Where to volunteer to find sense of belonging?

[Wandafishcake]

Posting here for traffic.

I recently changed job. I much prefer my new role, and I’m happier with the work, but while my colleagues are lovely they aren’t interested in being a team beyond the actual job. They have busy lives and work colleagues just aren’t that important to them. We’re not getting together for a Christmas zoom meeting or anything, none of them wanted to do Secret Santa. It just makes me sad. My old workplace felt much more of a family and like we cared for each other.

I am a single person, early 30s, and I’m lonely. I have friends, but 1:1 friendships aren’t the same as feeling like I belong in a team. I love the actual job and it’s quite niche, so I’m not changing my workplace, but I thought I should look for this sense of community in a voluntary role. Something that bonds people. Something relating to public service maybe?

There is an RNLI nearby but I am not a strong swimmer and have poor vision (fine with glasses but -10 without). I would volunteer for the fire service but I suppose I am a bit scared? Again the vision might be a problem. I’m not afraid of physically or mentally demanding work, because I think that’s what bonds people, and I don’t mind a significant commitment at weekends & evenings or lots of training.

What else is there? Any ideas? I’m happy to give my time to any good cause, but it needs to be teamwork, I wouldn’t want to man a charity shop for hours.

Thanks for any ideas!

Are there any causes you’re particularly passionate about? You’d probably find the work more rewarding if you had a personal interest in the are.

Our council has a volunteering page full of voluntary roles/posts in the Borough, perhaps yours has similar? If so it might be worth scrolling through and seeing what you like the look of.

What do you enjoy doing? Ideas:

How about a conservation group? I imagine there are lots of projects.

If you are into it, join a political party.

Local soup kitchen.

Check out DoIt or your local volunteer centre.

Could you ask the RNLI if there's non-water based roles for you? Admin, collecting money, writing thanks to donors, cleaning the lifeboat etc?

Schools need people to hear readers?
Hospitals need patient helpers - that could be a good on one as you’d meet so many people.
I think for camaraderie maybe a political party... although I did that and met a kid of absolute weirdos...!

Well, my job is around mental health, and my previous job was working with children.
So I’m skilled in these areas but it might be nice to try something different / new ?

I’m a keen walker and would be into outdoor stuff.
Love animals
Volunteered with St John’s once but they were all much older or younger than me and I didn’t really fit in, plus the duties were quite uneventful, I didn’t use the first aid much. I might consider going back and trying again. I just wondered if there was something else ?

Citizens Advice, local animal charity, brownies or cubs, food bank, Shelter, Crisis at Christmas, community transport, patient advocate, WRVS, hospital or hospice volunteer.

Where about are you living

Thanks for the ideas! Political party is a good idea, although my party isn’t very strong in my area, so I’m usually a tactical voter. I will investigate...

National Trust?

I live in a town in a rural area of Wales

Have a look at the website do-it.org for volunteering ideas.

What a fab idea and I wish you lots of happy times ahead.

I’ve volunteered in a food bank which felt worthwhile but I must admit it was quite hard going seeing how many families were struggling, although I suppose is why it felt significant to be helping.

I’ve also previously volunteered with a school for the blind going out for day trips with teens, but I’m not sure if that is still happening with current restrictions.

If you're at all political then campaigning can be fun and pretty good for meeting people.

Local search and rescue group? Coastguard volunteers? Adventure scout leader they are aged 14-18 (my sister in law does this and really enjoys it).

Once it restarts, Parkrun. No community like it. We have a number of volunteers who are very much part of the family despite not being runners although we do get most of them in the end

Ambulance volunteer - community first responder - if you like that kind of thing.

I think your experience will vary dramatically based on quite random things - I lead a quite busy food bank and some shifts are lively and full of laughter; others aren’t. I’d start by finding something either very close to you or something that you’re interested in, and go from there to trying it out.

I was reading about a community volunteer group in York who cleared the home of a depressed woman who had been hoarding for years. I think you would be pretty well bonded with the team after something like that!

Conservation volunteering might suit if you like the outdoors.

Scouts, guides, canal and river trust, extinction rebellion, kids sports league, cats protection, church.

First few likely to have working people and volunteering activities in a group and might be more sociable.

Homestart, local sports clubs always looking for volunteers to help at events - ie swimming clubs need volunteer coaches, time keepers, team managers, officials and often struggle to find enough volunteers, once part of the team it’s a great atmosphere and a big variety of ages in sports clubs. You don’t have to play the sport either

Army reservists?
Disclaimer - I know NOTHING about it but am sure there is fantastic camaraderie

Conservation work? Maintaining footpaths etc?

Is there a Welsh Wildlife Trust near you and look at a volunteering in Wales site.

Parkrun

If you find a big and active scout group they can have quite a few dedicated volunteers who are up for volunteering???

Start a walking group? Keep it small obviously.