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?

Some people never leave their soap-box, maybe Brexit is at fault for the lack of volunteers too! Those of us with wider experience of different governments know that problems of recruiting volunteers happen under all shades of government!

At my kids school the top year of kids did it themselves.

I was shocked when mine were in nursery but by the time it was their turn, they were ready and keen.

Big kids are kind to their young customers and the little kids love attention from big kids.

As a working parent in a job requiring long hours (50+ a week) and DC who have clubs and a host of things to arra he and organize I would quite happily pay a ransom fee at the beginning of each year so that I don't get any requests to bring things in or donate £1 to this and to that. Very happy to support the school but really do have the mental space or time to do it justice.

I didn't realise parents/schools had to do all this fundraising. I went to school in the Netherlands. There schools simply send an invoice for a voluntary contribution to every family at the start of the school year. I think in primary schools it's usually about 40 euros for the year and can be paid in installments. It's not mandatory to pay it, but it's very much expected that if you can afford it, you pay it.

It's not a perfect system but seems a lot simpler than organising all these fundraisers.

I never 100% understand the people who claim that they can't possibly volunteer because they have

• a full time job
• younger kids

Ive got both of those, i have a pretty intense director level job & a 3 yr old as well as school age child.

No, i don't love giving up my saturday to set up and man the fucking tombola but I'm doing it, 3 yr old in tow. It can be done.

Our PTA/school only do these activities during school hours. PTA meetings are at 3.30pm directly after school lets out, even the kids discos that they put on finish by 5pm.

The summer fete this year is planned for 5th July after lunch, so any parents that want to volunteer or attend need to be SAHP/shift workers who aren't scheduled to work/take leave.

What a stupid reply.

ContinuousProcratination it's just a polite way of saying 'no, I don't want to'.

If you don't enjoy it then why do you do it? You too can say 'sorry, I'm too busy'
'I don't want to'.
Don't hate on others who don't volunteer, you've made a choice, as have they.

This

"If we don't get a helper tonight we have to cancel"
string of messages about how they are just too busy with work and family (what do you think the rest of us do??)
"Very well, tonight is cancelled"
Funnily enough... someone's suddenly got someone free to come help!

And, yes, it would be easier for EVERYONE to just say "chuck in £20 at the start of the year and no faff"... in fact it'd probably be cheaper for some people who end up buying all the prizes and don't bother claiming it back (because that's their contribution... even though they'll also go and spend a few quid each time too)...

But it's be a lot less fun, less social and less creative. You might hate making the costumes for example, but I bet most of the kids won't. And they certainly enjoy the tombola and splat the rat and the chance to chuck sponges at Mr Morris ...

Some schools seem to have an abundance of volunteers making elaborate fairs happen.

They don’t, honestly.

They all feel like you.

The only bright side is that by secondary you don’t have to bother because you’re burnt out, your kids would rather die than see you on a volunteer and school really 100% can’t be doing with the hassle,

So take heart. If you’re Y5 it’s not too long to go!

That’s sad - I rework my hours if I need to be in school for such things, even if it is just 10 minutes reading. I see so many hopeful faces when I go in every week but these parents never show. The hope on their little faces never fades.

None of my own school fetes were at the weekend.

My friend’s son’s school just had their fete this Friday, and they wanted volunteers from the morning. I work all day every Friday.

Pay for them to take the day off work? Ring their employers and negotiate with them for the day off? The days when people could afford to volunteer are over.

Yes I know that. Still not cost effective for the parent is it? My point is that I’d rather donate a bit more to fundraising/whatever the school needs than buy something they’re going to give away at a loss.

Why don't you get the older kids to man the stall

If you don't enjoy it then why do you do it? You too can say 'sorry, I'm too busy'

Because we raise about 20k a year , for a 1 form entry school, and the school really needs the money. We tried just asking for donations and of course all the people who don't give time don't give money either despite it being a very affluent area.

Amazed at all these school fetes are on weekdays, thats pointless? You get no one free to attend either! Round here they are all on saturdays, always. Never heard of a pta meeting at 3pm either, ours are 8pm in the pub. Maybe people should flag to the school that pta is making choices that are excluding working parents, surely these days more parents will work than not.

Have you read the book Why Mummy Swears?

Very funny and in it your situation is described. the solution was to not worry about upsetting people and say:

PTA have asked for a volunteer for X stand (insert details). So far no one has said they are available; if we don’t find anyone by end of today the school fair will be cancelled.

This will be disappointing for the children and as a reminder last year we raised X for essential school resources.

You need to get comfortable with being direct and the consequence.

And how do you propose the logistics of that work. So the library needs a new stack of books and they somehow coordinate with parents to get the exact title? (Aside from the fact this is not how schools but most things).

What about when it’s a high ticket item. Do they have to tell you in advance what it is and specifically what your £5 will be used for X?

*buy

This is what we do. Each class rep organises a rota from that class to cover the time.

I must admit that we didn’t do a summer fete this year. We partnered with the village fete and manned one stall and are taking a % of the takings.

Work smarter not harder!

I always volunteer at the summer fair.
And don't understand why you wouldn't.
I also work & have 2 kids.

But, the chair if our PSA is the most irritating woman! Patronising, arse licking the head every morning. GOD she's awful.

I just don't chat to her. There's plenty of nice parents. I'd still always volunteer for the kids.

😵‍💫 no, you just donate money and the school buys what they need.

All the people who would rather donate money than be involved?

Do you?
Have you actually tried donating by cash or cheque with a note saying 'this is my contribution for the year, thank you for what you do but I will not be participating further'?

PTA committee are volunteers. They may actually not be very skilled at organising / people management, but they are trying. They do it mainly because they see the children enjoying things and it raises money for extras.

Getting helpers can be a vicious or virtuous circle. Get the gregarious person involved they will get their friends involved too. Start struggling and no one wants to commit in case they get stuck.