Despairing at lack of volunteering opportunities for DS

[StrikesAtticFlat]

Tearing my hair out with DS21. He is about to start his final year at uni. We asked him this summer to seek voluntary work or an internship to help his future career (Birmingham area). He has an internship lined up but has wasted weeks being unable to start due to admin errors (partly his fault, partly theirs). Meanwhile he says he has applied online for over 15 volunteer positions with charities - ranging from Age to Shelter to the RSPCA to Compassion in World Farming. NONE of them have got back to him...not one. He has been around local charity shops and they don't need anyone.
I am veering between disbelieving him and despairing that there is nothing for an enthusiastic, intelligent young person to do in a huge city even when they are not asking for pay!! I am now just praying that the internship actually happens but it will be another couple of weeks even if the admin stuff is indeed sorted...
Does anyone have any ideas of what else he could try re volunteer work?
He has applied to the following: Tabor Living/ Helping Hands Birmingham/ Age UK/ WWF/ RSPCA/ RSPB/ Botanical Gardens (the only one to get back to him! They aren't recruiting any volunteers because of the drought). Greenpeace...etc etc.

Parkrun and junior parkrun. Will only be a couple of hours a week but they will definitely take him

Scouts? Always desperate for leaders.

Thank you! Checking this out right now.
edited to say that was in reply to the Parkrun suggestion!

14 pages of opportunities here: https://www.volunteerbrum.org/volunteer/all/activities?search_radius=50

If he wants to volunteer in a specific area then he should contact Birmingham Voluntary Service Council and speak to them about opportunities on their books or any that they are aware of that are coming up. Literally nowhere in the whole of the UK has enough volunteers - trust me, I work in the sector.

Agree try the Scouts

Thanks, but DS wouldn’t want to work with kids in that way. Thanks again for the suggestion though!!

I’ve sent that to him!! Thank you!!

Apologies, I understand the urge for you to sort this for him, but at 21 he really, really needs to be doing this on his own.

D of E participants aged 14 are expected to secure their own volunteering without their parent’s help.

He needs to develop the drive and the skills himself, not have you shove him through

Yep, I totally agree. But what if they don’t or just do the bare minimum? And then lose heart?
I totally get what you’re saying but if I DON’T help a bit, it won’t happen.
I’m giving him extra suggestions from the wide and varied minds of MN, not writing the applications for him.

Are you sure he’s being up front and really wants to do it?

Look at Go Vol for the area or council websites

Would helping at a dog rescue appeal? In my experience they are always looking for walkers.

I can’t be sure, no. And I’m sure he’d rather do not much at all. But that’s not an option, and he does know that.

He would LOVE this (so would I) but the local rescue doesn’t need anyone at the moment!

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I do honestly get the BUT HE IS 21 thoughts. So I appreciate the suggestions even more!!

I totally get you, but doing builds resilience.

He’s 21 he needs to take charge of his life. Presumably he’s like to be able to eat/pay bills etc after uni?

Well if he doesn’t organise it himself so nothing happens well that says a lot about him doesn’t it? You as a safety net at this stage isn’t doing him any favours.
I found with my son when he was late teens (employed, but trying to get into a different field) that any suggestion of mine was batted away, he really needed to figure it out himself. They need to feel a sense of achievement having got it all on their own.
Did he start looking at Easter? And why volunteering? Why not a paid job? What’s he using for money?

Also it's not thrilling but litter picking/ tidying up in your town or village - usually desperately short of volunteers - look on community notice boards/ parish magazine - a few days there might make him more " employable" at the bigger charities/ shops he has tried. Our local library is completely volunteer run and they often like a young person who is savvy with the computers etc
even though the middle aged women who run it are more than capable but it's good to have a young person's input and ideas

How long is he available for?

Volunteering can be brilliant and volunteers can contribute loads, but there are still costs associated with having them and they require training, induction, support and supervision etc. There are absolutely loads of young people wanting to volunteer for short periods in order to build their CVs etc, but unless they are willing to make reasonably long term commitments, it often isn't worth it from the charity's point of view to invest heavily in training and inducting people who are going to walk out of the door 5 mins later.

So if he is only available for the summer holiday, he probably won't be a very attractive prospect. If, on the other hand, he is available for a longer period, maybe check whether he is making this clear in his applications.

How about he works out what needs doing in the area, then gets on with it liaising with a local councillor for a reference? Local councillors are likely to be aware of places/people that are struggling in some way.

What does he actually want to do? What’s his skill set?

I’ve been looking at volunteering jobs and they got back to me, but it took ages. To be honest he should have been looking in April/May to sort something for the summer.
Everything seems to take a lot longer. If it was a voluntary member of staff which got back to me most of them took at least a week or 2 to reply to each stage. As most of them volunteered once or twice a week.
Maybe try British heart foundation or age concern, but I suspect by the time he’s been accepted the summer will be over.

The library, Scouts, local hospice or hospital, children’s summer camps/activities, litter picking, canal restoration (big here), sports clubs, pet sitting, driving people to medical appointments, running or helping with activities in care homes,

Re dog rescue..I hear you
I travel 30 miles round trip ( and over a toll bridge!!!) to walk greyhounds
But I love it so 🤷🏻

☺️

Thanks again all! This is veering off tangent a bit now, as so often on MN. Thanks so much to all who gave good and relevant ideas!! And PS - yes he did start applying back in May.