Want to find a physical job to get through this difficult winter

[mimi0088]

This is my first mumsnet post, so thank you for reading in advance.

I am a single women living in Central London. I found winter is extremely hard since the pandemic and I am longing for a community feel. Two of my friends moved away from my neighbourhood does not help. The lockdown and WFH also made me realise that being with people gives me energy.

I want to find a part time job that does not involves sitting in front of a computer as I already have a full time office job. For example even just one evening per week at the local pub, which I can walk around and talking to people. I worked in a bar while in Uni and really miss it.

Can anyone please suggest apart from bar jobs, are there any other job I could explore so I can get through this tough winter?

Thank you very much!

@PooWillyNameChange
wow, I'd love that. No, I don't have to earn from it. How did your mum's friend found that job?

Thank you.

Elf

@Firefightress1

What abut a retained firefighter, they have a drill night once a week and are on an hours based system where you are on call.

Or the TA or RN/RAF reservists

And as you are in London, that could include the FANY

www.fany.org.uk

@RedCarsGoFaster

Not a dog walker - you need insurance nd to know what to do in an emergency. What if the dogs have fight? All these bloody hobbyist dog walkers - it's dangerous.

Just pop into a few pubs and ask. Round by us they'd snap your hand off.

Don't be put off by the insurance (if you have the experience). My friends insurance for her dig walking and pet sitting business is £30 a year.

[quote mimi0088]@PooWillyNameChange
wow, I'd love that. No, I don't have to earn from it. How did your mum's friend found that job?

Thank you.[/quote]
I googled the theatre she's at and they have a section for work and volunteering to apply by email, maybe try emailing a few theatres near you and see if they have anything similar?

wycombeswan.co.uk/Online/swan-careers

@PooWillyNameChange - Thank you so much! This is so helpful.

I worked front of house in a West End theatre about 20 years ago. They probs advertise or ask for CVs online now but I just went box office to box office asking. The pay isn't amazing but there was a commission element so the busier the show the more money you were likely to make. They hired show by show so I did something like a 4 month stint on one and 2 on another. Lots of actors do it to keep the day free for auditions.

I agree, Front of House in a theatre/concert hall definitely.

Garden centre

Our company ( SE1) needs someone to drive, warehouse, sell Christmas trees, troubleshoot various problems and do minor repairs. Not sure what you'd call the job, but if you fancy 12 hour shifts on your feet lifting things, DM me!

Does it need to be a job, or could it be a hobby or volunteering?

@RAFHercules - thank you so much for the suggestion. I am terrible at dog walking as they tend to "bully" me. :-)

I will give it a pass. But thank you very much again.

@HarrietOh - No, it doesn't have to bring money. I want to do something that during the few hours, I am not sitting down and can talk/interact to various people who I normally won't meet (i.e. not my family, friends, colleagues). :-)

Are there riding schools still in London? I know there used to be, but they may have closed now. But you could volunteer at them on the weekends, will keep you fit and you'll not be cold for long trust me.

[quote Saucy99]@RedCarsGoFaster i assume that you are a 'pro' dog walker? I think most people can work how the 'job' works 😂😂😂[/quote]
Well you'd think but someone still suggested it!

I live by myself, WFH was hard, but during the first lockdown last year I volunteered with a local charity (making fruit juice which funded other services),
It was physical, one or two days a week where I was in a space with a handful of other people for 6-7 hours, chatting about nothing of consequence.
I did other volunteering roles over the period, but few that gave the same combination of physical excercise, being with a team of people for an extended period...
Think carefully about what you want to achieve - for example theatre usher could be lots of brief "have a nice evenings" but little community/interraction.
You might not achieve everything on your wish list, but it gives you a good starting point.

I was going to.say care home,- actually caring, domestic, kitchen etc,and as you have said art, you could volunteer for art therapy in the home with activities co-ordinator

Aww I once got dumped and was miserable so got a part time bar job in a local cocktail bar on a weekend. I absolutely LOVED it! (My main job was office based and I'd never done hospitality before!) it really did change my life for the better - socialising, new skills, surprising amount of exercise, making new friends... great idea OP good luck

@Saucy99 no, not a dog walker but a dog owner. Too many utter idiot out there think they can walk 6 dogs at a time for £10 per dog per hour and then are shocked when they don't get on, they run off, have to deal with fights, have to deal with reactive in lead dogs, have to pick up (often several) poos per dog per walk, don't carry poo bags, don't carry treats, don't wear appropriate clothing for the work.... I've met so many on my own walks and vetoed several who we approached to walk our pair professionally.

It's a major undertaking, but lots of people think it's a hobby job, nice and easy with little responsibility....

Dog walking. I'm a dogwalker and the dogs take me all over the place, I got stuck in a field last week 😄

I volunteer at a Scope charity shop once a week - most charity shops are crying out for volunteers, especially if you can do Saturdays.

our Church is desperate for volunteers, from helping with teaching English to recent weeks (area with high level of asylum seekers) to seniors activity groups where people attending are lonely and desperate for interaction (and the odd craft/carpet bowls). If the idea doesn't put you off I'd definitely recommend looking on local Church websites, they'd normally have a volunteering page. Also primary schools are always desperate for people to come hear the kids read.

If you are not keen on holding helping at a Church (other Faith based groups are available) you could also look at local community centres/refugee/day centres as again would normally love an extra pair of hands (and ears)

I love my cleaning job. It's a good balance of working on my own and working in a team. It's also very physical ( I love this part. I enjoy running up n down stairs and sweeping and mopping !) It's also really rewarding.
I chat to different people - nurses, receptionists, doctors, sales people and of course, other cleaners. And when I want to just get on, I go off on my own and find an area to clean.

How about joining a community choir

@ThinWomansBrain yes, this is the exact feeling！ You described my experience and what I am looking for perfectly. Can I ask where did you find the volunteering job?
Thank you so much.