Who does any volunteering?

[coopedup]

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.

Much better off helping out at a soup kitchen

Many years ago I turned to phoning the Samaritans when I was literally at the end of my tether and found them very helpful, asked the right questions, gave the right subtle advise. I would happily offer my services to them having been at the other end of the spectrum.

[Hoofy]

anothernameitist said:

Hoofy said:

How much of an influence do you have? What have you done that has genuinely improved education standards of the pupils?

Just appointed 2 weeks ago, so not much, but there is an awful lot of scrunity goes on.

Keep us posted. (It's something I've considered for a while; just need to figure out how to get more time as I'm running two businesses and a charity.)

[Vaud]

anothernameitist said:

Vaud said:

Parent governor or non-parent governor?

Iam a parent of a child currently there

How are you finding it? I did it briefly (3 terms) as a non-parent and found it to be appalling. Parent governor interests went against the guidelines and they were only interested in decisions / investments that helped their children's interests (i.e. a 1-2 year timeframe) and were not interested in long term planning, despite the wishes of the Head. I resigned in the end.

Don't be that governor.

[Ayahuasca]

What no 4x4 response peeps?

[Janluke]

I'm an amputee and coach triathlon to other disabled folk including kids. Having been an amputee for over 20 years I also give sports/activity talks to new amputees.

My pal has just gone through the blood bike process here in Scotland and is enjoying it very much

[wildcat45]

clockworks said:

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.

You are a couple of years ahead of me. I've just finished Level 2.

I'm in the process of applying to work for the Royal British Legion as a voluntary case worker and I'm hoping to be able to work with a local victims' charity.

Good luck.

[Pulse]

Hoofy said:

toastybase said:

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

Wow. Didn't think they'd be quite at that point when calling you.

Whilst it's a (relatively) smaller statistic, that's exactly what scared me off as well. It would be heartbreaking.

I'm now just about to start something where there may be similar (but not as extreme) heartbreak - I'm going to be a mentor for someone aged 13-18 (not had my matching done yet). It's for a year, meeting up every week for 2-3 hours. Most of the time they've had hard times or are still in a bit of a rubbish place.

Before this I volunteered for a year in a primary school, helping with numeracy.

I plan to get out much more to volunteer, but for now, the mentoring will be enough of a challenge I think!

[anonymous-user]

markmullen said:

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.

As a fellow York resident, thank you

[clockworks]

wildcat45 said:

You are a couple of years ahead of me. I've just finished Level 2.

I'm in the process of applying to work for the Royal British Legion as a voluntary case worker and I'm hoping to be able to work with a local victims' charity.

Good luck.

If you get the chance, skip Level 3 and go straight to Level 4.
About half of our group went straight from 2 to 4.
The college I did Level 2 with didn't offer us the option, and Level 3 really wasn't any different to 2. Very similar criteria referencing and assignments, just more of them. Even the final exam was pretty much the same.

Level 4 is a lot more challenging, but that may be down to having much better tutors this year. They have a real passion for the subject, unlike the Further Ed people who seemed to just want us to pass the course and enrol on the next one. Our current tutors want us to be good counsellors. It can get very emotional, but it's also fun.

[Kinky]

Ayahuasca said:

What no 4x4 response peeps?

Part of what the lowland SAR teams do

[markmullen]

JPJPJP said:

As a fellow York resident, thank you

thanks very much.

[wildcat45]

clockworks said:

If you get the chance, skip Level 3 and go straight to Level 4.
About half of our group went straight from 2 to 4.
The college I did Level 2 with didn't offer us the option, and Level 3 really wasn't any different to 2. Very similar criteria referencing and assignments, just more of them. Even the final exam was pretty much the same.

Level 4 is a lot more challenging, but that may be down to having much better tutors this year. They have a real passion for the subject, unlike the Further Ed people who seemed to just want us to pass the course and enrol on the next one. Our current tutors want us to be good counsellors. It can get very emotional, but it's also fun.

Thanks for following he advice. I'll look at skipping to level four. I have a degree and post grad qualification - BA History and Politics and post grad in journalism law and public admin. Not sure if that would help.

I have been very lucky with my tutor. He was under a lot of pressure for us to pass but also very passionate about the subject.

Thanks again.


Dan.

[Fermit The Krog and Sarah Sexy]

Not me personally, but the best friend twice a month does a night for The Samaritans. He finds it extremely fulfilling for the soul.

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Princes Trust - Business & Specialist Mentor.

Great fun and really rewarding - even though it doesn't always turn out well. Some Young People simply go off the radar but the ones that start up & fly make it all worth while.

Privileged to be within spitting distance a few weeks back when a young bloke plucked up the courage, stuck his hand through the crowd & shook HRH's hand at a do saying "Thank You - The Trust saved my life". Unscripted. Uncalled for. Bloody Wonderful.

There were a few PT Staffers & volunteers taking a hard swallow & wondering at the dust in the air...

[kwaka jack]

I volunteer for the RNLI as lifeboat crew.

[soad]

"Never volunteer for anything. Soldier's basic rule". - Jack Reacher

[casbar]

Blood Biker here. We do have drivers who use their cars, but the rules have just changed that they now also need an advanced driving qualifications. We have controllers and also lots of help with fundraising

[Hoofy]

soad said:

"Never volunteer for anything. Soldier's basic rule". - Jack Reacher

Haha. Quite a cool film. His combat style was very un-Hollywood.

[Ranger 6]

Rally Marshal/Official. We're getting very short of 'new blood' coming into the sport which with the new safety requirements could affect events.

[LeftmostAardvark]

I'm heavily involved in a motorcycle-based organisation which started in USA and we've recently brought to the UK which empowers victims of child abuse. It takes a lot of time and effort but is very rewarding.