What might stop you from volunteering to work with homeless people?

I would be put off if I couldn't get to the base (or the place of work) easily, as I don't drive, and transport to my town is expensive and unreliable.

If I saw something about lifts being offered, or if there were an admin role that I could do from home, or from a very central base I would be happy to volunteer. I looked into volunteering for refugee charities and came upon those barriers with that, and I have skills that (I think) could be useful.

I have chosen the volunteer roles I do because of the sense of worth they give me and the thanks I receive.

They also challenge me in some way and have developed my social networks.

They are also the kind of things which don't mean a regular commitment - I can pick them up when I have the time and energy and it's easy to say 'no' when it's not convenient.

Rather than wonder why people don't come forward, can you market the benefits volunteering would give those who participate?

I suggest seeing if a local marketing agency could help you (pro bono) put out some Facebook or Google ads which emphasise what benefits the volunteers would have and deal with their reservations.

Thank you for letting us know.

And thank you for the much needed work that you do.

Very happy for you. You deserve it.

That’s great, Grannyactivist!.

UPDATE:
Thank you so much to everyone who engaged with the thread.

I used all the information and insights I gleaned on here and we have interviewed several potential volunteers. The result is that definitely four, and possibly six, of them are now going to be joining the team.

I’m over the moon as the people we’ve interviewed have a really lovely mix of experience and enthusiasm and are excited about the prospect of working with us.

Thank you all. ????????

In my role we have many volunteers who like to have one job they can take on as their own. I think it makes them feel safe that they knows what they are doing.

MerylStreep - I think you have just highlighted one of the problems!

Policies written by people who don't have a clue, implemented as best they can by people who have to make them work, and whose experience is dismissed.

Although similar problems occur in all charities & community organisations, it is causes more problems when you are at the 'sharp end'.

And it is those experiences that may put folk off volunteering. I have to say that I have volunteered in a couple of excellent organisations that did take a lot of notice of volunteer feedback.

I would not volunteer to work with the homeless as I have had a few unpleasant experiences where I was threatened in the street and once pushed up against a shop window because he thought I looked as if I had money.
I can only assume ga has a better class of homeless where she lives, it is rough here up north.

I volunteer at a Royal Voluntary Service project and it seems to be very well run and well organised. I was recruited, interviewed, PVG, training modules completed etc etc. I'm kept fully informed as to what I should be doing and who to speak to if any problems. RVS have lots of different forms of volunteering. Check them out.

Sadly my experiences (well only two) of working as a volunteer was to be 'put upon' by the charity organisers until I was spending most of my time and energy away from my own home and family. They expected more than I could give.
Charities really must take care not to 'flog a willing horse' in this way, I no longer volunteer for anything which is sad.

That's a disappointing situation chloe1984. I'd have thought drivers would be useful to lots of organisations.

I think it sounds as if not following the policy meant the situation was very unclear to everyone involved.

My husband do and able and fully retired has full driving licence able to drive all sorts of vehicles mini buses etc has volunteered for all sorts of roles from collecting for the food banks driving to and from hospital etc all agencies have replied saying they currently have more volunteers than opportunities he has now just given up.

Nannarose
There was a policy in place. But I’ve never been one for following policies that have been written by people who have never done an evening shift at a MIND drop in centre.
In this case I’m afraid just plain common sense didn’t prevail, everyone knew that the woman could be very violent when challenged.

Well said '*Neen*. I used to work in a homeless shelter, compassion and empathy what you find amongst the volunteers. Some homeless people find life opportunities missing from day one, others find themselves in circumstances that could happen to any of us.

Thanks nannarose
My user name is derived from that of a much loved dog who sadly has now died.

Galaxy I get what you mean about ‘the world and his wife’, some charities have a ‘moment’ when they’re in the spotlight.

We do have an organisation similar to CSV, but they’re hard pressed to recruit volunteers too and in fact the experience we have within our organisation is actually equal to theirs.

I do know that all charities are suffering from a lack of volunteers since communities have opened up again - during lockdown it seems that many people re-evaluated their commitments and, understandably, now place a higher value on things other than volunteering.

In discussions recently I was told that we offer a ‘Rolls Royce’ service, but in the future we may need to settle for being more of a ‘Ford Cortina’ if we can’t recruit more volunteers. ?

Peasblossom I wish I was in the Midlands. I hate shopping - it’s one of my least favourite activities and I avoid it personally as much as possible.

Occasionally I co-opt someone to buy what’s needed, give them a shopping list and a budget and leave them to get on with it. Then they start emailing me links to items and asking what I think! Aargh! Just make a decision - as long as it meets the brief and is within budget I don’t care!!

The upside though, is when it’s Christmas and you’ve helped to house a little family who’ve escaped from a domestic abuse situation. They have new carpets, fridge, freezer and washing machine, adequate furniture and household items, new bedding and clothes for the child - a sackful of toys and enough food to enjoy over the festive period. I ran myself ragged last year trying to make that all happen for one particular client, but we did it and it was well worth all the frustration!

Sorry that sounded very cynical. I was one of the 'world and his wife'

Do you have the equivalent of a CSV granny? That's what it's called in my town, it's a support organisation for charities. I volunteered for a long time for an HIV charity, CSV or is it CVS ( I cant remember) were so helpful to us with regards to advice on everything from insurance to recruitment. Our organisation went through peaks and troughs with volunteers, from only a handful who were directly affected at the beginning, to the world and his wife when HIV became 'the cause' for a while and then levelled out again.

The point about safeguarding meetings is well made Galaxy. In order to ensure that my clients get the best outcomes possible I sometimes need to challenge decisions made by the statutory agencies and this occasionally results in me raising safeguarding issues.

I get invited to inter-agency and safeguarding meetings in acknowledgement of my professional qualifications and experience. If someone were in my role and didn’t have similar professional standing they would simply not be invited. My current colleagues, for example, would not be invited to attend meetings in my place

That made me smile peasblossom.

Thank you for replying to my post grannyactivist.

Gosh I’d love the job of sourcing furniture and white goods. Right up my street.

Don’t suppose you’re in the Midlands?

I have followed this thread with interest.
Sodapop (did you get that name from The Outsiders?!) please don't feel uncomfortable or selfish. Much better to do a volunteering role well because it suits you, than one that makes you feel uncomfortable. There are so many volunteers needed.

Grannyactivist - I agree with SueDonim. I get the impression that this conversation has been helpful to you - I certainly hope so.

And I would add that MerylStreep's example illustrates some of the difficulties - the policy should have been clear to all, not just a decision on the hoof about who did or didn't 'have a problem with it'.