Do you volunteer? If so, what and why?

[GlowFlo]

Just being nosy really and looking to volunteer a bit more!
Would love to be inspired by Mumsnetters.

I trained as a searcher with Alsar and then worked with the county lowland search team for 10 years.

The police have very few officers trained in missing person search and our county had an average of one search per week. Could be anyone, dementia sufferers, despondents, missing DCs, victims of crime.

It was very interesting, loads of exercise and teamwork, but you have to be prepared to go at a moment's notice so better suited to people without dcs. Better if you don't mind the wet or cold either.

I volunteer 1 day a week at a community library
church PCC Secretary
treaurer of a village society
committee member for a big heritage project

I started doing it as a way of getting experience and updating my skills after years of being a SAHM. I absolutely love it (most of the time) - being part of a community, making a difference, giving something back and, most of all, meeting lots of lovely people who have become good friends (and a fair few annoying ones too!).

Have always volunteered, was chair of the pre-school committee, on the PTA, volunteered at big sporting events in Glasgow in the press team, started at one local charity shop two mornings a week about 10 years ago, moved to another shop and currently doing one afternoon a week. Also give blood and help out on ad-hoc events in conjunction with that charity like registering people for a sponsored walk event or helping out with volunteer recruitment.

I’ve always been active part of school committees and served on boards but wanted to do more dedicated volunteering specifically with women. For the last year I’ve been a volunteer birth partner for women who might otherwise give birth alone ((e.g a refugee with no support network). I love it and feel so rewarded.

I volunteer front of house for a national museum with several branches, and love it. I've done different roles, learned a lot, met loads of interesting people, done good training.....for me, the advantages of volunteering for a large organisation with a well-developed volunteering programme have far outweighed the drawbacks.

I teach the local language to refugees and asylum seekers housed in my village. I do it because integration is important.

In the past I've been chair of a disability charity and trustee of another, currently I volunteer once a week for a charity that helps people with money issues and I'm a treasurer of a local organisation.

I do it because I like to help people and know how precarious life can be.

Yes I do, for a helpline. Minimum commitment is 1 duty a week but you can get as involved as you like.

As for why - I think when my youngest started full time school j wanted to contribute to the community we lived in and benefited from.

I’m in Independent Visitor for a child in care so take her for a day out every month, which I love. I’m also a scouting leader, and help a local SEN charity with some project management on an ad hoc basis.

I teach literacy in a prison.

It's amazing to see how people add to their community by volunteering..such a varied list. I vounteer at a local youth group and up to recently taught English to refugees who just arrived. In the past l taught literacy to adults who struggled with reading. Have done the usual school committees but glad to be finished with all that now.
I come from a family of volunteers and know no other life. My kids are following in my footsteps.

I was a Samaritan years ago, but gave it up due to my poor hearing and the demands of my job at the time. I was on a local housing board for a set period, I had some experience in that field. I was the treasurer of an older people’s organisation, until it amalgamated with a larger group.

For the last 9 years I’ve worked a couple of shifts a week for the BHF. Heart issues run in my family and DH’s and the research funded by BHF has made a big difference to many with similar conditions.

Long time retired, heading towards 80, volunteering means I have a structure to my week, feel as if I’m contributing, and I enjoy it.

Charity trustee, maybe other areas to add to the list

Not currently, but over the years - sure start children’s centre, women’s refuge, school readers, board of governors, a debt charity, a poverty charity. I love making a positive difference to people’s lives if I can.

I was a school governor for 8 years and now I'm on the board of trustees for a charity. I always have a position related to finance because I'm good with money and sometimes there is a shortage of that kind of skill. It can be a pain at times but overall I find it rewarding.

Remembered another one to add to my list, I volunteer to chat with immigrants after their language classes, to help them improve their conversational English.
It's fascinating learning about their lives and guiding them through the vagaries of the English colloquial language.

Over the years.
La lechè breast feeding.
Brownie leader.
Well womens centre.
NTA at a special school.

I volunteer once a week at a community hub cafe .
I attend an exercise class there weekly and noticed that they required volunteers.
It came at a time when I believed my marriage was ending and I realised that I had become very staid since recent retirement.
I love it and have regained some independence and confidence.
My marriage is back on track but we are selling up and moving so I will have to step down from it.😥

I am a volunteer counsellor at Childline. It’s the most rewarding work I have ever done. It can be difficult, but the training is good and thorough and we have fantastic support on and off shift so we can talk through how a contact has affected us if we need to.

I do it because I think children and young people are fundamental to society and so many of them just need someone to listen, and not judge, and feel they can’t speak to any other adult. A lot of the work is simply exploring who they are and what they need and pointing out that parents and others are there to support them. I think the view is that it’s always about saving lives, and sometimes it is, but there is so much more to it.

If you have a base near you (you can check on the NSPCC website, do think about joining us! We always need new volunteers.

I am an Assistant Scout Leader, I was a Scout and got so much out of it that I wanted to give something back to Scouting.

I also have a few different volunteer roles at the local Church (even though I am not a regular Church goer). This are quite stressful but no one else wants to do them and sometimes I enjoy them so I haven't yet given them up!

Set up and Chaired the PTA at my DCs Primary - main motivation was so DD could be Mary in the Nativity (joking)
When both DC left I became a Governor at a local Comp, probably because I decided that I would send my DC Private rather than there and felt a bit privileged and guilty.
I also do a few volunteer positions with wildlife as I absolutely love animals and it has given me some amazing experiences, plus DD also volunteered once she got old enough and it was something we could do together

For several years have volunteered in a local overgrown cemetery clearing graves, paths etc and now trustee/treasurer of friends group. Started as a way to do something physical one day a month but find the nature/history/people interesting so got more involved.
Since retiring cook at FoodCycle twice a month- currently 6 or 7 people turn up around 2pm and cook 3 course veggie meal served at 5 using surplus food. Hosting team serves food to guests at their tables, tea coffee and chat. I enjoy being part of a team producing interesting food from random ingredients. (Projects all over the country).
Have volunteered regularly with Parkrun- I am a rubbish runner but in my 40s/50s parkrun gave me the incentive to exercise regularly.
Bookmark reading with primary school children after I retired because reading has given me so much pleasure. Logistics not working so well at the moment so thinking about switching to Read easy working with adults learning to read.
All of these being structure to my life, let me meet people and make me feel useful.

@TherealmrsT
I have just signed up for Food Cycle in my local area so its nice to hear from someone who does it

My DH and I both volunteer with youth groups (completely different organisations) - he's been doing it for 30 plus years and I, after being away from it for 15 years, back for 6 months.
DH loves watching the teenagers grow and mature and I love the interaction with the younger age groups.
I went back because a friend asked me.

I dog walk for the local dogs' home. Best thing I've done in ages! I get exercise and doggy induced endorphins and the dogs get socialisation and exercise and time out of kennels. I bloody love it.
I also get a happy moment whenever one is adopted, especially one I've walked and helped pull itself back from whatever bad experiences led it to the home.