To wonder how to get school parents to volunteer to do anything?

[FishfingerFlinger]

I’m a somewhat reluctant volunteer for the school PTA - only reluctant because I have a full-on job (12hr+ days most of this week) another volunteer role and am frankly frazzled.

Trying to get volunteers to help do small tasks for the school fair and no one will do ANYTHING. Everyone wants the school fair to happen. Everyone moans if it doesn’t happen. But they think the magic fairies make it happen?

Some schools seem to have an abundance of volunteers making elaborate fairs happen. All I’m asking is for someone to man the bat the rat stall for half an hour and I can’t even get that.

What am i doing wrong here?

maybe the other parents are in a similar position where they are working full time and don’t have the time either? They don’t have any right to complain if it doesn’t happen though

Well if I volunteer who will be watching my children. I work school hours dh doesn’t so he would be at work.

I think you need to have a list of jobs. Be clear that unless the roles are signed up for by a set date the event will not happen. Stick to it.

Free Pimms for volunteers. The summer fair had never seen so many helpers as the year they did that at my kids school 😁

Mind your own business?

It’s a catch 22 cos people only want to volunteer at really good events but events can’t be good without volunteers!

@newjobnewstartihope why don’t bore off luv

1/2 hour slots only, or freebies for the helpers / their children

I'm a teacher and we can't get parents into school for hardly anything. Phonics, reading or maths evenings.

We don't have a PTFA anymore because nobody will step up to do it.

The parents are asking are Y5, the children can watch themselves at the fair for half an hour. I literally need people to man a stall for half an hour. They’re going to be at the fair already. I think they just don’t want the commitment, or want to stand around drinking pimms or something, I don’t know.

I tried to join the one at the primary school but my face didn't appear to fit and I wasn't taken up despite several offers.

I went to a meeting for the secondary school but the sorts of things they wanted to do were the sorts of things which alienate families like mine who can neither afford nor tend to even be interested in them.

I have a lot of skills and creativity, but people often have an idea of who and what they want. If that doesn't come along....

volunteer for the school PTA
full-on job (12hr+ days most of this week) another volunteer role

What am i doing wrong here?

Working far too hard. Aspire to the work-life balance the non-volunteering parents have achieved. It's OK if the school fair doesn't happen. You can only do so much. Take some time for yourself and your family instead.

Are you sure they want it to happen? Most of the parents in our school don’t seem too concerned if it happens or not.
personally, I’d much rather just hand over some money than get involved in all this, and that’s without considering work/childcare/time issues.

I have a list. I have online form they can sign up for a specific job in two clicks. Couldn’t be easier.

The whole model of parent volunteers in school came about when the "norm" was SAHM. Most parents with full time jobs are barely hanging on in there with what they must do.

I'm not convinced about parents complaining if the fayre doesn't happen though. Most I know would see that as time and money saved.

Most of our PTA events are cancelled because no one volunteers, no one turns up if it does go ahead and no one seems to care if events happen or not.

What parents are failing to realise is that of the PTA doesn’t raise money then it’s their kids that will miss out. Government funding doesn’t even cover the basics

Our fundraising subsidises trips/coach

You're not kidding. I'm a cub leader, and I find that we have plenty of volunteer parents for the all-day-on-a-work-day-trip to the Air Tattoo, but litter picking on a Wednesday evening? Not so much. Most cite childcare issues, but those same issues don't seem to be a problem for the big events that they want to go to.

Ultimately it's a shame, as it's the children who miss out when events can't happen due to lack of volunteers.

Ah fair enough my youngest is only year 2 so I’ve been no use though my older twos schooling.

But yeah I would definitely make sure people know no volunteers no thing. Let them sign up in half hour blocks if you must. Can you rope any year 6’s/bevers/rainbows in to help?

You need to ask people directly in person. General emails don't work.

(Bare in mind though... Yr5s can have younger siblings!)

I volunteer but I hate it because fairs etc are always so fraught and there are a few big characters bustling about huffing because they have so much to do (and they do!) and sighing if you ask a question. A lot of parents at DS's school are hesitant to engage with the PTA because they tend to speak to the rest of us VERY SLOOOWLY, AND CLEARLY. Also it's often not clear exactly what you are volunteering for until you are in it.

Having said all that there are always enough volunteers in the end.

I wouldn’t leave my y5 unattended for half an hour at a public event.

Also ask parents if grandparents can help instead. And ask Dads!

I hear a lot of moaning about “[nearby school] had X, Y, Z at their fair last year” “why no Christmas fair this year?” and so it goes on…