What volunteering do you do?

[Katisha]

People on here often advise volunteering in a general way - so specifically what sort of thing do you do, if you volunteer, did you need particular skills already, and is it rewarding? I'm looking for inspiration as I might stop work in the next year or so.

I'm a volunteer for The Cinnamon Trust, and walk a dog for an old lady who isn't as mobile as she used to be. I've been a volunteer for TCT for 17 years now and it really gives me such satisfaction. It really is a wonderful charity which helps the elderly and disabled keep their much loved companions with them.

Just recently I've started volunteering for Therapy Dogs Nationwide with my dog Rosie. We visit two local care homes once a month, and the joy Rosie brings to the residents is just wonderful. Picture of Rosie attached.

I'm on two committees of local organisations, one as secretary and another as chair. I don't enjoy the process of either especially, but they do mean that I get involved with the community and find out lots about what's happening locally, and neither organisation could run without the committee so I feel it's important. My children's school is also looking for parent readers at the moment and I'm weighing up whether I have the time to commit.

How funny, I'm exactly the same. Ex teacher, now in HR and a school gov. @Mielbee how are you finding HR/how long have you been in it?

I find it rewarding. Our governing body is very involved and engaged. Chance to have a real impact.

I look after guide dog puppies when their full time raisers are ill or on holiday. It's full on but flexible, few days/weeks as and when I can. And I volunteer for various environmental and forest school tasks, but fairly ad hoc.

I also work for a charity and manage a lot of volunteers. Everyone is motivated very differently and part of bring a good vol manager is finding a good match. If you're looking for a volunteer role it helps if you have some idea of what you hope to get from volunteering and the kind of role that you would be good at. Pp are right that there are a lot of "back office" roles that are desperately needed, but it's not worth dutifully martyring yourself in a role you don't enjoy just because you think it's needed - those kinds of volunteers cause a different set of issues!

I run a guide unit, a ranger unit and I'm the district commissioner of our area. I do way too much tbh, I don't really have enough time!

I'm a volunteer guide at a local historical building - I'm a history buff and I've met people from all over the world. I love it.

I was a school governor for 22 years. DH runs the local Wildlife Group. DD works for a charity. Pay is low and she has to actively raise money through sponsorship so almost counts as volunteering.

Very involved down my local rowing club and over the years have held various positions on the committee as well as coaching. Probably spend about 20 plus hours a week at the club on top of my day job.

I foster dogs for a local rescue.

I'm a Squirrels leader. I love it! The scouting association are always looking for volunteers.

Was PTA treasurer and listened to reading when kids were in primary. Was a parish clerk for a while, now a parish councillor, club leader for a youth thing, and help behind the scenes with one of the kids hobbies. Have been approached by another charity to become a committee member, quite flattered but don't have the time right now.

@Rosiesmum23 that pup is gorgeous ❤️

I’m only training, but have friends who are Samaritans in different branches across the UK and Ireland, and I don’t recognise this from their experiences. I do know people who stopped because they got sick of the sex calls or got burnt out, but they always seem to have felt well-supported.

Trustee for a charity
School governor
Food bank

that’s all I can really commit to

I plan themes and prepare crafts for a toddler group; my family and I go litter picking; we clean the chapel once a month, and I help with Girls' Brigade a few times a term (gradually moving towards weekly). I'm a bit limited 3 children under 5.

I used to teach English to refugees and hope to get back to it in a year or two.

My father was treasurer for several charities at various points, and my mother tended to go for less financial and more organizational roles.

I also share my wisdom on Mumsnet, for no fee whatsoever. Does that count? 😉

Volunteer ambassador for MSE website forum for the last 4 years. No special training just an interest in finance. I can do it as and when.

I volunteer as a walk leader for the Ramblers once a month usually. Just decent level of fitness and a willingness to recce the walk beforehand and obviously reasonable map reading skills.

One afternoon a week I listen to struggling readers in my granddaughters primary school. We had a training session and safeguarding training session. This is my second year of doing it.

I used to volunteer for rainbows and brownies and did a stint at a youth advisory centre.

My most rewarding though, is setting up a youth club in my local village. We now have 60 members and I am running sessions to support the children's mental wellbeing.

My background is youth studies and I did pastoral paid work before but had to leave as the pay was so poor.

This way I get to do what I love in my own terms whilst working part time.
I've learnt a ton of new skills setting up the group and all that this entails behind the scenes but I love it when it comes together each session.

I'm a scout leader and a trustee for a charity.

I'm a guide leader and a school governor

I plan themes and prepare crafts for a toddler group

I used to do this for about 5 years and I really enjoyed it, but then went back to work ft. I still can't throw out/recycle a shoe box or kitchen roll tube without wondering if there's a craft purpose for it!

I volunteer for parkrun now but it's not nearly as time consuming and is a more pay as you go type commitment!

I was regional committee secretary for a charity for pensioners.

Rep on a joint committee regarding food hardship, this bought together food projects from all over a major city and surrounding county.

Was a trustee for a food charity which links to the regional committee above.

Also worked as an arts and craft assistant at a day centre for the elderly.

Currently cooking at a food project and helping with supplies and assisting at an arts for people with dementia club.

Currently nothing, besides being a regular blood donor.

In the past:
Teaching swimming with local club
First aider
STEM Ambassador
Toastmasters (club officer roles)
Mentor for young women in business.
Museum attendant
One off things like litter picking, wildlife count, building a footbridge, repairing a dry-stone wall, assisting with open garden and baking cakes for it.

My mother was on the committee of things like her local WEA and garden club (never treasurer, though - she absolutely refused to handle money.) Dad was a school governor and helped Young Farmers with public speaking contests.

School governor and help at local brownies.

Not currently but I drove a community vehicle for Red Cross to transport people to various appointments - may be a dialysis appt at a regional hospital or a more local GP appt at the Health Centre. Many & varied.
I met so many amazing people from all walks of life & really enjoyed it but life got a bit busier & I've dropped it for now.
I've also been a Treasurer on a quilt committee & all the other jobs that committee members get called in to help with.
Lots more when our children were small - such as play group committees & Plunket (NZ) support & fundraising. Also helped collect goods for foodbanks on yearly street donation/collections - very humbling but great to see communities supporting families needing a hand up.

I don't do it now since having kids but I used to volunteer for:

MIND mental health charity (telephone helpline)
A mental health centre near where I live (which in time, led to a job there and I ended up a group leader of the centre)
Vulnerable women's support group

I really enjoyed it and it gave me great experience