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.

Lastorders - the befriending scheme sounds fantastic. How did you hear about it? Is it Nationwide?

LastOrders - some Homestarts offer their volunteer training programme as an accredited course which might be useful in supporting your social work course.

I do for various things. Why, because I can't say no/my skills make a difference to a worthwhile project going ahead of failing/I don't like local Guiding units closing or the DC is retiring and no-one else is prepared to organise/to give something back to the fabulous 18 odd years I had in Guiding or Sunday School and because I believe that all our gifts are given to us for us to use and it would be wrong not to.

I think that if I wasn't Christian/hadn't been brought up Christian I might not have that ethos and feel the need to give something back because there are so many times that I've wanted to give up but have persevered, so I have no ideas on recruiting/retaining volunteers!

chacha - I'll look into that, thanks. I'm going to give them a callin the week.

The befriending is supported by our council, but I know that many areas do it.

It's really good fun. Need to see the young person at least once a fortnight, with contact in between, and must be dedicated for 2 years.

I found out about it on the do-it volunteering website.

I find doing things for others so worthwhile and rewarding. My DS is spending christmas at his dads this year, so I'm looking for some volunteering work in some homeless shelters, but I can't find anything anywhere Have emailed a nightshelter but no answer

Hi Lastorders, if you contact your local volunteer centre, they should be able to set you up with some volunteering work for xmas day.

I currently organise family events for the families of the place where my DH works. DH is often away and uncontactable for months at a time so the events are a lifeline to people.

I am also a volunteer with a group that organises large scale events for Forces families with a deployed partner.

Why? I started doing the first thing because it pained me that money was available to do this, and no-one was spending it. Now I do it for pleasure, and because my kids really enjoy the events that I organise.

The second one I joined in on because I felt that it was being very badly run, and I believe that you can't complain if you're not prepared to try and help to make it better. I'm nothing if not trying.

As with a lot of things that I do, I firmly believe in karma, and I hope that if I do things for others, then sometimes people will do things for me.

I currently organise family events for the families of the place where my DH works. DH is often away and uncontactable for months at a time so the events are a lifeline to people.

I am also a volunteer with a group that organises large scale events for Forces families with a deployed partner.

Why? I started doing the first thing because it pained me that money was available to do this, and no-one was spending it. Now I do it for pleasure, and because my kids really enjoy the events that I organise.

The second one I joined in on because I felt that it was being very badly run, and I believe that you can't complain if you're not prepared to try and help to make it better. I'm nothing if not trying.

As with a lot of things that I do, I firmly believe in karma, and I hope that if I do things for others, then sometimes people will do things for me.

I work one day a week at a not for profit organisation that lends small amounts to low income families at low rates of interest.

I am one of the credit officers and assess the loans. I used to work in the City and it is nice to give a bit back.

FourArms - the karma thing has been brought up in many a conversation I've had with people!

I like to think that if I ever find myself in need of support and help that someone will be there for me and my DS.

I work for a couple national community groups in particular organising a national convention some years - had a meeting all afternoon today. I've got a huge amount out of it and met an enormous range of fascinating people. I'm currently trying to create some structures to make it easier for future years to organise the event so each year's team doesn't have to reinvent the wheel each time. And be able to access sources of funding more easily.

At the moment we're trying to create some sort of legal entity for ourselves (after 25 years of just being a bunch of people) and possibly become a charity as well, but only one of us is a lawyer (too busy to spend much time on this) and we're rather drowning in technicalities. Anyone know where we could get advice?

notcitrus - have a look on teh charity commission website - they've got really clear guidance re: legalities. Its not that difficult to do.

Vol Resource is an excellent reference - have linked you to a checklist re: starting up.

Abetadad, that sounds fab

The befriending scheme sounds really good too, am going to look into that

I currently volunteer as a breastfeeding peer supporter but have just started being paid for that so can't really claim it anymore!

Lastorders

Im in college doing an Access course with the intention of doing a Social work degree next year. My volunteering work will give me useful experience for my personal statement plus I get to use my skills for the benefit of Young people. I only wish I could get some childcare funding for the day I work as I have to use my only complete study day to do it.

On our course about half the students volunteer in one way or another which is absolutely fab.

onadietcokebreak - the voluteering work is an added bonus on PersStat. Have you done yours yet? I'm struggling so much!! Loads to put in, tricky trying to condense it, can't word the beginning in a way to draw them in!!!

Can't wait to do degree though.

Lastorders Almost finished mine. Its really hard to condense it and still make sense. The uni I am going to have made it clear that they are looking for some relevant experience of at least 3mths. Mine starts in Jan but have done the training! Hope its enough to get me in for an interview.

I am chairman of a comittee as DS school

BUT my exciting news on the volunteering front is that we have just been chosen to look after and train a "guide dog for the blind" PUPPY from a little 6 week old puppy until it is about 14 months old

We are soooooooooo deffo excited

chacha many thanks - that looks a lot clearer than the NCVO site (which now seems to be revamped and improved).

Good thread - I am a volunteer befriender with an asylum seeker. I've been doing it for about 4 years, and although the project is officially finished, we've carried on seeing each other.

I'm also an extra pair of hands at scouts - I've got a disclosure with them, and although I can't commit to going every week, I go when they're short and I go to camps and cook etc.

Notcitrus, have you looked at the OSCR site? It's Scottish, but it has good information about setting up a charity.

I volunteer with Homestart and i love it. I remember just how crap the baby/toddler years can be so anything to help mums struggling has got be be a good thing.

I also help with reading at school.

Same as controlfreak - I am a childliner. I started a thread ages ago will go and find it and link.

heres the thread I started

im a special constable, volunteer about a shift per week,(though ill have to give it up when i get a start date for the regulars - got into a neighbouring force - it will be nice to get paid!)

Im a governoer - approaching the EIGHth year of it witt ennui tbh,
am also a mag.( 5 years) still love that

i dont volunteer to type anywhere.

Thank goodness Juan . It doesn't seem to be a particular skill of yours.