Volunteering.

[standardpostage]

After being in retirement for a few years.
I have decided to volunteer in a community cafe. (Reduced price food and drinks).
Learning new skills, cooking, serving, taking meal orders, cleaning, using EPOS tills.
Meeting lots of new volunteers (all age groups) and customers.
Quite enjoying myself. Just 2 days a week.
Recommended 
Any one here volunteering ?

[ulstersubbie]

I tried it once many years ago, but the organization I was with took the piss, and a lot of the other volunteers weren't pulling their weight. I'd recommend it if you find the right outfit and you work alongside decent people.

[Billy no mates]

Yeah I did some a few years back, but left the organisation when I felt they were not really working in the spirit of their mission statement.

After some dubious helping out, I was asked to help an old lady move, pack boxes load onto rented vans that kinda thing, when I turned up with two others, the place she was selling was easily worth £1.5m, and she could easily have afforded the cost of removal men, so I fucked off.

I’ve done reading to kids in the library, but that all sort of stopped with covid and I don’t think it’s restarted since.

[Marmalade]

Yep. Good soul-building stuff in its right place.

[standardpostage]

I tried it once many years ago, but the organization I was with took the piss, and a lot of the other volunteers weren't pulling their weight. I'd recommend it if you find the right outfit and you work alongside decent people.

So far, people and company / organisation / charity appear OK 

[standardpostage]

Yeah I did some a few years back, but left the organisation when I felt they were not really working in the spirit of their mission statement.

After some dubious helping out, I was asked to help an old lady move, pack boxes load onto rented vans that kinda thing, when I turned up with two others, the place she was selling was easily worth £1.5m, and she could easily have afforded the cost of removal men, so I fucked off.

I’ve done reading to kids in the library, but that all sort of stopped with covid and I don’t think it’s restarted since.

Have to agree, some charity's do have a very bad reputation 

[Jonestown]

Ive tried a several  times, once at Oxfam, once at a local hospice charity shop and once at amnesty international bookshop and the application security and criminal record checks daunted me all three times,

[standardpostage]

Ive tried a several  times, once at Oxfam, once at a local hospice charity shop and once at amnesty international bookshop and the application security and criminal record checks daunted me all three times,

I can understand you being put off by the CRB etc checks. They don't make it easy. Especially if you have to pay for all these checks yourself.

Oddly I've not had to go through that process myself. I don't know why ? But I'm not complaining.

PS. CRB Criminal Records Bureau now called DBS Disclosure and Barring Service.

[RedKettle]

I can understand you being put off by the CRB etc checks. They don't make it easy. Especially if you have to pay for all these checks yourself.

Oddly I've not had to go through that process myself. I don't know why ? But I'm not complaining.

PS. CRB Criminal Records Bureau now called DBS Disclosure and Barring Service.

Yep I have to do them for my volunteering - no biggie once you get used to it.  They pay for it in the case of the charity I help.

[DastardlyDick]

Ive tried a several  times, once at Oxfam, once at a local hospice charity shop and once at amnesty international bookshop and the application security and criminal record checks daunted me all three times,

It's all part of our "safeguarding" Laws - anyone who might come into contact with a "vulnerable person", which is basically anyone under 18, has to have DBS checks done. The big concern is Child Sexual Exploitation, especially after the well known cases in Bradford a few years ago.

[JontyR]

It's all part of our "safeguarding" Laws - anyone who might come into contact with a "vulnerable person", which is basically anyone under 18, has to have DBS checks done. The big concern is Child Sexual Exploitation, especially after the well known cases in Bradford a few years ago.

CRB and DBS checks have been around for 20 years or so. The need for them was really brought home with the Ian Huntley case where a man who had been reported to police for numerous sexual offences including those with girls underneath the age of consent was able to get a job as a caretaker at a school.

Anyway, on a more wholesome note, volunteering can be immensely worthwhile for all concerned. Whilst not the primary motive for getting involved the outcomes from some of the work that I've been involved with has made a difference have been amongst some of the things of which I am most proud. 

It is worth checking with your employers as a lot have volunteering leave where you can get a couple of days off paid if you match it with your own leave.

I'd also say, don't feel that you have to join an existing scheme. If you have spotted something that needs to be done in your area then create a scheme where others can help. There are plenty of bodies which offer help and support.

[webpunter]

Any scope for meeting yummie milfs [who want to put some bollox on their twat profiles] ?
Or are such sets ups filled with older uns ? 

[hairdownthere]

I volunteer at a food bank and a midnight homeless support unit. 

There are some right desperate people out there, and some right piss takers.  We've had to ban quite a lot of people from the food bank. 

One woman in particular first appeared really in need so was set up in the programme, and sent away with a big parcel of food.  Same again the next week, and the next.  Then the week after she parked her 71 plate SUV right outside, barked orders at us that she was in a hurry to get to the airport.  She punched one of my fellow volunteers because we were busy helping other people. 

She ended up getting done and is awaiting a court date, my colleague had her jaw broken and is still undergoing treatment almost a year later.

The midnight support unit is another kettle of fish, so many really desperate people needing patched up from fighting, or falling when out of their faces, so many young women and men again needing patched up after being beaten by whoever is controlling them - who often wait outside.  Police aren't interested though.

Volunteering is good for the soul, to give a little back, but can be heart-wrenching. 

[hairdownthere]

Any scope for meeting yummie milfs [who want to put some bollox on their twat profiles] ?
Or are such sets ups filled with older uns ?

Volunteers who help in the places I volunteer range from 18 to 80, I'm there to help, not perv

[akauya]

Recommended 
Any one here volunteering ?

I've been volunteering for the last 30 years I think. With local communities, charities and other non-profit organisations. It's the most rewarding and satisfying thing I have done and still do to this day. The upsides, apart from helping your local community, is you get to meet people from all walks of life, especially the ones that you wouldn't normally meet as they are outside your own social circle.

My life has been greatly enriched by volunteering. The only downside is that once you get to be known as a "reliable and trustworthy" person and if you have certain skills you are bombarded with requests for help. Couple that if you are a person who can't say "no" when people ask for help you get to have very little time for yourself to wind down. Mrs A had to have a few words with me as I was way too busy out there so I had to cut volunteering down. I'm involved with only two organisations now. I have a few more years before I retire, I might increase my volunteering once I retire because I really enjoy it.

I'm particularly proud of one local non-profit organisation I helped to build from the ground up to become a multi-award winning organisation (of course can't disclose which type of org. etc.) To be recognised nationally by your peers for years of hard work is something amazing (apologies for the boasting.)

I always lived by what my grandfather said to me when I was a kid. You are born with nothing, the only worthy thing given to you is your name. When you die the only thing you take with you is your name. Make sure you make your name proud.

I never really enjoyed my paid work much, so volunteering has kept me sane and, I hope, helped me make my name 'proud.'

[standardpostage]

Well done Mr akauya 

[FLYING BLUE]

There was a HUGE hole in my life when I retired - gone from (quite literally) flying around the globe to sitting at home, alone - and the days are long.

I do have other interests in my life, I'm still in a Rock Band in my 60's but really needed to do something more with my life.

I volunteer for a charity, joined the unpaid committee of a 'Society' & work with children (after completing all the required checks) - I don't volunteer to gain kudos or be thought philanthropic, I do it for me, for my peace of mind & sanity.
FC

[Jonestown]

I have to admit it did cross my mind that if I was an old fashioned NoW / The People /DM / Sun muck raking reporter my nose would be twitching at this thread, leading me to doing some cross checking with member reviews, other UKP posts, and local charity files and then banging on the editor's door claiming to have uncovered a shameful secret life of charity hero scandal.


Only joking, honest, I won't tell.

[FLYING BLUE]

I have to admit it did cross my mind that if I was an old fashioned NoW / The People /DM / Sun muck raking reporter my nose would be twitching at this thread, leading me to doing some cross checking with member reviews, other UKP posts, and local charity files and then banging on the editor's door claiming to have uncovered a shameful secret life of charity hero scandal.


Only joking, honest, I won't tell.

I'm sure there's a degree of truth to this - fairly certain our true identities cannot be uncovered though? - perhaps someone here less naive than I am could comment?

[standardpostage]

There was a HUGE hole in my life when I retired - gone from (quite literally) flying around the globe to sitting at home, alone - and the days are long.

I do have other interests in my life, I'm still in a Rock Band in my 60's but really needed to do something more with my life.

I volunteer for a charity, joined the unpaid committee of a 'Society' & work with children (after completing all the required checks) - I don't volunteer to gain kudos or be thought philanthropic, I do it for me, for my peace of mind & sanity.
FC

Well done 

[Marmalade]

I'm sure there's a degree of truth to this - fairly certain our true identities cannot be uncovered though? - perhaps someone here less naive than I am could comment?

Yes. It happened with a disgruntled tech-savvy prossie. Blanketed the internet with fake feeds claiming to be by him, traced his wife, his work, poor fucker. Innocent member and contributor, made some joke she didn’t like and she mounted a pretty serious campaign against him. All UKP history before the present management. Just don’t put too much (or ANY) personal info in posts that could be used to build up an I.D.

[standardpostage]

I have to admit it did cross my mind that if I was an old fashioned NoW / The People /DM / Sun muck raking reporter my nose would be twitching at this thread, leading me to doing some cross checking with member reviews, other UKP posts, and local charity files and then banging on the editor's door claiming to have uncovered a shameful secret life of charity hero scandal.


Only joking, honest, I won't tell.

I think that with Disclosure and Barring Services checks, now, everything is a lot safer 
In saying that, in every profession, paid or unpaid, there are some bad apples 

[advent2016]

After being in retirement for a few years.
I have decided to volunteer in a community cafe. (Reduced price food and drinks).
Learning new skills, cooking, serving, taking meal orders, cleaning, using EPOS tills.
Meeting lots of new volunteers (all age groups) and customers.
Quite enjoying myself. Just 2 days a week.
Recommended 
Any one here volunteering ?

Myself and group of my ex-colleagues try and do a bit.
We drive people to medical, optical, shopping appointments for a small fee External Link/Members Only

We help in some food banks and community kitchens - They said I was much too scary to meet people at the counter, so I do back office stuff, sort things from supermarkets etc. External Link/Members Only  External Link/Members Only

Marshalling at charity bike rides, abseils etc. External Link/Members Only

Helping provide booster injections

Next month onwards we will be selling poppies at railway hubs

The problem I find with some volunteers is they are unreliable. Also some paid staff treat volunteers badly.

I don't know how I had time to work

When I get a good offer, I still work part-time

[FLYING BLUE]

Yes. It happened with a disgruntled tech-savvy prossie. Blanketed the internet with fake feeds claiming to be by him, traced his wife, his work, poor fucker. Innocent member and contributor, made some joke she didn’t like and she mounted a pretty serious campaign against him. All UKP history before the present management. Just don’t put too much (or ANY) personal info in posts that could be used to build up an I.D.

Thank you & good advice given 

[standardpostage]

Well done Mr advent 2016 
In my last working life job, we used to have volunteers.
Some of those volunteers, went on to become fully paid members of staff 

Some staff members, did complain though, that volunteers prevented people, who were looking for a paid job, obtaining one  I suppose that is a debatable point ?

[standardpostage]

Thank you & good advice given 

+1

[advent2016]

Some staff members, did complain though, that volunteers prevented people, who were looking for a paid job, obtaining one  I suppose that is a debatable point ?

Some organisations like the National Trust and many museums really on volunteers and if they didn't have volunteers those posts probably wouldn't be filled.
An example at a rail/engineering related museum we need specialist skills and attract retired volunteers from RAF/Navy but if we wanted to employ someone the going rate would be over £100K pa (pro rata), so the exhibit would turn from working to static, and we would get reduced footfall, less revenue and fewer donations and the inevitable consequence - closure.

[webpunter]

For those with OHs or civvys that perhaps pay a little too much interest, volunteering can create windows of opportunity for our fave sport

Off out to volunteer dahling

Via getting the tanks emptied

Invite the OH to visit your volunteer set-up, they'll soon get bored & won't want to do this again

Then its hiding in plain sight

[webpunter]

Volunteers who help in the places I volunteer range from 18 to 80, I'm there to help, not perv

Where am i suggesting perving ?
However if there would happen to be for example a fit milf as one of the volunteers whats wrong with gently exploring the potential ?
You never know they might be thinking exactly the same
& by volunteering you would be coming from a stronger start point
In the sense that they're more likely to be thinking what a lovely guy giving up his time for a worthwile cause
At least you've got defined demarcation lines, volunteering for wholesome self-fulfilling stuff [Dr Jekyll]
& UKP + Awank for your perve persona [Mr Hyde]