What skill would be most useful to help serve my community?

[SlowlyLosing]

I'm middle aged, been in full time employment since uni in a job I am well qualified for, in which I used to be very interested. I'm really not now, although I enjoy being the local expert in my field. There are more lucrative jobs that I am qualified to do but they would be no more interesting and probably more hassle.

I've accepted that my best course is to keep working until an early retirement on a reasonable pension in maybe 5 years

Whilst I doubt I would be bored when retired i do think I'd like to give something back. I'm not a huge people person so the general' volunterring' thing wouldn't fit well with me. I think I'm a born teacher and problem solver though, and love to learn myself.

So what could I learn now that would he useful to my community in a few years?

I've thought about
Basic IT skills - I guess to teach to older people? I could do that now though.
General finance? I think there's a need but again I already know enough.
Basics of crypto currency?
English as a foreign language might be useful?
Something to do with health education?
Any sort of mentoring for younger people?

Any good ideas?

It honestly depends on the community in which you live

Fostering?

My actual community is pretty well off but generally older. I think care type work would be most in need but that's definitely not a good fit for me.

I think really it should have been along the lines of 'what can I do to serve mankind' but that sounds ridiculous!

I've thought about this. I'd definitely consider respite care. Not sure what I can do now to help enable that in the future though?

Your skills would fit well with a role where you maybe do the back office/support type tasks.
Lots of groups could use that - groups like Scouts and smaller charities often need people who are literate with finance and IT skills but without the need to deliver the people-y part of their business.

I’ve always thought it would be nice to be a guardian for the elderly. There are just so many being taken advantage of by family, or by dishonest guardians. Here in the US, we have to be appointed by a court and have reporting requirements and so on. Your background in health and finance would be very useful! I’ll retire in two years and have been thinking about doing this.

I understand that for fostering there's a lot of preparation and training work involved. Maybe worth contacting your council and finding out.

An alternative that is a bit less demanding might be to look at being an Independent Visitor for a looked-after child. A relative did this and was in a child's life for over ten years.

All our local community groups struggle to find people willing to serve on their committees, as president, treasurer, events organiser etc. I don’t think you need to learn anything new.

There might be an organisation in your area which coordinates volunteer positions and advertises them on a website. You could get a good idea of what is needed locally by having a look.

I would say that teaching English as a foreign language or providing mentoring and support in further education are things that are needed.

School govenor?

Volunteer at community projects to do office / finance / accounts.

My local community centre / shop is running events over the summer for children on free school meals, it involves various activities and it includes a meal so vounteers are doing various activities and cooking.

Before my grandmother went into a care home she had carers come in, which \i think you have ruled out, but she also had some to come in just to cook for her.

Do you have a car? Dialysis patients who don't have home dialysis have to go to hospital 3 times a week, often they are driven there and back by volunteers.

You mentioned finance, what about a credit union?

I work closely with community groups and we struggle to find volunteers to help oversee social groups.

Simple things like regular coffee mornings or hobby groups which really are a valuable resource for all ages but particularly older people.

Also if you have a Local Befriending service they are always crying out for volunteer Befrienders.

Your suggestion of teaching older people IT skills is a brilliant one. Particularly targeted skills like the basics of using Facebook to stay in touch with friends and access local information with good security

Also simple guidance on specific websites such as local councils which encourage more online services now but with little guidance on how to access them.

You might find that your local voluntary service run IT support sessions which you could volunteer for.

Trustee of a local or national charity. They are always looking for skills and you would get training too. It would be quite stimulating. Magistrate or children's panel? A colleague was something independent in the NHS, maybe inspections or something. It was very partime, maybe voluntary. Independent prison visitor. Schools mentoring or doing interview practice etc, our school is always asking for people to do that. Respite fostering- the assessment is lengthy so you could make tentative enquiries.

Local Councillor?

Thank you for all of these. Lots of ideas that I'd definitely be in interested in. I could have a very busy retirement!

Funding applications.

MIL works in an area overseeing funding applications, and many grants go unclaimed because of a) lack of awareness and b) lack of nous for completing the application.

There's usually a grant directory you can refer to.

An allotment to grow fruit and veg for your local community.

School governor is a good shout. As well as finance, there's curriculum, health and safety. HR, safeguarding etc to get your teeth into. Lots to learn and a worthwhile role.

If you want to learn something in the meantime then an Award in Education and Training is pretty useful - basic qualification in teaching in adult education. Cava is the parallel assessor course.

Finance especially how to find and apply for grant funding!