Volunteering

[rattymol]

The number of people volunteering has really fallen. I am interested in why. So
Yalu = I don't volunteer and won't
Yanbu = I do volunteer or would

Interested as well to know why people volunteer or don't volunteer.

The volunteer experience is a really big thing

Historically I worked for organisation who used volunteering as a way to generate community investment. Eg the volunteers weren't really that helpful in terms of daily tasks but people who volunteered felt part of the charity and were more likely to donate money

Realistically most of the time most organisations don't need unreliable unskilled labour, they need money to hire dependable skilled workers but that's not what people want to hear

Eg. Locally their was a big push to donate items to Ukraine. So people at best spent £20 getting items, or donating items from their house. Volunteers then drove (spending money on petrol) them to a sorting center (which costs money), volunteers then sorted through them, obviously trashed a portion of unsuitable stuff (which has to be paid to be removed), then it was driven by volunteers to Ukraine.

The man power cost and actual cost will far exceed its use in Ukraine. If you consider that money would have gone a lot farther if everyone donated a £10 and local resources were used (which also invests in the economy)

It's much easier to get people to give time, and things then money.

I volunteer because I have the time and I enjoy it. It's my second volunteer role for the same charity, and I previously volunteered for a different charity. I really enjoy what I do, which involves using a fair bit of judgement and intelligence. It is repetitive and a lot of people would find it boring, but I've always been a bit of a nerd, so it's fine by me.

I use to do a lot of volunteering before I had a child. It started of as regular stuff e.g. helping in a school then became irregular stuff like marshaling at sports events and helping people with certain problems as needed. My DP still volunteers doing irregular stuff due to his working hours not all being office hours, but I can't because when I'm not working I'm looking after a child.

Lack of time

I’m in my early 60’s and retired and volunteer at a charity shop on a weekly basis. None of my friends volunteer for the following reasons:-
Some are still working until 66/67 when previously they could have retired at 60.

Some are retired but caring for grandchildren several times a week so want to relax on their days off.

People are living longer so some retired friends are looking after parents/ in-laws in their 80’s and 90’s with severe health needs.

Some people are put off by all of the regulations. To be a volunteer you have to fill in a five page application form, provide two references, complete DBS and carry out prevent training to identify people at risk of being radicalised. Not sure I would be able to spot those people ring a £2.50 T-shirt through the till.

The lucky ones are spending their inheritance going away on numerous holidays!

I volunteer as a cat fosterer for my local rescue.

I don’t need the social or work experience aspects of volunteering and it’s something I can do while WFH, as well as something I really enjoy doing.

Your turn now OP - why are you interested and do you volunteer? If not, why not?

I used to volunteer as a community driver. I often work from home alone, so enjoyed having a break in my day to interact with people. But I've had to increase my work load in order to cover bills, so just don't have time to anymore

I have volunteered alot over the years, it means a great deal to me to try and give some time in this way and make a contribution to the wider community.

I now only volunteer during the summer at specific events at the charity where I am a volunteer. I used to do more, but I now work more hours and can't fit it in on a weekly basis to give a chunk of time.

I would agree with a reality that many volunteers are retired . They are the folk with the time to spare, younger generations are more stretched. Even students work and study usually now.

Volunteering is a great force for good. But we are living through a cost of living crisis. It is hard for many people to afford the time

The volunteering I do is highly skilled and requires interviews, training, and prior paid experience in specialist fields. Lots of volunteering roles have specific requirements that mean the majority of the public do not qualify. I don’t know if YABU but my experience is that isn’t not as easy as deciding to volunteer and walking into a role.

I volunteer and several of my friends do. I've learned a lot through my volunteering role and had really good online training when I started. Ive also had experiences ( including abroad) that I never would have had otherwise. I've been a lifelong volunteer though in all sorts of situations but enjoy my current role more than most. I'm lucky that I can fit it in around caring responsibilities and part time work.
My friends who don't volunteer have other commitments. Providing family child care, working a second job or they struggle with physical/mental health.
My parents were volunteers and saw it as a vital part living in their community. I think these days a lot of people are burnt out and just want to shut the door and relax at the end of the day

I have done lots of different types of volunteering in the past & enjoyed the experiences.

I don't currently volunteer because I work a FT shift pattern, so I don't have the same days off each week

I also spend a lot of my spare time helping an elderly relative who does not live locally. Which means being away from my home regularly.

However, I do donate money via my work Give as you earn scheme, where the gift aid is added automatically. I also donate during the year to various other causes & I also sometimes sponsor friends for charity events.

I may do some more volunteering in the future

My charity pays volunteers expenses. Good, travel, hotels etc.

*Food

We lost volunteers during Covid. Lots haven’t come back because they’ve found other things to fill their time.

Now some hardcore volunteers are cutting down because they’ve taken second jobs to help with COL.

Some aren’t well enough to volunteer.

I would like to take a voluntary role, but most organisations appear to be stuck in the 1950s and want volunteers to commit to the same time slots every week, which is impractical for people like me who work an irregular shift pattern. And when I retire, I will want to go away more frequently.

I volunteer a lot but there are less interesting positions coming up now. Theres so much grant writing or backroom work.
I've left two positions who have asked me to go way above and beyond for them at my expense.

Half of our active volunteers are between 13 and 18.

I would volunteer and have a list of places to contact once DD starts nursery (couple of years time).

I am put off because 1) how will I get out of it if I don’t like it/can’t commit anymore (things change!) 2) what if I don’t know what to do/am given too much responsibility 3) don’t really want anything to do with the public after the hell of working in a call Center.

So I’m happy to help in lots of ways but not willing to accept miserable positions, especially for free. I’m not THAT altruistic I’m afraid.

My friend volunteers with HomeStart, her only experience being that she’s a mum so I could do that too in theory. But I would not have the confidence to go into someone’s home and help them with their kids.

At the moment I do collecting and washing for an amazing local kids clothes charity. I have also tried to help paint sets with the local amdram but haven’t had chance yet. But I’m not sure that’s the kind of stuff that counts as Volunteering? More just helping for free rather than making a difference.

I used to volunteer but I dont have time now. My work, children and elderely relatives take up too much time.

I ran a beaver group before I had children until they joined themselves. Then I volunteered at the school for 6 hours a week.

Having finally settled and sorted out our new home, I would have liked to have volunteered in our local community, even if initially it was only supporting/turning up
at our parish council meetings/litter picks etc. All the information needed to attend these things is placed on a private community Facebook page. Our parish council do not update their own page or website. The irony is that I’m unable to access the local community page because the admin don’t know who I am and I don’t join any groups or activities, because I don’t known when they are being run….Those activities being posted on a page I cannot access…..

so yes, would like to get involved, yet can’t!

This comes up often. There are ways and means.

Sorry, above comment was for you.

volunteering is just part of life, I think most people do some

Posted too soon. I have messaged our local parish council clerk regarding this issue… to be told to sign up for the local community Facebook page. The one that admin refuse to let me join…..

I am a serial volunteer. Big events like Commonwealth Games, PTA, playgroup committees, now do a morning a week in a charity shop.

The pandemic had a MASSIVE effect on our volunteer numbers. The prolonged enforced closures meant some people just got out of the habit of volunteering so when we reopened, they didn't return because they'd found other things to fill their time. Our older volunteers were told for months that they were taking their lives in their hands leaving the house, so many were not comfortable returning to mixing with other people and volunteering. D of E schemes are only just getting going again here in Scotland so that was another whole pool of people out of the "workforce".

And of course cost of living means people are looking for paid work, rather than volunteer work.