AIBU to ask what ‘volunteering’ your yr9/14 year old did for DoE?

[Guiltridden12345]

My daughter wants to do this next year. Skill and sport are sorted, expedition will hopefully be planned with the leaders. But the opportunities for volunteering roles are pretty limited for this age group, with the DoE website having few ideas. Most shops/charities/rescue centres require 16 year olds and older. Can I ask what your 14 year olds did for their bronze volunteering element?

Helping an elderly neighbour (admittedly the neighbour wasn't very elderly but we were short on options). Took the bin out each week and helped bring the shopping in.

Mine did barcode scanning for the local park run at 14 for his volunteering

Riding for the Disabled
Helping at a football club
volunteering in a care home when a bit older
running special interest clubs at school in lunchtime

Mine worked in a charity shop locally for her bronze.

But she wants to be able to use some of the environment volunteering she does through the local youth assembly for her silver next year.

My DD does D of E thru school. Everyone has to do it, it's compulsory. So she did her volunteering at school, spent time helping 2 hr / week with whatever was asked, sometimes putting together displays, or making promo signs for events, or running errands for staff etc.

My friends DD did volunteering around the house. 1 hr / wk doing chores. The mum took photo evidence of her eg gardening or litter picking locally or cleaning, uploaded as evidence, school staff signed it off.

Taken on a role of Young Leader at Beavers (she is an Explorer at the same scout group).

Helps run the sessions every week and is completing the scheme which includes BLS, safeguarding etc.

She's really enjoying it. She completed the required DofE hours long ago, but will keep her role throughout 6th form.

Parkrun

They take volunteers of any ages, and it can be on Saturday (main event) or Sunday (juniors)

Good range of tasks, friendly sort of group, and Run Directors are used to doing the paperwork

Sports coaching of younger pupils at her school.

From what my DD has been told (DofE through scouts), the categories cannot be signed off by family members

Not true

They won't put U16/U18s out into solitary marshalling positions, and only go as tailwalker (or course checker) if there is a suitable adult with them (usually parent for that). But the other positions - scanning, finish tokens, timekeeping, marshalling within sight of others, first timers briefing, set up and pack away - can all be done by any age

Parents often do accompany though - often doing the run whilst the DC are volunteering!

That's my understanding too

My son helped out at a holiday/after school club for children with SEN.

Barnardos will take o volunteers in their shops from 14.
I managed a store years ago and lots of our volunteers were school kids doing either D of E, Saltire or both.
Your child can complete their application online on the Barnardos website. Good luck to them.

*will take on

Mine walks our elderly neighbours dog for him.

We have lots volunteer with Rainbows/Brownies/Guides. They don’t need to have been involved in Guiding before.

Dd volunteered at her old Brownie pack and Ds did his at his old anchor boys group.

I know others did local litterpicking, washing cars, walking dogs, volunteered at after school clubs for the younger children, befriending groups.

some charities have a tie in with DoE so are happy to take the under 16s. DD did shifts with Barnado's when she was 14. Check the DoE website

Helped with the little kids at a drama club. Data entry for the local history museum. Helped with younger kids in cricket club.

Coached younger rugby team- early Sunday mornings, so was really good for him. In cycling distance so he could be independent too.

Older DS was an Explorer Scout so volunteeted with Beavers/ weejend outings.

Kids in my own school volunteer with clubs for the youngers ones/ ASN pupils at lunchtimes/ after school. Those doing Gold are trained to be mentors/ paired reading for those who need practise.

Mine volunteered at the town library, sorting books and shelves etc.

DD helped at a baby ballet class at her dance school. It was common for the older girls to help out and she loved her dance classes so it was a perfect fit.

Sorry I meant to volunteer on their own. Anything around the start finish, barcode scanning, tokens etc will have many adults about. But as you said remote marshal points they can't do, and it would require I assume dbs checks if they put them with another adult. My local parkrun gets the DofE volunteers to do every role, barring run director, and every marshal point before it is signed off. Their parents need to be with them. Other parkruns may vary.

My organisation takes volunteers from 14, we have a few DoE kids coming through and they find it really fun, often end up staying on. Obviously only applicable if you're within reach of one of our projects! www.waveproject.co.uk