... to think the gov can eff off if they think I'm going to do voluntary work?

[woollyideas]

I'm really fed up with reading about this hypothetical army of volunteers who will run our libraries, patrol school crossings etc., etc. as part of the old Big Society thingmy. AIBU to think that if I was to be made redundant due to government cuts, I would prefer to lie in bed a bit later than usual, write, paint, read, bake cakes, stick two fingers up to the Condems, etc., after 30-odd years of working? Or do you think I should just pop along and be an unpaid slave happily work for nothing in a local school or something worthy?

What would you do?

Bake cakes. Then eat them.

I volunteer for all sorts of bloody things.
If I lost my job I would have to get another one and I wouldn't have time or money to volunteer any more

Well, as somebody who already volunteers, I would only like to contribute that the cuts that may make you redundant, are as likely to close the service for which I volunteer - which all seems a bit short-sighted.

Baking is an excellent hobby, which I enjoy very much and wholeheartedly recommend.

I do think it's a fucking cheek.

This isn't Disney land, or the Middle Ages. People don't like working for nothing, especially when the govt doesn't seem the slightest bit arsed about financial inequality. Bankers' bonuses. Georgie's trust fund. David Cameron can shove his 'Big Society' up his arse.

Well, I'll be working full-time by the summer. I thought perhaps I could do my voluntary time, at the library say, by paying somebody else to do it? If they do their slot, and my slot, then they might get really good at the job. Maybe they could even take on some other people's slots as well. If they took on enough hours and earned enough, they could pay tax on their earnings, that's got to be good for the economy, hasn't it? They could even do a qualification while working perhaps. So I think it sounds brilliant!

You could bake the cakes in a school canteen, Dave will probably need Big Society volunteers to staff those as schools won't be able to afford the cooks.

It's a cop out. They're taking paid jobs from people and handing them to those who will do the work for nothing.

Back in the 80's those people would have been called scabs.

Nobody will volunteer for anything that actually needs doing.
Would i volunteer to be a lollipop lady or a rubbish collector? No I wouldn't
Would i volunteer to carry the White pole carried by the geophysics man on time team (who is my secret fantasy man) why yes i would.

Of those two i cant imagine the second wold help much in this big society though....

It's a bloody cheek. It's a modern day work house. They will have people splitting rope next. I bet you if you don't join in they will cut benefits.

I am a volunteer too, but if made redundant, would probably have to give up one of my volunteer roles as its linked to my job.

I have always volunteered in some way BUT I absolutely draw the line at being made redundant (wich will happen in April) and then doing the exact same job for nowt

I think it?s bloody immoral to make cuts to local council budgets that will see contractors making redundancies. These people that are being made redundant will be compelled to undertake the same shitty jobs for no pay.

Not only that but this move will seriously undermine growth in the economy. Its also basic maths that working for no money=less tax revenue.

We know there is not enough work to go round and we know there is not enough money to fund public services but making people volunteer goes against the principle of volunteering! A complete nonsense

Is it possible to force someone to do voluntary work?

'Back in the 80's those people would have been called scabs.'
bloody right

Except the scabs were getting paid, weren't they?

Tethersend I think it was called community service (wink)

People only volunteer for the nice things e.g. library assistant, who on earth would volunteer to do some of the horrid things that need doing in this Big Society, there's a reason why people are paid to do certain jobs.

Also, in between juggling childcare, employment, family responsibilities like helping out in-laws when needed (getting their shopping in, etc), trying to figure out how we can save for pensions, start to put extra aside for apprenticeship/uni support fees for DCs... any extra work I take will have to be paid. Or else I need to spend it on catching up with housework, or spending quality family time together.

I wouldn't, and couldn't, volunteer in this Big Society. i used to help out regularly at school for a few years, but that had to go by the wayside when family life and work commitments took over - these voluntary places don't need someone as flaky as me, because my family and work will always come first.

besides, when people put on those rosy specs and look back to some golden age of people caring for neighbours for free, or looking after kids when a youth centre has been closed down... what they're really talking about is going back to women as unpaid labour! Women have gone back into the workforce during this recession, and the gaps that have been left e.g. caring for ill or disabled or elderly relatives - it's hardly a total shocker, is it? Reprimanding members of society by saying we're selfish for not rubbing our hands with glee at the idea of this "big society" is failing to take into account the stresses on the average family of 2011.

Utterly unrealistic, that David Cameron.

Yes, tethersend, I believe compulsory volunteering HAS been mooted, as in... if you can't find a job for a while you will have to do voluntary work if you want benefits. So, take away someone's job, give them dole for a short while then shackle them and make them pick up litter ask them to 'work' for their benefits.

I dunno. Compulsory volunteering. What is the world coming to?

the thing that makes me WILD with anger is the idea that there is a whole of raft of people out there lolling about scratching their arses.
The vast majority of people in my acquaintance are working, looking after their families, volunteering, making stuff happen in their community.
To suggest otherwise is belittling and patronising

Is it possible to force someone to do voluntary work?

No worky no eaty would force them wouldn't it ?

I'm not in the UK but I agree with you frgr, 'women has free labour' that's what it boils down to.

I'm volunteering at the moment but that's to build up a cv after 8 years on maternity leave. I wouldn't feel I OWE it to a government who are screwing people (the irish goverment certainly the maestros there).

Exactly, harpsichord - the people without jobs that would be most wanted to do the voluntary work already do it if they can. The ones who don't either aren't suitable for volunteering, or don't want to. (there may be slight exceptions, say if someone is unaware of local volunteering opportunities - but i don't believe a large masse of willing, capable volunteers is out there such as this Big Society would need).

And anyway, even if this large masse of people existed, I'm not convinced forcing people with a stick is the best way to do it.

Is the idea of the big society anti-women, will it unduly and unequally effect women.

Many women work as unpaid carers to elderly relatives, many volunteer, help neighbours, help in schools and do a great deal of unpaid labour now.

Local council budgets are being cut, services to societies most vulnerable will suffer.

This will have three effects, it will put women out of work, it will effect services to the elderly, disabled and ill and up the ammount of unpaid work that women already do.

I actually don't mind doing less paid work (and therefore paying less taxes) providing I will be protected by a shit hot CSA if my DH ever buggers off and leaves us and a fail safe benefits system that takes into account all the work I have done unpaid and looks after me in turn when I cannot do this unpaid work. Something like an index linked pension would do the trick.