References for volunteer role

[CordylineCapybara]

I've been a stay at home mum for the last 7 years but now my youngest is in preschool I've got time to do some volunteering (in hopes of getting back into work eventually) so I'm hoping to listen to kids read at DC's school but I need two references. I have a friend who's a teacher who I could ask for one of them but I don't know whether I should use my last employer since it's been so long, does that matter for a volunteering role? I'm pretty sure my old manager is still there.

Otherwise not sure who I could use...

Unless it states otherwise personal references will be fine. They want to check out your personal suitability not whether you had work experience.

Not sure who I could put for another personal reference though, maybe the lady who runs the church playgroup I go to, I think she's a minister...

Can't you just ask another friend? I doubt they need to be a doctor/teacher/ etc., anyone will probably do who knows you well.

You shouldn't need references if they know you. Or is it for DBs check? I didn't need references where I volunteer but I have known them for a few years.

I am a volunteer manager. Two personal references should be fine as long as they are from people who have known you for a while and can vouch for your character. Do you have another friend who would be willing to provide the second reference?

If she’s hearing children read as a regular volunteer (and is therefore likely unsupervised with children) then the school will require references and a dbs check, it’s basic safeguarding. Even if she’s “known” to them as a parent they don’t really know anything about her just from that. If it was your child sitting 1:1 every week chatting with an adult in a corridor or library, in plain sight but not necessarily in earshot of school staff, wouldn’t you expect a bit more due diligence about that adult than simply that they had a child at school too?

OP I used to volunteer in a school hearing readers and had a similar issue with not having a recent employer. They’re not so interested in your employment as much as in your suitability to work with children. But if you’re struggling to figure it out then you could always give them the teacher friend and the church leader you’ve suggested for now but say you can approach your old employer as well if they need that.

It is for a DBS check.

If friends are fine then that gives me more options!