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?

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 used to volunteer. What started out as just a coupe of hours a week soon became "Hecky could you do just a few hours more please", then "Hecky we need someone to do all day on Saturday and Sunday, you don't mind do you?" When I said I couldn't due to other commitments the reply I got was " well if you can't, you can't, but we do expect our volunteers to be flexible".

Whilst I appreciate that many organizations treat their volunteers as just that, there are many others that just see them as unpaid employees and that the volunteers should be grateful to be there, not that those organizations should be grateful to them. I won't volunteer for anything now.

I agree with many of these comments as I volunteer myself already but have noticed that the organisation is making increasing demands on the volunteers, has started giving appraisals, and treating people like free employees. I can't do as much as I used to as I'm working more hours. No way would I give up additional time just because the Royals have told me to.

On job websites it annoys me that that they advertise voluntary jobs.

I want to volunteer in a non physical role (because of health issues) but they all want references, which I haven't got. I was enhanced CRB/DBS all of my working life and have no unaccounted for gaps (as my former governing body needed a complete adult history). So it seems a bit ridiculous.

Would they accept personal references from friends or former work colleagues Ponoka7 ?

It has had very little take up. I think because it has been branded with the royal family. People are reacting like you OP and thinking what a cheek.

I used to volunteer but now work more hours. DP tried to volunteer but everything available was more like a job. So charity shops wanted someone to volunteer in a warehouse sorting donations.

The first I heard about it was today, in connection wi th the low take-up, and I run a charity and am part of a large network of charities spanning a London borough. None of us had heard of it. Not sure what to make of that.

The royals own lots. But it is all held in trust. They still get the rents though.

It depends. We have a community beach clean organised with a various food stalls, games for the kids etc. local pub is bringing their mobile bar. Beach might be messier by the end but it's about community rather than the royal family

The coronation seems like a damp squib with this not working and the concert struggling to get decent pop artists.

That sounds quite nice gogohmm

Exactly.

The coronation seems like a damp squib with this not working and the concert struggling to get decent pop artists.

Yes I wonder how many people really have the appetite for it at the moment. I suppose the route will be crammed with Union Jack wavers as per usual. But buying all the Royal stuff in the shops (commemoration things, royal party plates etc)seems OTT when food prices are so high. It all seems very out of touch. Perhaps that depends where you live or something.

Ok royal family, great idea, but before I do my bit (I already do give up quite a lot of time to volunteering btw) I’d like you to tell me, what will you be doing?

Hear, hear!

You forgot to mention the electric windows and air conditioning. YANBU at all. All this wanking over the royals is just a means to distract the plebs from the sorry state that is the UK. I've just been to the Netherlands and couldn't believe how well-run, clean and citizen-friendly it is. Was quite depressing coming off the ferry and driving straight into the first massive pothole.

King Charles is a massive hypocrite. The Royal family continue to hoard their wealth and continue to make their finances difficult to understand. Even the Queen did this.

If King Charles had any morals he would return land and assets back to the country and he would start paying tax like everyone else (and not just on a voluntary basis )

Why does anyone think he is worthy of respect.

YANBU OP!
I'm sick and tired of more and more being pushed to the hapless public.
Having lots of volunteering is nothing to be proud of. On the contrary it's a massive failure of the government who should be hanging their heads in shame.

Agreed.

I'm a single mum, I work full time. Just about have enough in mental health resources to get through each day. I have no capacity or headspace for volunteering, and no real desire to do it either. Not ashamed to admit it.

Charities and volunteers are picking up the slack due to our useless government's destruction of public services. It's not right.

I haven't even heard about this BHO initiative.

I am considering doing book price research for a local charity anyway which I saw advertised in their shop last week, as it is something I like doing but I need to think about it carefully as I get unwell easily with my mental illness.

By the way my Mum watched an item on the news this morning about a large special stone that is kept with the Scottish Crown Jewels and this special stone is to be given a police escort all the way down to London for the coronation- way OTT!! Even my Mum, who is a bit of a Royalist says it's a total waste of money!

Just googled this heavily guarded Scottish stone and it's the 'stone of scone' or Coronation Stone.

So much negativity.Anything that gets people thinking about helping out in their communities is fine by me.I have finally got round to getting involved with a cause that means a lot and tbh think I will get a lot out of it.II finally have time.But if you haven't time or any inclination to volunteer that's equally fine.

Nothing against volunteering in itself, but I think its a cheek to say we can do it for the coronation