the past I've volunteered at an animal rescue organisation as a dog walker, and with a youth centre, teaching cookery classes. I worked for an organisation that was very strong on volunteering - they allowed you to do a certain number of hours volunteering per month within working hours, which was great - lots of people used it to work in schools - and each year the org had an official charity they supported.

I’m a volunteer playlady on a children’s oncology ward.

I also do a few sessions a month in a day center for young adults with various learning difficulties.

I work independently or with one other person each time but there are about 25 of us in the group. It takes up about two days per week all in and it can be any day apart from with the young adults - that’s a fixed day because it’s better for them.

I love it but it’s not something I share much, if anything about, those closest to me know I do it and that’s the way I like it.

So many brilliant suggestions and ideas and so many lovely MNers doing great things I'm really grateful

margotsdevil that's a good point I could do more than one if that kind of role - how would people find these roles at your place for example?

I set up a food bank quite a few years ago before there were many
Fundraising
Chair of a couple of committees
Research for a food charity
Pudding cook at a community lunch, I made angel delight for 100 people once.

Have a look on ‘do it’ website op it will list all the volunteer options by day and time/interests.
Atm I’m not doing much but in the past I’ve worked with young offenders, sexual health promotion, charity trustee and parish councillor. All interesting and I definitely gained more experience and met some interesting people. I am planning on going into my dc’s school to help the children with reading too soon.

@Cinammoncake (fab name btw!) our charity is quite interest based so it's kind of a natural home for people interested. I'd guess you'd probably get more response from a small to medium sized group like ours than one of the huge charities. In these organisations the jobs often aren't advertised - they are just done by whoever has the time to do them or who comes along and offers. That doesn't mean that we are disorganised - just that we know we can't compete with Cancer Research, for example!

If I ever stop my involvement with my current charity I'd have a look at charities which align with my own interests/causes I care about, and cold call them, offering my time. In the charity I work with now, if you dropped us an email which gave us a mini CV (your skill set, how much time and when you'd be available) we would definitely get in touch to chat!