Why did you leave a volunteering job?

[FedUpVolunteer]

I’ve been volunteering in charity shops for about eight years and have had a new manager about once a year on average. I’ve recently started to resent the constant changes and having to get used to a new person’s different take on the job. I’m aware this is a me problem - the things that irritate me are quite small - but at bottom I feel unappreciated.

So I’m wondering, why have other people left volunteering jobs?

Girl guiding; left because safeguarding practices weren't being adhered to (leaders totally drunk on trips), risk assessments were wholly inadequate and in our unit the leader and her cronies were often making snide comments about the kids and their families. Happy to be feted as community leaders but really mean people underneath.

Samaritans; 15 years, left broken hearted, because I couldn't unhear somethings and there is only so much you can absorb. Kind people though and a good organisation.

I quite fancy volunteering at a National Trust garden or food bank now, something practical.

Taken for granted and despite it not being a fundraising role, constantly hassled to get donations from my friends.

I looked into charity shop volunteering but the application process was so long and they wanted so much information, all sorts of references etc (which I get, they have to separate the wheat from the chaff) I just couldn't be arsed, for a role that was unpaid
Instead I joined the "Friends of" the local park, and started as a litter picker around the local area. There is a group of about 8 people who tidy up and pick up rubbish for 2 hours once a week, the great thing is that its flexible and you are not required to turn up every week 😀

Have you got friends or a GP who would give you references? I was surprised by that part for the volunteering job I do now particularly because I had an enhanced DBS at the time but I think a few charities have been involved in scandals and that's why they've tightened up.

I 'served my time' for 16 years as cycle club coach and running multiple DofE expeditions (both things I hold professional qualifications in), plus driving a minibus for youth club band and general helping out with the band chaperoning etc. This was while my kids were benefitting, plus a few years before and afterwards.

I got really fed up towards the end of other parents refusing to help even once for a couple of hours of 'simple' tasks such as being second adult in a minibus or going with kids to a concert, or collecting in DofE kit for an hour. So a combination of 'I have served my time' and frustration at so many parents taking but refusing to contribute.

Girlguiding - lots of reasons! Mainly that it was taking up not just an evening a week (fine) but hours of admin in between and it was getting harder to find volunteers- I just had a rota of helpers. This would have been ok but I had no support at all from the next layer up (who knew I was struggling) and all the other guide leaders in the area were very cliquey at area meetings and unwelcoming- despite all of them knowing I was on my own! All I got was reminders to do stuff (like annual very poor quality safeguarding training, despite being a teacher on SLT) and never a ‘do you need any help’ or a thank you. Without some other friendly adults it was lonely!!
The trans stuff was very worrying- being told that I’d have to let a boy who said he was a girl share a tent with girls - i couldn’t have done this (safeguarding!!) but luckily it didn’t arise. Knowing how much guides hq spent on their legal case was a kick in the teeth when I was giving up Saturdays to do fundraising events for them - I didn’t want it to go to that!!
it also annoyed me that they make a massive thing about being inclusive- every material has a token person from a disadvantaged group. Bit when we wanted to go to an event (for 1000s of people) and I checked that the food tent was wheel chair accessible they said it wasn’t but so wine would bring a tray to the girl! They couldn’t understand that a young girl might want to be with everyone else and not sit on her own with one adult!
When I emailed explaining (not mentioning the above)I was leaving I just got a list of things to do and no thanks at all for 8 years of hard work!!
Rant over!

I left one role because although it wasn't very demanding sometimes the what's app group would be busy. I could feel I was starting to get stressed with work and other roles so I served my term out and then stepped down. Absolutely no hard feelings on either side.

I do have an interest in volunteer management and threads like these really interest me.

I really enjoyed the volunteering I did but they were trying to make me other stuff as well because it was through the jobcentre. Like searching for jobs. Even though I said I wasn't well enough for a proper job yet. The woman who recruited me kept on badgering me and she was kind of scary. I ended up having a panic attack while speaking to her and then never went back!

1. Information desk at a well-known museum. Job should've been interesting and occasionally was, but the number one question we were asked was 'Where are the toilets?' and I found it really dull most of the time. Museum then decided to make it a paid role so I left;
2. Information desk at cathedral. My fellow volunteers were all retired and a nice bunch. I was mid-30s and got pregnant with my second DC, so I left when I had him and never went back.

I was a special constable for many years. At first it was actually enjoyable, doing things like attending carnivals, fairs, fetes, shows, open days, etc for traffic control, dealing with lost property/lost children, and the occasional medical situation - basically just "being there" to help when there are huge numbers of people about and "things" go wrong. We also did regular evening foot patrols dealing with minor crime, anti social behaviour etc. It was all very flexible - we could basically do whatever duties we wanted to do, when we wanted to do them. Sometimes, a carnival would have a dozen of us, other times it would just be a couple. At the end of the day, it didn't matter whether we did something or not, as if "something" happened then the regulars would have to deal with it if there weren't any specials, but generally, the regulars were happy to stand back and let us deal with basic things if there were some of us around, whether a drunken fight in a pub on a rainy Friday evening on foot patrol or someone fainting at the town's busy annual carnival on a sunny Summer Sunday.

Trouble started when we got a new senior special officer running our section. She wanted to "professionalise" it. Suddenly there was pressure on us that there always needed to be a couple of specials on foot patrol every evening and every weekend during the day - likewise, minimum numbers of specials attending carnivals, fetes, fairs, and other "big crowd" events. She basically wanted there always to be specials on duty so that specials could be "rota'd" in to duty planning alongside regulars. We started getting more and more phone calls "reminding" us we'd not done many hours that week and that we were "needed" for duty on Sunday! Started not taking "no" for an answer and insisting on us explaining why we weren't available! It all just caused lots of long standing specials to resign and left her with so few specials she struggled to cover events at all, let alone with the numbers she wanted. Such a shame as before that, we were quite a large group, usually organised attending/duties between ourselves - most of us had done the annual events many years running so we knew them inside out, we'd also made good contacts/friends with the regulars over the years, so we'd often do extra duties going out with regular traffic patrols, accident unit, dog van, etc when they'd otherwise be out solo, so they liked the company and an extra pair of hands. New officer stopped all that as it wasn't "quantifiable" to her if I did a night shift with the dog handler I knew!

If I'd have wanted "professionalism", I'd have joined the regulars myself. The people in charge of volunteers need to understand that most volunteers are doing it for personal enjoyment/satisfaction etc., and when that wanes, you don't see them for dust.

I now find it very sad that I can't remember the last time I saw a special at any of our local events - it must be many years. I always look out for them at any shows/events I attend, but usually no police presence at all these days.

One because I wasn't really being utilised. I was working also by then so didn't have loads of spare time.

School reading/ helping as the kids were getting older and brattier, in yr 3.

I volunteered on the playgroup committee and although I didn't quit I look back and wish I had when my suggestion was dismissed out of hand and then taken on but reframed as the chair of the committee's idea.

Mine was similar but yours is much more succinctly put!

If the next layer up won't rein in the ones who think they own the service, or are intent on takeover, it's dreadful for everyone else. Such a waste.

I used to volunteer in a hospital. One day I asked myself why I was putting up with things that I wouldn't have put up with when I was in paid employment. Examples are being shouted at by the receptionist for accepting a parcel from a courier, being constantly belittled by a fellow volunteer who thought he was my superior (he wasn't, and I gave as good as I got), rudeness from many of the staff. I now volunteer in a library and it's a bit solitary but a nice atmosphere.

No friends and GP will not provide references (or passport endorsements or anything like that). I haven't worked for many years due to ill health so no work ones either.

I do fully understand and appreciate the need for safeguarding and would gladly pay for a DBS check. But some of the stuff I've applied for is done from home and has no contact with anyone much, let alone vulnerable people. When you're applying for two hours a week writing online content for charity websites/eBay listings for charity shops from home and so on it seems a bit harsh that they won't even consider people without references.

Sounds like it was MI5 or something doesn't it?😂Civilian volunteer in a prison. She'd already been doing it for a while when they introduced the new security measures.

Most of these experiences mirror the problems in workplaces in general, which seem to have got worse and worse. If workplaces practised better management generally, they’d be less likely to put off volunteers.

Having to deal with grievances between paid employees which boiled down to personality issues, adult women doing professional jobs unable and unwilling to co-operate with each other. The same paid employees taking months to deal with referrals for people desperate for help, being unable to see the bigger picture that some help was better than none. The turnover for referrals could have been done in a few weeks, and in other national branches, was done within that timeframe. Realising that I was wasting my time ( volunteering while parenting DC and working full-time) as the paid employees would rather waste time and resources bickering amongst themselves ( including the manager) rather than getting the job done. I resigned for my own sanity.

It’s so often mismatched expectations - the volunteer manager wants to roster people for regular work and wants the same standards as paid employees. Ds worked for the NT for a while, and his boss was weeping when eg Barbara didn’t turn up for her day for some spurious reason or Malcolm wouldn’t come in when Susan was there etc etc.

However those volunteering want flexibility and the ability to “clock off” entirely when not there - because they are a volunteer !

I was a governor for years - sometimes it was interesting - doing Ofsted for example (and sacking a head 😬 ) but I never received one iota of thanks. I left another position because the other people were horrid . You ain’t payin’, then I ain’t stayin’…

Try your MP or local councillor.
What about a neighbour?
Distant family friend?
Vicar or faith leader?

They treated me badly, they made me feel left out , so l gave them my notice and left. Have not regretted it one bit.

I’ve done a number of different volunteer roles over the years, and for me it’s about ‘ what am I getting out of this?’ some bits of the role can be annoying, or boring, but you put up with it because you feel it’s a worthwhile cause, you’re learning something, you feel good for doing it or because there are bits that you enjoy.

My analogy is that if you volunteer at the riding stables you might have to shovel horse shit, but you also get the chance to ride the ponies. If all you’re doing is shovelling all day and no pony rides, then it’s time to move on.

I currently volunteer at a local stately home, which I love, there is no money but they do respect us and I feel valued, and (most of) the other volunteers are nice to be with. Reading with Year 1s, fun to do but I’m never sure that I’m making much difference. I left another volunteer role last year because I just wasn’t enjoying it, it was hugely demanding, and some of the other volunteers were rude.

It sounds as if it’s just time to move on, and find something that you enjoy more.

Charity shop Sue.. I gave up being a beaver leader, and school governor, after many years. I enjoyed them both but don't miss them

In the midst of quitting as a Scout treasurer because I’ve now done it for seven years and both DC have left Scouting. I reckon (we own a hall and I deal with hire) it takes about four or five hours out of my week. I work FT and have other better ways to use my free time!

My friend ran a singing group for pre schoolers at her local library. She left because of rude parents thinking she was paid and moaning at her for not being able to run the group in the school holidays due to caring for her own DC.

I left when users of the service became wholly entitled and did not respect that we were volunteers. It was utterly demoralising.