volunteering roles that don't require regular commitment?

[HopingtoHelpSomeone]

Does such a thing exist?

I want to meet new people and have enjoyed volunteering before.

Unlike before I can't commit to a day each week as I need to see an elderly parent (staying with them as they are 300 miles away) for a few days now and then.

Everything I can see online needs a commitment to a person/ shop/ school, etc on certain days of the week.

Ideally I'd like to be part of a 'bank' and called on when needed.

Sometimes you can be on an events team, ie. parking marshalling, entrance gate , or fundraising so only occasional commitment

It depends on the particular organisation ime. I run a food bank where people sign up as and when for shifts; some do a stint weekly, others as and when. Lots of others near me operate on a similar principle.

There's a museum near me that uses regular volunteers but also people just for special events, so just as and when.

parkrun when it restarts. Junior parkrun is already back on.

thanks- giving me some hope.

What about a Treasurer / Secretary / Chairman role with an organisation ?
Scouts / Guides / Sports Teams / Playgroups - all those sorts of organisations are usually crying out for that sort of support and you can have your diary out when the meetings are arranged.

Or being part of a fundraising group. Our local Hospice has two or three Fundraising Groups that meet and then arrange events - from coffee mornings to Golfing days to craft sales to Quizzes to dinner etc. You can dip in and out of the events as and when you need to be away from home, and also, again, agree the dates for meetings around your other commitments.

Beavers/scouting where you can help for individual day/projects/events

Lots of good ideas. I don't really want to work with younger kids (lifetime career in that) and want to meet people who are my age (50s-60) ideally.

I am semi retired but family commitments mean I may have to dash off at short notice for family stuff, so ideally I want to be in control of when I volunteer - it's all about not letting a charity down. I the past I have been responsible for recruiting and training volunteers and know that reliability is worth its weight in gold, hence my being up front about what I can offer.

Victim support?

I do this
www.imb.org.uk/
Rewarding and fascinating

National trust if there is a role of interest near you. They have an online booking system and you decide how much you want to do. I used to do an afternoon each fortnight but entirely at my choice.

Magistrates volunteer 13 days a year and can choose their days from a Rota.

Our local area has a few environmental volunteer type things wanting people for particular projects - “come and pick litter here on x day”, “looking for people to clear weeds from this riverbank on y afternoon” type stuff. Usually advertised on local Facebook. I think there’s “regulars” who run and organise it but they need ad hoc manpower too.

What sort of things interest you?

I was going to suggest working on some sort of helpline, but it sounds like you'd like to do in-person in order to build a social circle?

SOVA advocacy? (Older kids struggle sometimes to be matched)
National Trust type stuff?
Events teams for local events, possibly Scouts or Air Cadets etc, or local village Associations?
Secondary school governor?

My village has a volunteer group to drive the elderly to medical appointments etc. I think they ask you to commit one day a month, but I don't think it has to be the same day each time.

I help rehome ex commercial chickens. I volunteer about once a month for that to help at rehomings

I'd thought about helplines - Silverline?- but they are full! And I don't want phone work as my p/t work is phone based mainly, or 1:1.

My instinct is to help low achievers, offenders, the homeless, (my background is in education and psychology) but they need regular, committed contact to build up a relationship.

I don't have any NT near me, but do have IH and am keeping an eye out there. Nothing at the moment.

I'm happier working with people (clients) than board meetings/ admin/committees.

Pretty much open-minded but would rule out heavy physical work because of a former health issue.

Our church food bank lets volunteers say their availability each month. If people need a break, they stop for a bit and restart later. Generally it needs all the help it can get so welcomes volunteers even if they can’t commit to doing it every week.

One of our Cub Leaders works insane shifts, so cannot come to all meetings, nor commit himself very far ahead. OTOH he does more than his share of the admin and planning. It works very well. Would that be something to consider?

I would focus on what you would like to do and try and make it work, I manage a charity shop and although I love my regular volunteers as they make sorting my weekly rota very easy, I also value input from other volunteers who can't make a weekly commitment. I have students who come back in the long vacations, teachers who can only volunteer in the holidays, busy working people who might only be able to do the odd half day once a month, people with caring responsibilities etc... but if the volunteer is good ... a Manager can work round that. It's often very refreshing to have input and new ideas from someone who isn't with us all the time.

What about peer support? I've signed up to a charity to provide support over the phone / Zoom to service users and I'm only required to be available for one hour a week. Not been matched yet, but sessions can be arranged around service user and volunteer availability

Plenty. There are endless opportunities for fun and rewarding volunteering.

You don't need to wait for an advertised vacancy.... I never have. Pick a local charity/group you'd like to help,, consider your skills, decide what you want to offer, where and when, and make an appointment to discuss their great good fortune.

What about independent custody visiting? You are on a rota but it's a couple of hours once a month or so.

I am in Norfolk and currently volunteering as part of the vaccination rollout. You can login to an app each week and sign up to what ever shifts you want. No commitment to any shifts just sign up as and when. So very flexible.Also a large proportion of volunteers are your age range. So there maybe something similar near you