If you volunteer, what do you do? I need some inspiration!

[user86938595]

I'm thinking of volunteering partly to get me out of the house and hopefully meet new people/make new friends and partly because I'm lucky to have the freedom and time to do so.

I work full time but as I don't have kids I'm thinking of starting this in the new year - just dont know where to start.

I like the idea of helping out in a children's home or something, doing activities with them or something like that - is this a thing? I have had a level of security clearance for my job but I'm unsure if that would be robust enough.

I'm not the most experienced with old people so not sure that's the best fit. But keen to hear what other people do and if they enjoy it. I live in a village but relatively close to a mid sized city so hoping there is something around.

I've seen the do it website but it seems to mostly be working in charity shops or things that don't involve a social aspect.

If you’re good with children then local Scout groups would probably bite off your hand (we would…we have a long enough waiting list for another set of Beavers and of Cubs and no adults to run them).

What kind of commitment is this and what kind of activities do they usually need help with?

I think we had Brownies when I was a kid though I never got to go!

Brownie leader here. Started volunteering when i moved to a new city and made some of my closest friends as a result.

Give blood and help with my DCs sports club.

Think about how much spare time you have and what you would enjoy. Lots of sports are crying out for coaches, referees and committee members. Food banks need volunteers. Headstart supporting families. Big sister type programme?

Good on you. I hope you find something that you enjoy.

As a non parent, can someone please explain the difference between cubs, beavers, scouts and brownies?

I thought scouts was teen boys, and brownies was teen girls. But I could be way off! I'm very creative so a girls group might be a good place to start for me.

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This is a good place to start for Brownies.

www.girlguiding.org.uk/making-guiding-happen/volunteer-roles-in-guiding/

I volunteer with the 4-7yr olds, 7-10yr olds and am about to start with the 10-14yr olds.

Some of our volunteers turn up and do 1 hr per week running activities. Some get more involved in planning, trips, camps etc. We run a flexible volunteering model so we have a number of volunteers who run a rota to accommodate for holidays / work commitments etc. I've been doing it for 8yrs now and i love seeing the girls grow up as they come through.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I feel bad that I hadn't heard of so many of these, but plenty to start researching!

Rainbows- 4-7yr old girls
Brownies - 7-10yr old girls
Guides - 10-14yr old girls
Rangers - 14-18yr old girls

Someone more knowledgeable will be along to talk about Scouts but they are mixed sex and broadly follow similar ages.
Beavers
Cubs
Scouts
Explorers

Our scouts troop has more girls than boys! Up to age 14 then they go on to explorers

Thanks for this. Are the guides mostly parents? I just don't want to look odd being the only one who isn't - not that I have an issue with that, as long as I'm accepted! This sounds like a great idea.

I have worked at an American kids summer camp before - so if it's that type of thing I guess I'd have the right experience. Not that it's particularly recent!

Scouting:
Squirrels 4-6yo
Beavers - 6-8
Cubs - 8 - 10.5
Scouts 10.5 - 14
Explorers - 14-18

Boys and girls. Don't have to be a parent

It might be because im in London, but out of 8 volunteers with my groups, I'm actually the only parent 😅 So you would be absolutely fine and if you were interested, im sure your local group would love to have you along for a visit.

I don't know how common it is but I know a rainbows volunteer who doesn't have kids herself.

I'm always welcomed to volunteer at our local junior Parkrun without kids too, although granted that's less 'hands on' with the kids than guides or scouts would be.

I am sure your local Scout Group would be delighted to have you and they would arrange an up to date DBS for you.

Beaver Scouts start at 6 and end with Explorers at 18 with Cubs and Scouts in the middle. They usually meet between an hour to two hours a week and would need leaders to assist during the pack meetings with the relevant activities. There may be a rota of leaders depending on how many people volunteer.

I am a new Beaver Leader and it's quite rewarding.

Scouting/Guiding can be quite a commitment but groups are always looking for volunteers, and if there are sufficient people volunteering you can probably share a role. There is an in joke that it is only an hour a week, it really isn't! In addition, they are usually also looking for volunteers happy to help with admin, sitting on the Exec committee, hoping with fund-raising

Schools are usually crying out for governors/Trustees

This thread was excellent www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4677384-is-anybody-willing-to-share-what-they-do-for-voluntary-work

Thanks so much, I don't mind more than an hour a week, I'm working from home so getting out of the house and being in a busy chaotic environment sounds a wonderful contrast!

I've got so many arts and crafts supplies I could probably donate as well.

One question - if you volunteer are you expected every week, or if you had an adhoc event from time to time eg. Holiday or business trip, is that kind of thing okay? Just want to make sure I'm the right fit beforehand 😊 I'm happy to do most weeks but might have something pop up every 8 weeks for example.

Thank you - I did a search but didn't see that one!

Scout groups normally follow the school holidays, so usually have about 8 -10 sessions per term, then a camp or two. If there are sufficient leaders or other willing volunteers then missing a week or two might not be a problem