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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Volunteering... help restore my faith!

89 replies

Arlanymor · 31/07/2025 17:21

Off the back of a different thread where someone was whinging about being well-off but not AS well-off as others...

Can you tell me your lovely volunteering stories please? Firstly so I can tell you how marvellous you are, because volunteers make the world go around, and secondly because I think there are so many people who do FA in terms of giving back and maybe we can encourage a few more people to get involved?

My story - I work for a charity and speak to volunteers daily - in fact one lady yesterday brought me to (good) tears talking about her experience of joining her group post-COVID. Outside of work, I am a trustee of a local charity and give about 8 hours a week to the cause. I have made new friends, done new things I would have never done before through my volunteering, and made a little bit of a difference in my corner of the world. I am nowhere near the level of some uber volunteers, not remotely, but I do my small part to help.

OP posts:

Daleksatemyshed · 01/08/2025 10:44

@K1P1K1 it's a shame but some places do seem to think they can treat volunteers like paid staff. I've avoided volunteering where they want you to commit to set hours every week. You might do better with more unoffiicial groups where you go or not as you please

CaptainMyCaptain · 01/08/2025 12:32

Daleksatemyshed · 01/08/2025 10:44

I've never been asked to do set hours. In all three volunteer roles I've had I just had to sign up to what shifts I wanted to do.

Ilikehistoricalhorror · 01/08/2025 12:41

GwendolineGoesGreen · 31/07/2025 19:36

Nope. It’s about knowing your worth. Want my time and my skills? Pay me.

Absolutely. Definitely. I find it appalling that this is considered more and more the norm these days.

Hamiltonfan · 01/08/2025 12:42

Volunteer with HomeStart and with troubled teens. X

Ilikehistoricalhorror · 01/08/2025 12:45

SafeAndStranded · 31/07/2025 19:23

I used to be a Homestart volunteer and on the school PTA. Currently am on the fundraising committee for DD's dance school, am a volunteer chaperone and also help run a support group for parents of children who have the same disability as DS.

I tried Homestart awful to volunteer for . I was "encouraged" to do so by the Job Centre and they treated me like an employee. Wanted me there all the time!

Needmorelego · 01/08/2025 13:00

GwendolineGoesGreen · 31/07/2025 19:36

Nope. It’s about knowing your worth. Want my time and my skills? Pay me.

That's a bit of a sad way of thinking about it as so much in society wouldn't exist if people didn't volunteer for free.

tonybennscat · 01/08/2025 13:04

This is partly why I don’t feel like going back to digital volunteering in the county library service. I didn’t really feel welcome by the manager or some of the staff and I simply couldn’t commit to being there same time every week. I understood why they needed someone to do that but it wasn’t for me.

The garden volunteering has no such pressure and it’s a pleasure to be there.

Marmite27 · 01/08/2025 13:06

I’m a Brownie leader. An hour a week, my behind!

MsMartini · 01/08/2025 13:25

K1P1K1 · 01/08/2025 09:50

I'm jealous of all of these wholesome volunteering stories and roles. I have volunteered various times in the past, and so often I've been left fairly dejected at it all.

School reading, morphing into essentially an unpaid TA half a day a week for more than a year - chair of the PTA and another doing a similar role to me but longer serving given public thanks at Christmas, but not me. I don't need thanks in itself, but it's hard not to take stuff like that personally. I was eventually moved to a different class without being told just dropped on me when I turned up one day, which that teacher let just fizzle out. There are lots of potential reasons I do understand, but it shows I wasn't valued enough for someone to even chat to me about it.

A few hours a week in one of the offices of a big charity. I more than pulled my weight and my skillset made me a fairly valuable volunteer, head of dept made a point of telling me so etc. I went above and beyond for them. Then there was a restructure within a few departments and the nice manager left. New one asked me to come in an extra day to hand over something I had worked on, but then seemed annoyed I actually turned up. Then he just never arranged my next day, and by then I was not inclined to chase them as if they could do me a favour!

I help out after hoc with various stuff as it comes up still because that's just my nature, but I don't think my self esteem is tough enough for a more regular role again 😆 I'm really pleased to hear that it works out nicely for so many though.

Edited

I’ve heard similar stories before, what a shame. It is one reason id decided to volunteer for a large national museum with a big vol programme - we have managers, different roles, training (general and specialised) etc. it doesn’t rely on one person or one role. Not perfect but it generally works well. I also just sign up for the shifts I want to do. I may choose to do things that mean a greater commitment (supporting specific events as part of an established team for example), but it is up to me.

Kaftanesque · 01/08/2025 13:49

In the past I volunteered at an adult education centre helping adults with literacy problems. It was very rewarding. Helping them fill in forms,write letters and practice reading etc.Sadly now no longer running. Also used to help run a school library.
Now volunteer weekly at our local library. As you can tell reading and books are very important to me !

yellowcupofhappy · 01/08/2025 14:32

I have volunteered lots in the past, but also get fatigued from it so take a break to recharge

Minnie2012 · 01/08/2025 14:45

Such a lovely thread! I wouldn’t have the career I’ve had without volunteering, so always try to give back to a cause different to the field I’m working in.

I’m currently between trustee roles, although have stayed on in an advisory capacity in the charity where I’ve just completed my term. Anyone out there with any tips for getting into a new trustee role, by any chance?

bluegreygreen · 01/08/2025 15:23

fowyvyot · 31/07/2025 18:56

The sentiment of this thread as a place to thank others and to hear about their voluntary work is great and well done to everyone who is able to volunteer but I'm sorry OP but this is not ok:

I think there are so many people who do FA in terms of giving back and maybe we can encourage a few more people to get involved?

That is just not fair. Volunteering takes up a lot of time and energy which many people don't have. Perhaps they would like to do something but they are working long hours or bringing up a family or caring for elderly relatives.
Some people are struggling to make ends meet and having to take on extra shifts or doing two jobs just to stay afloat.

Often people are giving back to society by the nature of the work they do, through bringing up children and being unpaid carers.

I cannot volunteer because it's just not possible under my current circumstances and there will be plenty of others like me.
It's not ok to say "do FA". Please remember that being able to volunteer is coming from a place of privilege and not everyone is able to.

To finish on a more positive note, yes, it's amazing what volunteers do and how dedicated so many of them are and what they contribute to society.

Thank you @fowyvyot - I was struggling with how to respond to that sentence in the OP.

I have a huge appreciation of volunteers and the work they do.

I haven't been able to volunteer myself, due mainly to a busy NHS role which has now resulted in severe burnout. I know there will be many in busy jobs who are also volunteers, but that wasn't possible for me.

As you say, being able to volunteer is a privilege.

WinterRoad · 03/08/2025 16:07

Marmite27 · 01/08/2025 13:06

I’m a Brownie leader. An hour a week, my behind!

I'm not a leader. Just a volunteer and even I spend considerably more time than an hour a week. I have a car boot and garage full of Brownie stuff. Whenever I'm in a charity shop I have a look for anything that could be used in a meeting. It's all consuming.
I do love it though.

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