Driven nuts by D of E voluntary work requirement

[Davespecifico]

DD is starting Bronze D of E. It isn’t optional in her school, but she (I ) am responsible for finding her voluntary work. She is13 and exceptionally shy.
She helped at Rainbows but had to stop after a week as she was too shy to interact with staff and children and she wasn’t directed with tasks, as I’d suggested to the leader she should be. We have been approved to do charity dog walking but here’s no dog in our area yet.
I have rung and emailed multiple organisations, each time offering to work alongside her because of her age. Every time, I’m told we can’t take her: she’s too young. These include organisations who advertise their involvement with D of E.
I spoke to the school d of e coordinators and they looked at me as if I was a bit mad to imagine they might be able to help me find something.
So what am I going to do? What can a shy 13 year old do that an organisation has the insurance to allow? Thanks

I find it hard to believe she was given no direction whatsoever at the rainbows meeting, but ok. Quitting after a week seems extreme.

What about something like litter picking in the community or on a National Trust / Wildlife Trust / local variant thereof type environmental project? E.g. Tree planting or clearing ditches or whatever? Something where families sign up?

the most common thing to do at my dd's school was to volunteer in a charity shop. they give direction and the dc usually end up working in the back organising clothes. if she doesn't feel confident working on the till then she just has to say when they offer to train her x

Unfortunately it's nit their problem that she is so shy. Any chance she could go back to rainbows?

We live rural and my ds is volunteering for the parish council. Litter picking, sweeping the bus stops, cleaning the community benches, street signs etc. There insurance covers as I go with him to supervise. Could she do something like that?

Missing Maps!

Could she volunteer in the school? I'm in education and that's how we fulfill the requirement for our shyer students.

It massively goes against the ethos of DofE to make it compulsory. The school should provide decent support.

I would take issue with both those factors.

Sorry, can't link. Google missing maps duke of Edinburgh

It's an online mapping system

parkrun
To Marshall or tail walk she needs an adult to go with her so you can do it too.

My 1st DD was a reading buddy in her school.
DD2 is about to start and she’ll be going to parkrun.

Charity shops take DofE volunteers, they often work in the back rooms sorting donations. DS is painfully shy and he did his in a church cafe, it did him the world of good.

Poor kid! The fact she’s struggling won’t help with her confidence. I can’t believe school won’t help, it’s ridiculous. I would maybe try and approach something that you could volunteer at together, could she do something like go into a nursery and read to little kids 3/4 year olds?

Something to do with ParkRun? Maybe as photographer or setting up or something?
Is there a local community cafe that could use someone to wash up?
Or school homework club she could help out with?
-run library where she could put the books away?

All of the above are things local 13 year olds are doing.

What are her mates doing?

13? I thought Dof E started at aged 16?

Do you have an elderly neighbour she could go and ‘help’ or keep company for an hour a week? A few of my students did that when I was a DofE group leader so it might be an option? Litter picking is a good one too, as she won’t need to talk to anyone!

It’s a shame she only gave Rainbows a week, we have a Yr 10 who volunteers with us for her DofE (and in between them!) and the girls adore her.

Itsa shame she stopped rainbows! The whole point of d of e is to stretch yourself.

Personally i would email the actual D of E people, tell them what you have done and the schools reluctance.
They shouldn't be running a scheme if they wont help the kids.

My daughter (also 13 and shy) has just finished her voluntary work in the local library - a small amount of interaction with customers and other staff, but mainly shelving, photocopying, preparing displays etc - she really enjoyed it and is sad to have finished!

DS volunteered in the local library and he spent most of his time sorting and re-shelving books in the children's section. Something like that might suit her if she is shy? (no interaction with anyone other than saying hello and finding out what she needs to do, involved!)

Park run has loads of volunteer roles she could help with. You could volunteet with her also which could help with her shyness to start with.

Personally i would email the actual D of E people, tell them what you have done and the schools reluctance

Why? What are the school supposed to do? D of e isn't supposed to be spoon fed, that's the whole point!

She should have had support from you to stay doing what she's doing.

She does have 2 years?? To complete it so could leave the volunteering until she's older.

I'd really struggle with a 13yo being forced to do D of E. Is this common?

When they are so young it effectively requires parental involvement which is extremely unfair and not possible for everyone depending on job and sibling ages.

It sounds traumatic and personally I would tell school that currently it is turning out to be damaging to your DC confidence. Suggest either school sort something she can do with them or she withdraws.

Surely the value of D of E is completely downgraded under these circumstances?

Does she have any hobbies? Ds is volunteering at his judo club helping on the mat for little kids.

13 is fairly young to be starting Bronze D of E. Most kids here are at least 14 when they start.

Age is going to be an issue. Ordinarily I'd suggest contacting some of hte big charity shops and getting her in steaming clothes or sorting books. But most of the big chains say volunteers have to be at least 14. Other friends' children have volunteered in the school library or helped at a food bank, but again, at ages over 14.