Who does any volunteering?

Who does any volunteering?

Author
Discussion

LaneDiesel

Original Poster:

170 posts

94 months

Thursday 23rd June 2016
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Hi guys,

Just wondering who does any volunteering and what they do?

I'm looking at doing something services related, and as such I am making enquiries with the regional volunteer blood bike group, however I have asked if there is any scope to allow non-riders to use a car instead.

I know there are thousands of different volunteer roles, and I'm curious what is out there.

mwstewart

7,587 posts

188 months

Thursday 23rd June 2016
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Good on you.

pherlopolus

2,088 posts

158 months

Thursday 23rd June 2016
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I have a co-volunteer at another charity who volunteers in the call centre for bloodbikes (i think), he's just bought at RT and is heading for advanced test so he can do deliveries too

I also used to have a neighbour who half owned a taxi company and they did organs and blood

eldar

21,711 posts

196 months

Thursday 23rd June 2016
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Spent the last 8 years checking out police custody suites. Fascinating in so many ways.

Hoofy

76,341 posts

282 months

Thursday 23rd June 2016
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I've been offering free tai chi and meditation classes to cancer patients for over 10 years.

Kinky

39,550 posts

269 months

Thursday 23rd June 2016
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Your local lowland Search and Rescue team are always looking for volunteers. Extremely rewarding and fulfilling.

If you tell me where you are, I can put you in touch with your local SAR team.

Athlon

5,011 posts

206 months

Thursday 23rd June 2016
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Vice chair of the local RNLI fundraising branch. I love every minute I spend doing the job!

Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

152 months

Thursday 23rd June 2016
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I have just started volunteering at a local hospice for children with life limiting conditions.

They are my company's nominated charity and their name is on my hill climb car - seems a good next step.

I haven't started yet and I am not totally sure I will be emotionally up to it. But I'll have a go!

I'm starting off doing gardening and maintenance for a couple of hours on a Saturday morning, and I will see if I feel up to befriending, I'm sure I will get on ok

Hoofy

76,341 posts

282 months

Thursday 23rd June 2016
quotequote all
Vocal Minority said:
I have just started volunteering at a local hospice for children with life limiting conditions.

They are my company's nominated charity and their name is on my hill climb car - seems a good next step.

I haven't started yet and I am not totally sure I will be emotionally up to it. But I'll have a go!
Mmm. It'll be tough.

markmullen

15,877 posts

234 months

Friday 24th June 2016
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I help run an independent lifeboat, am also the lead coxswain, procurement officer, swiftwater and flood rescue technician and search technician.

In the last 12 months I've done over 1000 hours for the charity. It's been exhausting but great fun and very rewarding. I've got a great crew who have become very close friends.

toastybase

2,225 posts

208 months

Friday 24th June 2016
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Was going to become one of those Samaritans on the end of the phone thinking it will help people. However after the first training session I was put off as you can't actually offer advice or help anyone. You just listen and ask very open ended questions.

Much better off helping out at a soup kitchen

Hoofy

76,341 posts

282 months

Friday 24th June 2016
quotequote all
toastybase said:
Was going to become one of those Samaritans on the end of the phone thinking it will help people. However after the first training session I was put off as you can't actually offer advice or help anyone. You just listen and ask very open ended questions.
Which is very helpful; depends what questions you can ask to help someone decide that suicide is the wrong choice.

Mothersruin

8,573 posts

99 months

Friday 24th June 2016
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Mountain Rescue here. Brecon

Absolutely love it. Working with inspiring people and I'm extremely proud of what we do.

toastybase

2,225 posts

208 months

Friday 24th June 2016
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Hoofy said:
Which is very helpful; depends what questions you can ask to help someone decide that suicide is the wrong choice.
Yes that is true. But if they were actually going to kill themselves on the phone you can't call them an ambulance or advise them to call.

I did give it a lot of thought as I agree that just talking to someone does help but I couldn't sit there knowing someone is on the other end of the phone bleeding to death and I can't go out and save their life

craig-A

520 posts

220 months

Friday 24th June 2016
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Volunteered at a local day centre for the elderly, specialising in early stage dementia care.
Very rewarding, met some amazing characters and overall a great experience that, work permitting, i hope to carry on.

C.

carreauchompeur

17,836 posts

204 months

Friday 24th June 2016
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I was a volunteer gardener at a large Leonard Cheshire home for the disabled for a couple of years. The previous whole team of volunteer gardeners had walked out a few months previously due to a disagreement.

An immensely frustrating experience. Whilst I absolutely adored working in the gardens and the appreciation from residents dealing with the staff was hugely frustrating. The gardens were about half an acre and a 6 mile bike ride from my house, and I was the only gardener. I reclaimed the huge gardens from the weeds and made them look amazing again. In addition to being a full time cop, some months I put in nearly 40hrs up there. It was kind of therapeutic too.

Despite constant pleas from me to them to find someone else to give me a hand I was met with utter apathy. The home staff were friendly but would drop fag butts everywhere as well as litter that I ended up having to pick up as I hated seeing it around. Also, nobody would have any sort of thought as to whether the garden needed attention when I wasn't there- Despite repeated requests they failed to water it one really hot week when I simply couldn't get there and all or my hard work nearly died in one fell swoop.

The final straw was when I popped in just before I went travelling. Without any form of consultation the front planters, which I'd had filled with hardy all year round plants, including some lovely little trees my mum had donated, had been completely ripped out and replaced with B+Q special flowers... Which would last about a month. They were already wilting through lack of water.

I walked out and never came back. Even now it makes me immensely sad to think about all of the hard work I put in completely going to waste. frown

Volunteering' such a rich experience. I've done loads while travelling. I just wish places would recognise its value. frown

98elise

26,498 posts

161 months

Friday 24th June 2016
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My Father does First Responder.

First Responders are sent to 999 ambulance calls to give first aid before the ambulance gets there. Obviously you have a small patch to cover as its meant to get someone on the scene in a couple of minutes when the ambulance might be 15 minutes away.

You simply sign in whenever you are avaiable, and wait for the pager/call to go off. Its interesting and rewarding work. He's probably saved a few lives.

Riley Blue

20,949 posts

226 months

Friday 24th June 2016
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I'm a lay member for various NHS projects, primarily reviewing service levels e.g. the 111 telephone service, complaints handling at hospitals, primary care procurement. I'm also chair of my sugery's patient participation group.

clockworks

5,353 posts

145 months

Friday 24th June 2016
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I've just finished the first year of a 2 year diploma course in Therapeutic Counselling. To qualify, I need to do at least 100 hours of voluntary counselling work with an accredited agency. Finding a suitable placement is proving to be difficult.

ApOrbital

9,959 posts

118 months

Friday 24th June 2016
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Does taking the dog out count?