To think the requirements for this volunteer position are ridiculous?

[PPMMppmm]

I've got some spare time on my hands and have been perusing volunteer jobs and came across this one.

https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp3585933.jsp

AIBU to think they have got ludicrous expectations of someone voluntarily giving up their time?

We have a lot of volunteers and are required to write their crazy role descriptions. In reality, we expect people to be reliable and upfront about the time they have, seek advice if they aren’t sure, be polite to everyone (and be treated politely) and give it their best in the time they have. I think most charities have similar expectations (in reality, if not on paper).

This. It’s far from unusual. I have professional skills I have used in voluntary work. I don’t see what it’s weird that I choose to do something unpaid in a good cause when I’m paid for doing it in another sector of my life — Mn seems to have a slightly naive attitude that volunteers need to just be an unskilled-but-willing pair of hands.

And yes, agree with a pp pointing out outrage that charities pay their staff, and that this position might well be filled by a retired or close to retirement professional from the arts or academia.

There is a theory behind this. That charities should utilise the professional skills of volunteers, rather than use volunteers for more 'basic' tasks.

I think it is fine to advertise for this role, people can choose to apply or not.

The age requirement is wrong. There is also a rather vocal twitter group that pesters charities if they if they specifically state that applicants must be graduates. Whilst, I don't like their methods, I agree that there a loads of highly skilled individuals that don't have degrees.

The job is based in Nakuru county in Kenya. I think restrictions on age are possibly a cultural thing. I'm not sure a degree in gender studies is a thing in Kenya and they may not be able to get the skills locally. They certainly wouldn't pay western rates.

Weirdly, most of my volunteering takes place in Nakuru county. I'm a qualified healthcare professional with several years experience. We pay our experienced Kenyan professionals slightly above the going rate £100 a day ish.

I'm more concerned that this will leave a kenyan charity dependent on external international support rather than supporting the development of a Kenyan to do this work.

It would suit someone who doesn't work anymore for whatever reason but wants something to do.

Or a university graduate trying to get into their chosen field, which isn't always easy might appreciate getting some work experience under their belt.

There is nothing to say that this volunteer position couldn't later lead to a paid position with the organisation later on.

We get opportunities like this in my profession all the time. The project needs someone with highly-paid professional skills but doesn't have the funds/doesn't want to pay them, so they make it a volunteering opportunity.

My organisation and professional body support volunteering, to the point I can use several days of work time per year to volunteer. If the organisation is worth it to me, I would use those days and add in some of my own to progress a worthwhile project.

That’s a very specific roles which requires very specific skills so YABU.

Hmm. I broadly agree with others but basically they are looking for a volunteer grant writer, and specify that the person can give as little or much of their time as they like.

I run a charity (a food bank). I do all our grant writing. It’s a total ballache. We did go through a phase of having volunteers who had offered to do this specific task take some of it on, but it never worked out - it’s quite removed from the day to day work, tedious (I’ve met very few people who actually enjoy writing grants), difficult if you’re not very familiar with the daily work and successes of the charity. People do offer still but I re-direct them because the attrition rate is so high.

I think this charity is trying their luck. May get someone trying to break into the sector at best, but the quality of their work will likely reflect their inexperience.

(And a skilled grant writer can write themselves into a job - requesting funds for staffing etc)

Agree with others. People who want to volunteer aren’t all people with no workplace experience looking to build their CV to make them more attractive to employers, or bored older people / housewives who want to give a few hours of their time here and there. They’re often very skilled professionals who want to lend their (usually very expensive) skills to an organisation which would usually never be able to afford somebody with such a skill set if they were hiring them for employment. I’m a Trustee for a private sector financial services company and a Trustee for a large community benefit society. The former is paid, the latter is unpaid but the actual role and commitment is very similar. The latter I do for their benefit as much as my own.

They aren’t looking to exploit somebody poor and desperate here.

Maybe someone retired will do it

You pay grant fundraisers £100K? Intriguing. As that’s about thrice the standard salary for this sort of role. There are charity CEOs (so, many many rungs above this person) who don’t earn that much.

They can, actually. Because the execs getting the shitloads of money are then expecting people to work for free to facilitate the CEO pay.

Absolutely this! I don’t think people realise this. I run a group of volunteers who all do incredibly skilled work on the front line providing support and they don’t need qualifications (only safeguarding and I provide this)

but then we also have a group of professionals who would usually charge a fortune for their skills who want to give back to the community and offer their services for free to people in need. We can’t afford to use public funds for lawyers etc so these guys are a fucking godsend!

Just as with jobs op

People look for different hours when it comes to volunteering

is that really so hard to comprehend?

I find it offensive tbh.

This is a complex job requiring lots of skills and should be a fully paid role.

There’s no “should” about it.

If they don’t fill it, it’s because there wasn’t interest in it. If they do fill it, it’s because someone, entirely of their own accord, wanted to do it. I really can’t see the problem

No, they are cheeky fuckers asking for that level of demand with no remuneration. It’s unethical.

Yes, that’s a lot for an unpaid role. When normally those roles are paid. It’s not like they’re just helping out to gain experience, they’re taking on the actual job! Also, there’s a big movement for #nongraduateswelcome so they’re clearly not up on that aspect either.

Who do you work for @TheSilentPicnic ? if you don’t mind saying?

But they aren’t forcing anyone to apply! Or even slightly applying pressure. They’ve put it out there. If it fills, it fills. If it doesn’t, they’ll no doubt adapt it.

And the beauty of volunteering is that if it does turn out to be too much - they just Jack it in and walk out with no backward glance

They'll be hoping for someone recently retired who has the relevant skills

Or someone who has been out of the workforce, but who previously worked in a relevant area, who is seeking to reactivate and reinvigorate their CV

Third sector organisations, especially smaller ones, rely on volunteers to perform roles which might otherwise be paid. Often they are taken as a sideline to a paid day job or by recently retired individuals.

I tried to volunteer to help adults with reading. It was more an unpaid teaching post, lesson plans, assessments and not just helping with reading. I didn't bother.

But, in order to learn how to read, said adults need structured lesson plans and assessments and volunteers who are willing and able to deliver them. And there are a number of said volunteers available, fortunately.