DofE Volunteering Ideas

[GinJeanie]

Hiya, my DS has just signed up for DofE at school. He's mentioned that he's going to need to volunteer as part of the programme. I was just wondering if anyone has any good ideas where he could look for opportunities (obviously Covid-permitting). If your DC did this, what sort of volunteering did they do? Many thanks 🙂

We have a regular stream of D of E volunteers at parkrun

We've had kids help out at the local kids rugby club that I help to run - it works really well.

When DS did his last year he volunteered at a local riding school - did a lot of leading ponies around with very young children; shovelling horse poo, moving ponies from one paddock to the next etc.

Oxfam bookshop
Beavers/cubs
Parkrun is very straightforward option - he could work his way through all the roles

I was at guides when I was doing it and helped out with the brownies as a brownie helper. Maybe something similar with scouts?

My wee sister helped in the church cafe after mass making teas and coffees for the congregation. She really enjoyed it.

Sports clubs are good. Either helping the volunteer adult coaches or helping with the admin side, setting up, clearing down etc.

Ds's school told them they could use their Prefect duties as volunteering. Not sure if he has picked it up right, but so far he has been signed up to two initatives so he is hoping this is ok.

His other alternative was going to be the local country park that does Friends of xxxxx park and Park Run. The park group does ground work, tidying, mending, litter picking, planting seeds etc. Or a local coast watch group, or a local young kids football training.

DS1 volunteered at the swimming club he was a member of, coaching younger kids.

Other options are Brownies, Beavers/Cubs, other sports clubs. Around here also bike trail building, volunteer gardening groups.

Is there anything he likes doing?

School library, charity fundraising.

Staffing a tuck shop at the local music / drama clubs.
Helping out at schools for kids with additional needs (this was a long time ago now though!).
Volunteering at local library (no longer council run).

The dofe portal has suggestions and opportunities in the area. Has he looked there?

Local hospital.

I volunteered at an animal shelter/wildlife type place.

One did rainbows/brownies volunteering, one volunteered to listen to younger children reading at school, one volunteered at a local drama club for younger children.

DS1 did his DofE during lockdown - he did online research via Zooniverse.

He had been looking at litter picking, your local town council should have equipment to borrow.

He is also doing his expedition today/tomorrow and camping overnight.

We are in Scotland, 11 degrees now, getting colder tonight, it's pishing doon and forecast to keep raining ALL night 🌧 🤣. (Teachers supervising them deserve a medal 🏅)

parkrun

They don't have a minimum age for volunteering, it's about an hour every Saturday for main parkruns, and if they miss one they could 'catch up' by doing parkrun juniors on Sundays (or just do juniors anyhow if that day is better)

My son did his DofE bronze last year and will be doing Solver this year

Due to covid restriction we had to find alternatives for one they were able to volunteer to count penguins!

Check out www.zooniverse.org/projects/penguintom79/penguin-watch

You can screenshot the page they count and log the time it takes :)

My son did an hour a week spread out and will be doing this again! Great as he has ASD and would find new places and social situations difficult, yet this way he still helps a good cause.

Just a came on to say Parkrun!

My ds volunteered at the local library.
His friends helped with kids football, cubs and litter picking.

Ah brilliant! Thanks so much... I'd not thought of Park Run but that's a brilliant idea. He has done the junior one in the past. Thanks for the reminder to look on the DofE website as well. I'll remind him to do that. So grateful 🤗

There are loads of options
Take a look at this for ideas- www.dofe.org/dofewithadifference/activities/volunteering/

DD collected food for a food bank with the Trussell Trust. She also did some afternoons in their warehouse

Has he ever been to Cubs/Scouts? If so, might be worth trying there. Also, local library if he likes books. As mentioned, food banks might be an option in the holidays (my DD actually found it really interesting how they work).

Bookmarking as DD is starting DofE soon. Good ideas here.

Weeded old and overgrown graves in the local graveyard (permission sought from rector first).