anybody do any voluntary work?

[katierocket]

I'm thinking of signing up for the readibility scheme - go into primary school once/twice a week and help individual children with their reading (www.timebank.co.uk).

Would be interested in what other sorts of volunteer work mumsnetters do. why did you choose to do what you do?

I was a mentor for a young offender for a year - run by our local Youth offending Team. I stopped because for the birth of ds3 but may well go back to it - I ll tell anyone more if they are interested.

Also school governor and am hoping to become a JP

bet the teachers are really plesed to have soeone to help out when there is an unusual event B

I belong to the PTA of my ds's nursery (actually chairwoman of this) and school and do fundraising, social events etc. I have just been "polie checked" so will be helping in class as required.

I too go in to school to listen to readers one-to-one. I love it. I find it very satisfying and worthwhile, and I feel appreciated by the children and the staff.

Also, as Batters says, it gives me an 'inside track' on school and what's going on there.

roisin - do you have any experience in teaching or similar - did you just arrange it direct with the school?

I go into my childrens' school on my day off (Tuesday mornings) to work with the Key Stage I age group - Years 1 / 2.

The teachers send out about 6 children from each class and I spend time with them doing stuff like junk modelling, sand and water play, painting, role-play, construction toys etc etc.

It's great fun and I really enjoy it.

I help out one morning a week at DS's school and am on the PTA. It is very rewarding (particularly helping at the school) though I will have to give up soon being 27 weeks pregnant. The school are always really grateful for any help and you get to know what goes on. A great experience and I wish I could continue once the baby is born but they are not insured to have babies on site.

Katierocket - it's my dss' school, and so arranged it direct with them, (they send a letter out asking for help every year). Most schools would be thrilled for offers for volunteer help, and you could arrange it direct.

I don't have any teaching experience, other than what I've done with my sons, but am thinking about doing ELS or similar in the future.

At our school anyone who is not a parent/close relative of a child in school would have to be police-checked to do this, even though you are always closely supervised by staff. This may well be standard child-protection policy in all schools.

(Do you have school-age children?)

I have one DS who is 2.5 so no relationship with any particular school. The govt have launched this national scheme where you are matched with a nearby school so i could do it that way I guess.

At our school, they insist EVERYONE is police-checked, including parents of children attending school.

same at ours.

I want to get some volunteers to work with my son. We're paying someone with experience to work with him one day a week, butI would like more input during school holidays but can't afford to pay anymore. Does anyone know how I would go about gtting volunteers? I will try psychology, SALT and OT students, but wondered whether there's anywhere else. No reason why it has to be students and older people may be more reliable.

Any ideas?

I help out at a youth drop-in centre (alternative to the pub/streets for teenagers in the evenings). I got involved because its run by my church, so I heard about it and could see the need.

Jimjams do the volunteers need any particular skill? You could try the older Duke of Edinburgh people if not. Or ask local churches. Or is there a volunteer bureau in your area (ask your council)?

Have worked for the local national childbirth trust for nearly 9 years. Many many hours of unpaid labour!

I'm a La Leche League peer counsellor, it involves setting up and running a support and contact group in our local area, encouraging businesses and premises to be more breastfeeding friendly, setting up local baby feeding rooms etc. I find it really fullfilling as I blithely went into breastfeeding with my first truly believing it would be 'easy as it's natural' (duh! ), and soon found the lack of support and facilities astounding.
I'm also quite heavily involved in my local 'Surestart', and on the steering group. I run some craft classes for them too , it's fun!

I run parenting courses for new mums. It's mostly just ringing up the mums and speakers, booking the venue and making sure the video works properly. While they are there I make cups of tea, hold crying babies (not simultaneously)and make sure everyone has someone to talk to. I started doing it because I was asked to and because another nice mum had been asked and I fancied having a friend. It's not much work and it's amazing how quickly you can sort it when you are not dealing with workplace politics.

jimjams - have you tired CVS?

bobthebaby that sounds interesting - how did you get into that?

In NZ we have a society called Plunket - which runs the HVs, hires out car seats and generally supports families with pre school children. They vary massively in what each one does but my local one has a big committee who fundraise and run stuff. I went on one of the courses when ds was 4 months and the lady who did it was pg, so I took over for the next one.

that sounds interesting too issymum although i do remember one your previous threads and how much work you do for them! how would I go about approaching a charity? I assumed that they would be looking for people with tons of experience.

I do a primary school reading visit once a week as well, at lunchtime, and brilliantly I can combine it with working full time. I come back to the office with a shot of "real life" energy that really helps me too.

The company I work for set it up in partnership with the local council.

I try and 'get involved' in what my kids are doing - this mainly seems to be ds at the moment as the things that dd takes part in do not require volunteers (swimming, ballet and brownies). This is mainly committee type stuff, I am currently on the committee for his rugby club and cricket club sections and have helped/am helping them gain their Sport England accreditations. I do stuff like order kit, do minutes, help with registrations, etc. I got involved as the clubs had a recruitment drive and I was asked to join the committee by another volunteer. I would love to be more involved in their school but, unfortunately, I work full time so my volunteer time is limited to evenings and weekends.