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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a volunteer shouldn't have them pay for the priveledged?

32 replies

OpenMe · 27/08/2016 22:19

Through Cadets DCs have been asked to volunteer at the country show. This is a very commercialised show with fairground rides, stalls, burger vans etc.

The cadets have to arrive on Friday evening to help set up, marshall, litter pick and run errands on the day of the show and then help pack up on the Sunday morning. They will be worked hard but are looking forward to it and it will go towards D of E and their citizenship awards.

They are being asked to pay for their camping pitch and food and drink. AIBU to think they should be offered free camping and a few burgers or vouchers for food?

OP posts:
ClaudiaWankleman · 27/08/2016 22:21

YANBU. At that age, I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't free.

whatishistory · 27/08/2016 22:22

Certainly they shouldn't have to pay to pitch a tent!

foursillybeans · 27/08/2016 22:22

Definitely should be given the camping pitch for free. How cheeky to charge them! The food, hmmm, I'm on the fence. A few burger vouchers wouldn't go amiss though.

whateveryousay · 27/08/2016 22:29

They should definitely not have to pay to camp!! Not so sure about the food, as I suppose that would come from individual stall holders. Vouchers could be given though?!

HarrietSchulenberg · 27/08/2016 22:30

Depends if they HAVE to stay or not. If the stay is a requirement then no, they should not have to pay.

pontificationcentral · 27/08/2016 22:30

Camping pitch should be free. Food outlets are probably all private enterprises paying for the opportunity though, so they shouldn't be required to pay out to volunteers on behalf of the organizers. When we have done similar it has been split - sometimes the organizers have arranged vouchers for the food trucks (ie paid the food trucks to provide for volunteers) sometimes we have been reposnsible for our own food. It depends if the organizers have budgeted providing food for their workforce - lots of times they don't, but it's nice if they do.
I tend to look at it the same as if they were doing a volunteer shift somewhere else - sometimes food is provided, mostly it isn't and they take their own.

ConfusedintheNorth · 27/08/2016 22:32

YANBU, more and more organisations seem to be jumping on this "pay us to work for free" thing, and it's bloody annoying.

Original poster
OpenMe · 27/08/2016 22:33

Now that's exactly why I think they should get food whateveryousay. The stall holders are making money at an event where the Cadets are providing free labour.

I haven't asked if it's possible to bring them home overnight, but it's certainly assumed that they will stay

OP posts:
Cocklodger · 27/08/2016 22:35

is this the army cadets?
I'm shocked if so! very cheeky and would not have happened in mine when I volunteered (left under 1yr ago so pretty recent!)

Original poster
OpenMe · 27/08/2016 22:39

Yes, it is Army Cadets although they are not the organisers, they've been asked to provide volunteers

The weekend is going to cost me much more than their usual camps and expeditions - which are very cheap

OP posts:
ThisUsernameIsAvailable · 27/08/2016 22:41

Ds did a country show as an air cadet, they didn't camp because it was close to home but they were provided with water and food while they were there

LockedOutOfMN · 27/08/2016 22:48

Camping and water should be free. Food - a discount would be welcomed, or they should be advised by to bring their own.

Nearlyhadenough · 27/08/2016 22:49

An event being organised locally is using volunteers - they will be getting free camping, breakfast, lunch and dinner for the duration.

They are giving up their time - they deserve some kind of 'reward', young people more so.

ShtoppenDerFloppen · 27/08/2016 22:51

The first part of your OP, I didn't know which way this was going to go, but honestly... if the cadets are committing that much work and not even getting a site to pitch tents and a bite to eat, the only unreasonable parties are the event organisers.

I'd be tempted to provide the organisers with an invoice for all of the cadets' pay at NMW plus government remittances for the time they worked. Perhaps that will help demonstrate how unreasonable THEY are being.

Olivialoves · 27/08/2016 22:52

Is it possible this has been overlooked? That other visitors pay to pitch tents, but actually no one realised that the cadets were going to be 'working' the show? I'd raise it in a "oh, are you sure we have to pay to camp, the cadets are litter picking and volunteering, I wasn't sure if you were aware"

serin · 27/08/2016 22:52

No that's not right at all. DD did Air cadets DS's both do Army cadets. They have all helped out at air shows and agricultural shows and have never been asked to contribute.

trafalgargal · 27/08/2016 22:55

Pretty poor of the troop leaders not to have got the camping fee included as part of the discussion .

PigletJohn · 27/08/2016 23:13

I would be inclined to get them to email the organisers saying they would have been happy to volunteer their time, but having seen the cost of pitch and food, they now realise they can't afford to help.

HoneyDragon · 27/08/2016 23:16

I can't imagine DoE would be happy about this?

DancingDinosaur · 27/08/2016 23:16

Water / food and camping should be free.

harderandharder2breathe · 27/08/2016 23:24

I go to sbout camps as staff and have to pay a smallish fee for the privilege. Also either pay for catering or bring my own food and cooking supplies. But the events aim to break even not make money. Their purpose is to give the participants a great experience. I'd be less willing to pay if the event was or profit

Permanentlyexhausted · 27/08/2016 23:30

Agree the camping should be free. Food and drink less so.

Since it would cost you nothing to stay at home, accommodation costs (camping) should be free if you're volunteering. But you'd need to pay for food wherever you are so not so unreasonable to be asked to pay. At least that's how I work out leader's costs when I take Brownies away on residentials and camping trips.

lalalalyra · 27/08/2016 23:33

It's becoming more common this. I have friends who are race making at Silverstone (basically volunteering all weekend) and they have to pay for their camping.

It's doubly wrong for kids though.

5Foot5 · 27/08/2016 23:50

YANBU that sounds mean. When my DNs were in the Scouts they used to do this sort of thing for the Chatsworth country fair and they got free camping, not sure about food. They used to really enjoy it actually because there was always a rota that meant after a few hours work they could have a bit of time to look round the show.

maninawomansworld01 · 27/08/2016 23:59

YANBU they are taking the piss.
Camping should be free, there should also be a small allowance for some food / refreshments.
If it were an event organised by a small local charity or something then I'd overlook the food but no way should you be out of pocket in order to volunteer.

I wouldn't let my DC's go, and I'd tell the organisers why as well!