To think there should be competition between support groups?

[Itscurtainsforyou]

I'm involved loosely in a support group. It's a voluntary thing, sort of peer support arrangement. I think that the group is really good at what they do and it all works well.

But there are bigger groups that think they should be doing what we're doing and try to muscle in. If they hear about something we've done they question why they weren't asked to do it instead.

It feels like they think it should be their "brand" or nothing - which is just bizarre when the aim of our group (& theirs!) is to help people. They're also quite a closed shop, so we'd struggle to merge/join up with them.

Surely support groups should be working together rather than trying to compete?

Argh - obviously that should be shouldn't be competition!

Agree entirely. If something is working for a group of people, someone else shouldn't try and muscle into it just to protect their "brand".

People just can't help grouping themselves into us/them and feeling loyal to whatever group they're in.

Is that why they're a bigger group maybe? Because they promote themselves as an inclusive (like a family) group and make anyone not 100% dedicated as though they're beytraying them somehow.

I'm probably reading more into what you've written than is actually there lol but volunteering is a funny old world and there's nowt stranger than folk.

You're not paid to be there which sometimes makes it difficult to 'regulate' people in the same way as paid employment, and gathering people together for a common aim when their reasons for being there are so varied is like herding cats.

Common MN advice of smiling and nodding whenever you hear of any awkward questions and try not to get involved?

Thanks! I think I'll just carry on as normal, but I was very at them trying to muscle in and take over - it just seems that the overall aim of helping people is not as important as being "the ones" to help...