To think the Big Help Out seems like a cheek

[teneastereggs]

People are working really hard on the whole, often several jobs, NMW and look at doctors working for not great pay. People who want to volunteer probably already are, many for instance volunteer for all our food banks. AIBU to think the Royals suggesting we all volunteer to 'celebrate' the Coronation seems like a cheek?

How about the royals help out by giving up their land and undeserved millions?

Yes and no. The BHO is not really directly to do with the royal family; it's an initiative founded by the Royal Voluntary Service and the Scouts. I would imagine it is much more closely connected to the government than it is the RF.

But on the other hand, yes, many people are struggling right now and fewer people have less time to give, so at that level I'm not surprised they're slightly struggling for volunteers.

I think as a finale to the Coronation weekend, it is an anti-climax.

@Botw1 - yes, that was my thinking exactly. How about they celebrate to Coronation by, say, giving chunks of their land to the nation to build desperately needed social housing? They could even name lots of it after King Chuck. That would be lending a hand.

I disagree. Having an occasion to celebrate those who volunteer may make more people recognise what they do. Separate from the fact that it is disgraceful that some of it is necessary, for example that food banks need to exist in the 21st century.

I've got a lot of spare time and would like to volunteer for things that would interest me. It strikes me though that a lot of voluntary 'opportunities' are for things that, when I was starting work, might have been entry level paid jobs. I'm referring especially to youth work, social services, hospital volunteering etc.

Meh, it is up to people if they want to do it or not imo. I would not dream of giving any of my time for free to do anything concerning this.

YANBU. I agree it's an absolute piss take. I'm actually shocked that the idea ever got to see daylight; it reads the room soooo badly in the current climate. And I agree that donating some of the thousands of acres of royal land to something worthy would be much more fitting, but we all know that will never happen. The whole idea of celebrating the coronation can FRO.

Having an occasion to celebrate those who volunteer may make more people recognise what they do

I don't think it's celebrating volunteers (which I agree is good) for much as getting everyone else to roll up their sleeves and join in volunteering. Presumably while we doff our caps at our King being conveyed in a golden carriage. I think people dont have time, with many struggling to make ends meet.

Volunteering itself is a great idea. But yes, the royals should be giving some of their massive wealth to the country.

It doesn't seem appropriate. The Royals could do something far more meaningful than offer the public a chance to volunteer their own time.

YANBU.

Too many people take the piss and disrespect the efforts of volunteers. I used to, but would never contribute my time and energy for free again.

I believe that if a country that is as rich as the UK relies on volunteering and charities, it speaks volumes about how fucked up we are as a nation.

People who want to volunteer probably already are

No I don't agree with this.

I work somewhere with a fairly large group of volunteers, and visitors to the building often pick up volunteer leaflets and 'dither' over it. They have so many questions and sometimes they're nervous of meeting a new group of people.

So if this helps people like that, who want to but aren't really sure then that's a great thing.

Too few people volunteer but are happy to benefit from those who do.
Scouts, brownies, pta, spirts clubs all struggle.
In my experience it's the busy people who are the ones who do give their time.
The last pta meeting I went to everyone had great suggestions of what they would like but when it came down to it who was going to do it nobody came forward, they just expected "someone" to do it..... ie me and the deputy head.

I support anything that encourages more volunteers.

Meh, it's fine. It's all about service and community. Yes, a lot of people are struggling, but there are also hundreds of thousands who aren't and volunteer regularly, or could do. Lots of companies also organise volunteering drives, with paid time off work for this. Our village often does local community work through volunteers. Cleaning, clearing, planting, befriending, community buses, community shop, etc etc

As for donating land, the royals actually don't own that much, and the Duchy of Cornwall, as an example, is mostly farmed for food.

Too few people volunteer but are happy to benefit from those who do.

Yes, and often happy to criticise and complain about those who do.

The threads moaning about 'Queen Bee mums' on PTAs are rarely pretty.

Yes, my first reaction to that idea was 'I do my bit already, 2 primary aged children, work 25hrs, just did a 2 yr stint as school governor, always try to help out and support community events. So I think I'll enjoy my extra day off as a reward thanks!'.

I generally take an interest in the Royals for a bit of history and pageantry but every now and then I do feel it all crosses an unpalatable line in modern Britain.

I do plenty of volunteering for good causes local to me. I don't need central government to organise it or give it a name or pat me on the back. In fact, I'd rather they stayed out of it - and a lot of other things.

Absolutely we should celebrate those who take the time and courtesy to volunteer.

I agree with the PP who said this initiative badly reads the room in the current cost of living crisis. Someone on social media commented that basically potential low earners are being told ‘hey, come work for free while we parade a man in a diamond hat through the streets’!

Obviously it’s more nuanced than that but it does seem misjudged on first glance in my opinion.

Very true. I’ve volunteered for various organisations for the past six years. It’s quite shocking how much is expected of volunteers in many roles, particularly in social care. Positions requiring lots of responsibility, time, commitment and skills that really should be paid. If you’re interested in volunteering I’d recommend going directly to the website of a charity/area that interests you rather than looking on volunteer hubs.

If I give my time and labour for free, and I have a strong resistance to the expectation that I should be prepared to do so, I'll be doing it on my own terms and at a time of my own choosing, thank you very much.

Yes it feels tone deaf to me.

I used to volunteer more PPG events, litterpicking, running kids events in the holidays. Thing is with cost of living so high I now work more hours (53 a weekon average ) across multiple jobs and have much less available time. I used to work across four days and was happy to swap days etc to help out but I can’t afford to take a day off. I’ve used up so much annual leave covering strike days and illnesses.

As will others.

And some others who were considering volunteering but never got round to it, may make up their minds to do so on the back of this.

Win-Win.