Volunteering

[Bluestar1]

Does anyone do any volunteering at all? If so what do you do?

I volunteer with my local Scout group, I help with the Beaver section and I love it! I do an hour and a half a week with them, there's a bit of compulsory training for safeguarding and first aid but apart from that it's up to me. Sometimes I will plan and run a session for them, and sometimes there's weekend events and camps which I will go on if I'm not working

I've been on PTA committees as office holder for 10 years.
I used to listen to readers at primary school.

I am a cat socialiser at cat protection so basically spend time cuddling cats. I also volunteer as a health champion at my local gp surgery helping people who feel isolated.

I volunteer at a local women's centre (deals with all sorts of things - kind of a one stop shop), teach English to refugee/asylum-seeking people, and do ad hoc legal - related work. My regular commitments are six hours a week, but when there's legal stuff, it's full 1⃣ and honestly a bit too much (I work full time) but I don't feel I can refuse as otherwise they will need to pay someone (if they can find someone) or will have to go without the expertise altogether.

My top tip, then, is not to over-commit!

Where the fuck did that random emoji come from?! I only use emojis on MN, so only from the box. Argh...

I belong to a social group and one thing we do is take part in community events and shows - things like street festivals etc.

I'm a volunteer dog walker for The Cinnamon Trust, I love it! 🙂

I’m a brownie leader and school governor.

I volunteer as a forest school helper within a local primary school, but have been asked my another external forest school if I’d like to work with them too. I’m also a reading volunteer at the school and have just picked up some (paid) hours as a lunch supervisor/playground assistant. This role is mostly volunteer based in other schools that are local to me.

I volunteered with beavers when ds was Younger. Then at a judo club he went to. Now am a committee member at air cadets.

Special Constable!

School governor at 2 schools and in the process of becoming a Samaritan.

In are retail shop for homelessness and also in a counciling sorta role for cancer support.

I wish I could say it was rewarding...but tbh honestly, it isn't particularly. I mean don't get me wrong, it has its moments but... I think because they aren't areas I directly relate with, I feel a bit of imposter syndrome.

But I think if we have free time then it's nice to help ppl.

Don't do it to meet ppl. At least as a 30 yr old woman it isn't useful for that. Maybe pick something you're passionate about. I hope to do some work with women's aid or similar one day.

But for now I'll stick with the other two because it gets me out of the house and hopefully I can a least be of help to others.

Brownie Leader - started last January and love it.

I'm on the Independent Monitoring Board in a category A prison.
Also work as on school appeals board
Both unpaid and very interesting

I'm a reader for a talking news service for visually impaired people and work in an information centre and shop for a local tourist attraction.

I volunteer as a driver for Re-Engage (formerly Contact the Elderly) and also help out with a local food bank.
The driver role is just a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon once a month - I pick up one person, drive her to a Sunday tea which is hosted by another volunteer and attended by other re-engage guests. I like it because I don’t actually know any other elderly people, so it’s nice to have that contact.

For the foodbank, it’s usually a Saturday morning every couple of weeks sorting out donations, stocking shelves, and getting bags ready for people who have been referred.

I’m quite lucky in that the company I work for is a strong advocate of volunteering. In addition to getting 5 volunteering days per year, they will also donate $15 per hour to whatever charity I volunteer with. So, every month re-engage, for example, will get my time and a donation of $45.

@Raera how did you get your prison job?

I'm a befriender in an immigration detention centre. Difficult, sometimes upsetting, but hugely rewarding. I've met some wonderful people from all around the world.

I did consider the role that @Raera has, but at the detention centre I work in. But I prefer having the relationships I have with the detainees there, and I'd have to give that up as the two roles aren't compatible.

I'm also part of our local neighbourhood group that takes older people (or those otherwise in need of support or transport) to appointments etc.

I'm a Brownie Leader too and I do some of my eye screenings for free in state schools.

At a hostel for homeless males and I love it. It has done wonders for my confidence and dealing with difficult situations.

I'm a sport's umpire. People always assume it's not voluntary, but in my sport it is!

I'm a community first responder, I volunteer for the ambulance service. We get sent to emergencies to hold the fort and start treatment if we are closer than an ambulance. It can be very rewarding but it's also interesting and challenging and you get to meet people from very different walks of life.

I volunteer for a dog rescue speaking to new applicants and arrange homechecks in my area. Very rewarding, no need to commit a certain amount of hours per week etc.

@squashyhat
I heard about it via a friend.
Info is here :
www.imb.org.uk/