Do you volunteer? Then join in here...

[Helium]

Hello fellow volunteers!

I love Mumsnet and find the support and advice on here invaluable (and at time priceless!!). I think it would be really great if we could have a Volunteers thread (or even better a whole topic??!?!??!) to discuss issues to do with volunteering, share experience etc.

Who else volunteers?

Let's start by saying what we do (keeping it general if necessary!).

I'll start:

I head up a residents association and also work for blind people. In the past I've written and produced a newsletter for a local charity.

Have I posted in the wrong place?? - I cant believe I'm the only one who volunteers!!

Do you mean charity work or helping out at school/nursery? I do both.

I'm in the PTA and Chair Of Governors.

This is definately classed as volunteering.

I do too!
at a hospice

think this is a great idea for a thread but I no longer really qualify as I just got a job where I was volunteering! I volunteered in the education arm of a charity which exists to maintain a parkland which used to belong to a country house (which is now a state boarding school). When I volunteered I was involved in marketing activities and getting stuff ready for visiting school groups and holiday activities. Now I am going to be leading the school groups.
I also hear reading at the kids school.

Does becoming a guider and assisting at rainbow and brownie meetings count?

I have just started volunteering at school. Just one morning a week to start with. Hoping to go back to work and not having much luck with finding a job. Have previous experience and qualification in childcare but been out of it for a long time so hoping volunteer work will open some doors for me to get back to work.

I work on a volutary basis at my dd's school. I run the KS2 choir on a weekly basis.

OOh - all interesting stuff.

HellBent - I mean any type of unpaid type work where you are helping others really...

I'm curious about why people volunteer and what inspires you to give up your free time to do it? I'm trying to recruit people for a couple of volunteer things I'm involved with. I've tried various advertising type projects - posters etc - but think that maybe I'm missing out on people because I'm not appealing to what motivates them...??

Also any tips from anyone on volunteer resources, places to get grants/sponsorship / websites that are good, support and the odd whinge about volunteering of course!!

When I started I just responded to something on the charities general publicity but I know there is a local organization for volunteers that refers people, maybe your project could register with something similar in your area. When I started I wanted to get out of the house but wasn't ready to go back to work as my son was only at pre school 2.5 hours a day so needed to fit round that, also needed to be around if the other kids were sick so it was less of a commitment than paid work.

I take the choir, because my dd has just started in Reception in the school.

I am passionate about children receiving good quality singing teaching. I want my dd to go to a school where music and singing in particular are important and valued. I know that none of the staff are as qualified as I am at teaching singing so I'm happy to support the musical development of both staff and pupils by providing high quality music education without the school having to pay for it.

I have asked for a teacher to work alongside me with the choir whenever possible so that they can grow in confidence and experience which will benefit the school at things like assemblies etc. when I can't attend due to my own work committments.

When I have volunteered in the past (with various organisations), my motivation has always been the desire to "repay" in some way the good fortune I feel I have, and to use the skills others have helped me to develop in a way which in turn, helps others.

I've had a load of emotionally bruising experiences volunteering (PTA, preschool comtee) -- that's what puts me off.
The wretched politix!
Am now on comtee related 2 Guides & U would not believe the RUDE notes that one of the Pack Leaders leaves 4 everyone else, publically avail. 4 all 2 read.
Luckily every1 else (in Guides leadership) is Nice & agrees that the Notes are Harsh.

I'm a volunteer with Guiding too. I still can't believe how many people think we get paid to be in a unit.

Im a hjomestart volunteer at the moment but have previously volunteered with NSPCC and local youth offending teams

Im just starting to volunteer in a youth advice setting. I would volunteer for Homestart if I had the time as it really interests me.

I fully envisage helpoing out with beavers etc over the coming years!

I'm involved with a several "steering group" type things - I really enjoy being on a board and it gives me a lot of variety of things to think about and learn about. I enjoy it a lot particularly as I don't do any management in my job now (self-employed) and that's something I really miss about work pre-children when I used to have to manage teams. I just enjoy it a lot! I'm on four "boards" at the moment.

I listen to children reading at DS's school and am on DD's pre-school committee. I do it because I have some spare time and know that what I do does make a difference (however small). Also have friends on the preschool committee and it is nice to spend time with them.

i'm a telephone counsellor at childline.... it's brilliant!

I'm a trustee on a charity board - my motivation for doing so is that it is an amazing charity that offers amazing support for women and children that is delivered by remarkable women.

I also used to manage a volunteer team and used to find this resource v useful.

I am a cub scout leader. Done 18 years this year . And I'm only 22 [laughing so hard emoticon]

Volunteer Committee member for toddler group. Previously on the board of an arts organisation and a disability charity.
I have worked in the voluntary sector recruiting volunteers so if you want to CAT me, I can answer any volunteering questions you may have.

I'm a team leader for a talking newspaper for visually impaired people. It was advertised at work and I thought it sounded like a fairly painless way to put a little back into the world, and I like reading out loud. Unfortunately, unlike when reading to DD, I'm not allowed to Do The Voices.

I'm also a governor at DD's school, because I wanted to put something into the school while she's there, but my working hours don't allow me to help in class and I'm far too anti-social and grumpy for the PTA.

I volunteer as a breastfeeding peer supporter at a childrens centre. why- because I wanted to give something back after all the support I had from there when DS was tiny.
I'm also on teh preschool committee- wanted to get involved.
I used to be regular conservation work volunteer because I like doing practical useful stuff out doors.

Ooooo, good thread.

I'm a volunteer for local independent visitor scheme, befriending children in care (1to1) and taking them out to do lots of fun things!!

Except my young person doesn't want to carry on with the scheme, so have to wait a while to be paired up again

I do it because I realise how lucky my DS is in life - I'm a lone parent, little money etc, but I know he has a fab time. Wanted to be in another childs life, offering a little bit of fun to them as well. If that makes sense...!!

Also at college, going to uni next year to do Social work, so the experience & skill I learn will be useful.

I want to join HomeStart as well, as I have a few hours a week to spare.

I was talking to one of the girls on my college course a few weeks ago and I said that I was going voluteering that night, and she asked "Why?" with a type face.

My reply - "Well, why wouldn't anyone want to help others less fortunate than us?" I was baffled...!