Anyone out there work with volunteers? Advice pls for volunteer

[Travellerintime]

I have recently started volunteering one day a week for an arts organisation. I've been a SAHM for 3 years and I'm really keen to return to work. I don't want to go back to my previous career but really want to return to working in the arts - something I last did 10 years ago.

So...I got this internship with an arts organisation. I've been there for my one day a week for about 5 weeks now, and I'm feeling very torn about whether it's working out. I do feel a bit taken advantage of. They were upfront about the internship not being very 'exciting', but I was happy to take it on, to get the chance of a reference, and contacts etc.

However I'm disappointed, because no-one really seems to be 'managing' my internship. I've worked with volunteers in previous jobs, and I've always tried to be clear about what they want to get out of it and what they will get in return. But nobody has discussed any of this with me - I don't even know who is my manager, and what, if anything I'll get out of it, and where it's going...

I'm wondering whether to take the bull by the horns and ask for some clarification of my role. Any advice, please? Anyone work with volunteers out there...?

Hi there, Well done for getting out there and volunteering. I used to manage volunteers and am suprised at your experience. When discussing the volunteer oportunity parameters should have been set for both you and your employer. Your role should be clear to you and so should the management structure of the organisation you are working with.

If I was managing you I would want you to have a chat with me! In order to get the most from this opportunity you need to be happy in it. Is there a colleague that you could perhaps have an informal chat with?

Good luck however you proceed.

Hi Linda
Thanks for your reply - it does confirm what I suspected, that good practice would be to set the parameters in advance. I will try and clarify things, I think - altho' hard to know with who, as I don't know who is managing who!
thanks