Volunteering

Maine52 Oops! I think you may be lost. ?

Hi everyone
My daughter and her family immigrated to Ireland 2 years ago. I miss them dreadfully and especially feel as if I'm losing my connection with my grandson. We were very close before they left. Unfortunately he was only 2.
Last night my daughter told me sge is pregnant. I feel so cheared. Will this child know who i am.
My sister also followed them to Ireland. She is alwats having a dig at me. She is there and i am not. She has no grandchikdren of her own. It seems as if she is trying to replace ne. She always buys my grandson gifts just because.
How do i accept t that i wont be a part if their lives. Its tesring me apart.
Ps i am sinhlr and dont qualify to immigrate to Ireland.

As well as all the comments above + your good intentions I guess also it depends on who you are coming home to as well. As an old work friend of mine works as a receptionist at a doctor's surgery so once home takes clothing off + has shower before touching/seeing her husband who is older than her + has health issues. Everyone I am sure has a different opinion on this, and it will be our own personal decision.

aonk

I’ve been wanting to volunteer in some capacity since the pandemic began. I’d like to be involved either with a food bank or with the vaccination programme. My heart says yes each I think about it but my head says no. I’m quite simply not brave enough to do it. It would also upset my family especially one very anxious DD who tries so hard to protect me and my DH. It’s a very difficult situation and I admire those who volunteer so much.

I’ve thought the same since the beginning. In fact I was asked to volunteer (via an organisation I do voluntary work with) when NHS asked for volunteers at the beginning but declined as I felt, at 70, I was also being asked to shield. If I could have done something behind scenes
to help, I would have done.

Lizbethann55

I am not technically volunteering but have been unfurloughed from my usual job and have been sent to marshal at a vaccination centre. I spend my 6 hour shift guiding people around the building, cleaning and sanitising the chairs they have been sitting on and generally making sure they are ok. Today I have helped well over 200 people. That is a lot of contact , especially as some of them literally need a helping hand to get around. I , and the rest of us , have masks to wear. No other PPE. I asked about getting vaccinated. Sadly that will only happen if at the end of the day there is any left over. As I do the morning shift (8.00am to 2.00pm) it doesn't look likely to happen. Some of my friends and colleagues who do work the later hours have had the vaccine. Personally speaking, I think we should be vaccinated. As I am almost 66 (next week), I will soon be marshalling my own age group.

Lizbethann55, volunteer to do a couple of extra shifts, last of the day.

6 hours is a long time to be around people not in your bubble. It’s 2 hour shifts here. Haven’t they got enough volunteers?

I am not technically volunteering but have been unfurloughed from my usual job and have been sent to marshal at a vaccination centre. I spend my 6 hour shift guiding people around the building, cleaning and sanitising the chairs they have been sitting on and generally making sure they are ok. Today I have helped well over 200 people. That is a lot of contact , especially as some of them literally need a helping hand to get around. I , and the rest of us , have masks to wear. No other PPE. I asked about getting vaccinated. Sadly that will only happen if at the end of the day there is any left over. As I do the morning shift (8.00am to 2.00pm) it doesn't look likely to happen. Some of my friends and colleagues who do work the later hours have had the vaccine. Personally speaking, I think we should be vaccinated. As I am almost 66 (next week), I will soon be marshalling my own age group.

westendgirl

I think that the stories of 14 year old girls were probably from experience. You usually write what you know about .
NannyCl there doesn't have to be touching for someone to claim there was.That's why insurance is important.

Spot on westendgirl, real life experiences!
I don't know much regards safeguarding issues, so had better leave others to write about those.
I think the OP sounded as though it were probably the health aspect which was concerning them.

sorry missed out why

I think that the stories of 14 year old girls were probably from experience. You usually write what you know about .
NannyCl there doesn't have to be touching for someone to claim there was.That's why insurance is important.

Ellianne

I doubt whether the volunteers will be doing the actual testing, more organising the queue of pupils and ticking off the lists. There are even doubts as to whether the army would do the actual tests involving touching pupils in any way. Can you imagine stories from 14 year old girls?
Another issue being considered is what age is considered reliable and responsible enough for the pupil to carry out their own test.

I had my covid19 test by the army and there was absolutely no touching! Also why "14 yr old girls" can't boys of any age make things up! ?

Don't volunteer for anything unless you have checked the insurance.It is so important.

Yes I wasnt really referring to that bit of the discussion. And am aware I am hijacking ops thread so will stop I just think its important the way we talk about safeguarding.

You are of course right Galaxy, because women don't tend to be predators.

But really, I was not referring to sexual assault. I was refering to screamy teenage girl behaviour. It is going on in the room next door to me right now. Shrieking, laughing. Teenage girls DO attention seek. As do teenage boys with punching and horseplay. It is a 'look at me' phase for some teenagers desperate for attention. Of course, others just want to blend in. And some want to be left alone.

Because current figures show that 99 % of child sexual abuse is carried out by men. 97 % of violent sexual assault is carried out by men. So the reporting is going to be weighted to those who carry out the crimes. False reporting is very low. I think using the words attention seeking and subtle agenda whilst discussing safeguarding issues just isnt helpful.

Happy to listen.

What real life scenario are you talking about, your post showed a complete lack of understanding of the issues. I dont really know where to start in explaining why girls are more likely to report Male staff than female staff.

Galaxy

The castigating of teenage girls on this thread is really unpleasant.

Who is castigating anyone? Just pointing out real life scenarios of which mist educationalists and probably parents are aware anyway.
It is all part of risk assessment. Adults need to protect themselves too.

Not sexual assault! Silly, loud am dram behaviour. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

It's humour galaxy. Of course most girls aren't like that. Just the occasional one. Over the years, I've had a few. Hilarious mostly. One was the epitome of the Catherine Tate 'Lauren' character. I enjoyed being her teacher.

People were talking about girls running to report sexual assault as if that was a problem. I found that unpleasant.

I am with Kate49. All the schools I have ever volunteered with paid for the DBS check (usually an enhanced one) but it is correct that you cannot ‘work’ in any educational setting without one (and that is a good rule too)

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

The castigating of teenage girls on this thread is really unpleasant.

Yes Gagajo I am donating to the food bank each week. There are boxes very near my house and I order something extra in my supermarket delivery.
Regarding adults being present when young people are vaccinated that was never the case in the school where I worked. Parents signed consent forms.