Volunteering - what do you do?

[mintpenguin]

If you volunteer are you actually doing so at the moment and what do you do?

I’ve tried a few places and I’m coming up against a brick wall with being told they don’t need anyone, or it’s evening/weekend work or a car is required. I’m looking for school hours where possible (I know this makes things tricky sometimes).

I’ve tried:
CAB (only want specialist volunteers near me)
Baby Bank
Food Bank
School (Reading mentor/library - no volunteers allowed onsite)
Library (not recruiting still)
Four local charities (all either not recruiting due to vacancies filled or Covid reasons)
Local council - their volunteering site has been taking down during Covid
Vaccination Centre (overun with volunteers and I missed out)
Beavers/Scouts (offered to help with DS group but no response other than to acknowledge my offer)
Do-It website - either has nothing near my town or they want people with particular skills I.e solicitor etc.

I know there is charity shops and the Samaritans but for my own reasons I am not keen on these options.

I’m starting to feel a bit shit that no one is interested in having me as a volunteer - and I’ve either enquired online or by phone so it’s not like I’ve even had an interview and they’ve decided I’m not suitable.

I volunteer for a small animal rescue. At the moment this involves me having some rabbits in a hutch in my yard rather than actually visiting the rescue itself.

I also volunteer for my sons swimming club as a fundraiser and general dogsbody at galas etc.

I could volunteer for my other sons football team but I'm wary of getting back into that as it took up a.lotnof time last time I did it.

Do your kids do any sports? they are generally desperate for volunteers.

Guides? Scouts and Guides are down something like 25% on pre-covid levels of volunteers. Like Scouts though it will depend on whether units are able to meet.

Awww... keep trying.
I am astounded that Scouts didn't bite your hand off. Are they running as normal right now, though?

I have 2 regular gigs & one planned...
I do Cinnamon Trust dog therapy-- walking 3x/week. The Best.
PTA - I have a specific area of fund-raising and other bits sometimes
Am Trying to get in as admin volunteer for booster vaccines

Food Bank wanted people who would shake buckets to raise funds, I did it once, hated it.

Ask around if any local parent+toddler or old-people social groups could use help planning events or making teas/tidying up.

Can you drive?

another one: fostering for animal charities. Cat Protection League, etc.

Girl guiding
School Governor

Have you tried your local Nextdoor groups?

I volunteered for Homestart for years every thing I's usually within school hours you set your own times it is a worthwhile charity ime.

Community shop
Parkrun

You should have a volunteer network in your area have a Google they usually have an option for you to join and put in your hours and you can have a look for opportunities.

Oh yes Parkrun is a great one.

I'm really surprised that scouts didn't want you. Ours are always keen to recruit more adults to help. Maybe you could say what you're willing to do - like help at a meeting once a month, be an extra body on trips, organise a fundraiser?

At the moment I chair a committee for an activity my son is involved in. I also do PTA and am a trustee on a charity. I help out with events at a local sports club....just dogsbody stuff.

Community garden,
cinnamon trust for dog walking,
local hospice fundraising team (ours is desperate for people to collect collection tins from shops etc.)

Riding for disabled- all training given and often during the day but may not be easily accessible without a car. Trustee of a charity, many are calling out for people. Ask in your local volunteer centre or third sector hub.

Room stewarding or garden volunteering at a country house or other heritage site?

@Mrsjayy forgot to say that I was all cleared to start volunteering 1-1 with Homestart in March 2020 and then Covid happened and it was all cancelled. Since then the centre has shut down and not re-opened.

PTA - sorry forgot to say that I am on the school PTA but not much happening due to Covid, although that should hopefully pick up.

No animal charities near us, which is a shame as that is something that appeals. We have a rescue cat who is nervous so fostering another animal probably wouldn’t go down well!

Oh and I empathise with feeling no one wants you! I was off work for a while with depression and my local dogs trust had advertised for volunteers. Thought I could do a spot of dog walking - do some good for me and them, but they only wanted people who could foster which I couldn't do at the time.

I used to volunteer for a local hospice serving tea and coffee at their little shop. Not sure if such a thing exists any more but you could try contacting your local Marie Curie.

Charity shop
Vaccination centre
Community cafe

Not being able to drive seriously limits going to places like stately homes and animal charities etc, so I was hoping for admin in an office perhaps like the CAB.

DS does swim lessons, kickboxing, Beavers and Street Dance and none of them need/want volunteers.

Re Scouts I was surprised too.

Oh well..

School governor, charity trustee, litter picking, park run volunteer, running free yoga classes for specialist groups

The Hygiene Bank
Healthwatch
A couple of on line things too.

I volunteer through the Goodsam app, and help every Sunday at a local vaccination centre. Just returned from my shift - can hardly walk! We needed 4 volunteers but there were just two of us.

I love it though, and although it's hard work, I feel that I am contributing.

Frustrating clinic though - a couple of hundred walk-ins as well as those booked, so the queues were long, which caused a few moans. The poor vaccinators didn't have time for a coffee or lunch throughout the shift - you feel really guilty taking a break when there's a massive queue. Great to see so many youngsters come along though.

Might be worth registering OP - loads of help still needed, especially with the likelihood of the boosters coming along in September.

Local hospital, library, support or education groups for adults with learning difficulties, dementia group, lunch club or community cafe, schools, carers groups. Secondary schools round here want volunteers for start of school year Covid testing. Is there a local volunteer bureau which coordinates opportunities on behalf of smaller charities or for one off events?

What about Covid test centres?
Sorry if it's already been mentioned

A telephone befriender? Or an actual befriender that visits local people who have no one. I speak to patients every day at work who have literally no one to talk to or see ever other than me. I often refer to age uk befriending service but they are very short on volunteers so the wait time is 2-3 months. Age UK also need volunteers to help elderly fill in forms etc such as attendance allowance. Covid has really made so many incredibly isolated and sad.