Volunteering

[Swampy1982]

Hi,

Please do not misread this thread as some kinda humble brag, it certainly isn't that.

I am in the position that for 3 nights a week I stay 100 miles or so away from my family in a hotel, and largely evenings are consumed by st TV and browsing youtube/pistonheads etc

Inspired by the "what do you earn" thread of people gaining fulfilment in different ways, I was considering investing my time into volunteering locally for one or two evenings a week.

I wondered if anyone has any experience in doing voluntary work, what you do, do you enjoy it, and if it is something you would recommend.

Equally, has anyone tried it, then backtracked quickly and realised it wasn't for them.

I would like to do the work with some kind of hospice, either for mental health or cancer sufferers, as this is where I have had help and support from within my family circle before. So if anyone has any particular experience in these area's i'd be interested in hearing about them.

Again, to re-iterate the point, this isnt some humble brag post, as I actually haven't done anything yet and I am in two minds about whether I will, I am looking to understand other experiences before I make the leap.

[Roofless Toothless]

I suppose a lot of volunteering goes on during the daytime, so night work might restrict your choices, but what about helping the elderly with shopping, travel, or social visiting? Of course you would need a DBS clearance, but it might be possible to volunteer for this kind of thing through organisation like Age Concern or Age UK.

I suppose my 10 years motor race marshalling was volunteering in a kind of self centred way, but there might be sporting organisations that could do with some help in the evenings.

Hospice work is pretty specialist and might need trained professionals more than volunteers, no matter how well intentioned.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I wouldn't do it if you paid me.

[Hoofy]

Just do it. Contact a local hospice or Macmillan Centre in a hospital and ask about volunteering roles.

I ran stress reduction classes for cancer patients in a Macmillan Centre in a London hospital for 10 years and now run the same classes independently (just from a viewpoint of convenience), raising money for a local hospice as well.

[Swampy1982]

Roofless Toothless said:

I suppose a lot of volunteering goes on during the daytime, so night work might restrict your choices, but what about helping the elderly with shopping, travel, or social visiting? Of course you would need a DBS clearance, but it might be possible to volunteer for this kind of thing through organisation like Age Concern or Age UK.

I suppose my 10 years motor race marshalling was volunteering in a kind of self centred way, but there might be sporting organisations that could do with some help in the evenings.

Hospice work is pretty specialist and might need trained professionals more than volunteers, no matter how well intentioned.

you make a good point about the hours, and the training that might be needed for some of the other roles, I will look into the Age Concern etc, good shout.

[Hoofy]

Swampy1982 said:

Roofless Toothless said:

I suppose a lot of volunteering goes on during the daytime, so night work might restrict your choices, but what about helping the elderly with shopping, travel, or social visiting? Of course you would need a DBS clearance, but it might be possible to volunteer for this kind of thing through organisation like Age Concern or Age UK.

I suppose my 10 years motor race marshalling was volunteering in a kind of self centred way, but there might be sporting organisations that could do with some help in the evenings.

Hospice work is pretty specialist and might need trained professionals more than volunteers, no matter how well intentioned.

you make a good point about the hours, and the training that might be needed for some of the other roles, I will look into the Age Concern etc, good shout.

If you volunteer with such an organisation, they will do the DBS thing for you.

[alorotom]

It’ll depend how long you’re in one place for. When I knew I was going to be working in Wakefield for 18mths and I would be there M-Th every week I volunteered with a local Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme as I used to be heavily involved in my home town when I did the award many years ago.

Before I started consultancy I also volunteered with the Samaritans for about 18mths but it really wasn’t for me at all and I’ll happily admit I couldn’t hack it

[coldel]

Done a few things, I volunteered as a maths assistant at a local school whilst I was between jobs just to keep myself active and out the house more than anything. Found it rewarding and actually got offered a teachers job off the back of it! And as above they paid for my DBS check although I only needed that for when I was working in a class room alone, if I had another adult in the room who was already qualified that was ok I didn't need it.

I have done other stuff like repairing common ground, clearing litter from the Thames etc but it didnt feel quite as rewarding as actually helping people more directly.

[Condi]

Swampy1982 said:

Hi,

I am in the position that for 3 nights a week I stay 100 miles or so away from my family in a hotel, and largely evenings are consumed by st TV and browsing youtube/pistonheads etc

And wking. So so much wking.

[e30m3Mark]

You can get self esteem by doing esteemable things.

It's nice to be nice and doing something selfless for another has its own rewards.

[coldel]

Condi said:

Swampy1982 said:

Hi,

I am in the position that for 3 nights a week I stay 100 miles or so away from my family in a hotel, and largely evenings are consumed by st TV and browsing youtube/pistonheads etc

And wking. So so much wking.

We all thought it, but didnt want to say it

[Hoofy]

coldel said:

Condi said:

Swampy1982 said:

Hi,

I am in the position that for 3 nights a week I stay 100 miles or so away from my family in a hotel, and largely evenings are consumed by st TV and browsing youtube/pistonheads etc

And wking. So so much wking.

We all thought it, but didnt want to say it

And then we all thought, "So that's the first 2 minutes covered."

[Writhing]

If you’re in the same town on the same nights, why not be an instructor at the local air/army/sea cadets?

[Riley Blue]

My local hospital and local hospice each has a page about volunteering on their websites. I'm sure that wherever you are, those locally would be very grateful for additional help in the evenings.

[warp9]

Writhing said:

If you’re in the same town on the same nights, why not be an instructor at the local air/army/sea cadets?

In the same vein, how about helping at a local cubs or scout group?

[waynedear]

I volunteered as a crewman on the lifeboat next door, it was ace

[Swampy1982]

Hoofy said:

coldel said:

Condi said:

Swampy1982 said:

Hi,

I am in the position that for 3 nights a week I stay 100 miles or so away from my family in a hotel, and largely evenings are consumed by st TV and browsing youtube/pistonheads etc

And wking. So so much wking.

We all thought it, but didnt want to say it

And then we all thought, "So that's the first 2 minutes covered."

Pistonheads - #wkingmatters.

[Swampy1982]

warp9 said:

Writhing said:

If you’re in the same town on the same nights, why not be an instructor at the local air/army/sea cadets?

In the same vein, how about helping at a local cubs or scout group?

Hadn't considered this two, will look into them

[Gareth79]

Is the situation going to be long-term? I imagine many places where you'd require training/paperwork might not be interested unless they know you'll be doing it regularly for a few years?

[Swampy1982]

Yes, will be in the same place for the next 12-18 months.