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Original poster

Volunteering at Beavers

23 replies

Nofaffing · 22/09/2021 08:50

My son is starting at beavers tonight and I have agreed to do their four week volunteering programme.

Their website shows they are crying out for volunteers which is why I offered. However I suffer from social anxiety and am starting to regret my hasty offer now the time is nearing. I don't want to let them down but I am feeling sick as this evening approaches.

Has anyone volunteered before and can give me any reassurance about what will be expected from me. On there email for the 4 week course it looks like I am expected to organise and run an activity on week three! This sounds very scary!

OP posts:

SquashedFlyBiscuits · 22/09/2021 08:58

They will be delighted you are there. You will be expected to be pleasant to the children and just join in with activities and encourage/help the children to. Also, help with any tidying up. If you say you don't feel too confident running things, I am almost 100% certain they will not push you into running anything until/if you say you are ready. We definitely wouldn't at my unit. There are many 'stay a bit in the background but make themselves useful' volunteers who are absolutely invaluable to the scouting movement. Thank you!

Equimum · 22/09/2021 08:59

That doesn't my sounds like the essential training for volunteers. I have just started as an assistant leader and I'm not being asked to do anything I'm not comfortable with. I basically have to do some online training, then I just do whatever the leader asks. I've previously volunteered more informally, and literally just helped Beavers with crafts, supported the leader running games, and generally backed up activities, by making sure people were behaving, setting things up etc. As I move forwards, I will now start to do a bit more leasing on things, but it should my be obligatory. Our leader is very much of the opinion that any help is welcome.

Could you speak to the leader and say that you are happy to help in a supporting role, but that you are not comfortable leading activities and being in the spotlight. If your groups is genuinely short of help, I'm sure she'll still want your help.

Good luck.

Whinge · 22/09/2021 09:08

A 4 week course? That sounds quite intense for a casual volunteer. Is it a parent rota or has there been some confusion and they think you want to become an assistant leader?

In my experience casual volunteers help assist with the activity and tidy up. They may oversee a game or help children who find the task tricky, but i've never known a parent volunteer to organise and run an activity.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 22/09/2021 09:15

It will depend very much on how the group is run.

I started my leader career by pretty much being given a a Cub Pack and had to make it up from there. Plus help DH with his role...

After we moved, I was with a leadership group that allocated all leaders part of the admin, we planned together and had different weeks where we were in charge.

Moved again recently and now the main leader prefers to organise everything herself and I'm just expected to turn up, perhaps run a game, but mainly help the children who need a bit more of a hand to access the activities (we have a few with various additional needs).

But the main thing, is you need to be comfortable. Running an activity usually just means a game or a bit of programme work, not a whole evening.

Main tip... learn the names as quickly as you can.

Akire · 22/09/2021 09:22

Don’t stress that’s last thing they want! Some best volunteers are really shy and quiet at start but it’s amazing what experience and learnt skills can do. Any decent leader will not push you so will ask what you feel comfortable doing rather than hello here’s Joes mum and over to you to run the first game!

The organise and run an activity will be a small group thing. Usually brownies Cubs have 3/4 things happening at once so one group play game, one have discussion, one group will be doing a craft. It’s about giving you the skills you need it should be fun and give you confidence.

Original poster

Nofaffing · 22/09/2021 09:32

Thank you everyone, in the email they call it the four week challenge. I am definitely not looking to be a leader!

@SquashedFlyBiscuits stay in the background and make yourself useful, was more what I was expecting.

Hopefully it is just the wording of the email that makes it sound scary as it is all so formal. I will just have to put my big girl pants on tonight and see what is expected. But your replies have calmed me slightly.

Hopefully there will be a chance to speak to the leader to get more idea of what will be involved.

OP posts:

RedToothBrush · 22/09/2021 09:41

Its a volunteer organisation and the kids are 6 to 8. For an hour.

There are lots of online ideas and resources for running a night.

The reality is you plan your stuff, show them/tell them what they are doing then do crowd control to make sure they don't kill each other.

Then its hometime.

The kids don't care if its a bit amateur as long as its vaguely engaging and keeps them busy

If the parents dont like it, you point them in the direction of volunteering themselves. At which point they quickly stfu.

Honestly, the training is minimal because you don't need to know a lot apart from how to have eyes in the back of your head. And how to tell them to be quiet.

You aren't learning to be a teacher. Just how to do an activity you might do with your own child at home, scaled up a bit.

RedToothBrush · 22/09/2021 09:43

Our beaver troop expects parents to all help out at least once a term. And do ask for them to lead a session occasionally if they have an idea or activity to offer (whilst leaders support). No training given.

Its genuinely not a task where much is expected really.

MrsWombat · 22/09/2021 10:27

There is a facebook group for people associated with the scouts and these emails are mentioned quite a lot with complaints as they scare volunteers off. It's not just you! As soon as your details are put on the database the emails keep coming. Don't worry about them and get in contact with your leader to find out what you really need to do.

The Facebook group is called something like 1st Facebook Scout Group

emmathedilemma · 22/09/2021 10:36

In my experience of having done cubs and beavers some of the best volunteers are not the most outgoing ones who entertain the kids but the ones who run around quietly in the background setting up activities, clearing away, pre-empting what you might need next etc.
By week 4 you'll have an idea of what the group is like - they can really vary, I've had entire packs of quiet, calm children who were easy to do "sit down" craft and make type activities with, and others have been bouncing off the walls types who were more suited to running around and burning off mad energy type activities!

comedycentral · 22/09/2021 10:40

I imagine the training will cover essential information such as safeguarding, risk assessment, health and safety. As well as scout values, induction, types of activities and schedule. The badge system etc. It's good for anyone to know this information as everyone has a responsibility to safeguard children whether they are volunteer helpers or someone who is setting up and running the show! I'm sure it will help you grow in confidence as you will know what the expectations are and how to carry out your volunteer role in the best way.

Original poster

Nofaffing · 22/09/2021 11:56

@MrsWombat that's interesting, I will see if I can find the group.

OP posts:

user7012893145776 · 22/09/2021 11:58

It's a lot of fun. You will love it. I love helping my sons scout group out.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 22/09/2021 12:13

If you decide weekly volunteering isn't for you, there are loads of other ways to help...

committee members
doing the shopping
admin

Etc.

Akire · 22/09/2021 20:05

Hope it went well today and wasn’t as nerve racking as you hoped. I’m sure your little boy was made up.

PurpleFadesToGreen · 22/09/2021 20:40

My top tips would be...

Earplugs
Paracetamol

You will need both

Akire · 22/09/2021 20:50

@PurpleFadesToGreen

My top tips would be...

Earplugs
Paracetamol

You will need both

There speakers a volunteer!

helpfulperson · 22/09/2021 21:14

I totally agree that of you find heard8ng cats or 6 - 8 year olds isn't for you but you want to help there are loads of things you can do that involve not contact with children. Talk to your leader. As an experienced leader this is my least favourite age group but i often help out where needed. Someone to shop for craft bits would be amazing.

Original poster

Nofaffing · 23/09/2021 19:45

Hi everyone sorry for the delayed update but it was fine.....a lot less formal then their email sounded. Organised chaos though! There were a fair few adults helping and I wasn't the first newbie which helped.

OP posts:

RedToothBrush · 23/09/2021 19:48

@Nofaffing

Welcome to Beavers. Organised chaos is what is fun about it!

Peggytheredhen · 23/09/2021 19:56

I helped out at Beavers for the first time yesterday too. It was definitely organised chaos! I enjoyed it. The activity we did mainly involved collecting millions of twigs...

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 23/09/2021 19:59

There is a logical reason for teaching Beavers to collect twigs...

Its in the hope they become adequate fire wood collectors in Scouts.

Peggytheredhen · 23/09/2021 20:00

Ah, that makes more sense

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