new volunteer job

cazzajen you are not on your own. My daughter has just started a temporary job. She is thirteen years younger than you and has only recently been made redundant from a job she was very good at, but even she struggled on her first day. I told her that I had been the same with every new job I started. You worry and fret and think you can't do it, and then it reduces itself to something like routine and you wonder what you ever worried about. Hang in there; you'll be fine.

One thing to do is go on the website of a charity that you support or is close to your heart. The website will probably have a list of volunteer vacancies. There is also a national volunteer website but I have forgotten the name.

I volunteer in our village library and we are always looking for new volunteers. I also volunteer with rhe Alzheimer's Society.

The National Trust use volunteers in lots of ways or your local school might want help.

Look at the website of your local hospital.

Good luck - I love my volunteer roles.

I too would like to volunteer but did not know you can volunteer in an office or even a library. Can anyone tell me what kind of work that offices would be looking for volunteers to help? I have never given a thought to doing that as volunteering to me seemed to be helping in charity shops, hospital cafes etc

Thank you so much, you have all made me feel so much easier. Anxiety plays a big part in it I'm sure, I'm not going to give up, I'll get there I'm sure!

cazzagen You are a very valuable member of the team and will be a great help to the office staff so just take things slowly and take as long as you need to get yourself feeling confident doing your tasks as others have suggested write everything down and ask when you need to,you will have a "work buddy"I'm sure and she/he will keep you on the right track,Well done you for volunteering in the first place as I'm sure it must be out of your comfort zone.

Yes, take notes they are invaluable. Also see if there's a person in the office who is more understanding and might help you until you find your feet.

Don't give up or this will leave you feeling a failure. Work through this.

cazzajen I totally understand, I have found that it now takes longer to learn new things. Don't be daunted, it can be done. You are a volunteer, so an extra and no doubt very much welcomed pair of hands. I find if I can repeat the same task until it is automatic and then move on to the next one I actually can accomplish far more than if I try to learn a new sequence in one go. Eloethan's advice is spot on. Do make notes, you may find the act of writing it down is sufficient, a bit like writing a shopping list we then don't need to refer to. Please don't worry, if there is a volunteer co-ordinator or a designated support for you why not talk to them and work out with them how you can learn the detail of your role without too much stress becoming a barrier. You may well have a surprise and hear they think you are doing well. It is a new environment, why would you know how to do things? Good luck, do let us know how you get on.

cassajen I take a while to learn new things too. Also, my guess is that you are very anxious. If find that when I'm really stressed and nervous it is very difficult to take in and retain information. I know it's easier said than done, but take a couple of deep breaths, try and relax and take things at your own pace. You are a volunteer and presumably the people with whom you are working are understanding of the fact that you have not worked for a long time. Most people, I find, are nice and give support when it is needed.

If it is appropriate, can you write down things that you think you might forget, particularly when there is a sequence of things you have to remember?

Well done to you - and good luck. I'm sure everyone here wishes you all the best.

Oops. Post should of started with. I went back to work after only eight months.
P.s Good for you for being so brave

Hi Cazzajen when went back to work after only 8 months i had difficulty remembering things i already knew and difficulty learning new things and it was a great shock to me. And i was going back it to similar working environment to the one i had left. It did all click into place eventually though but i had a few tearful moments until then. It helped me taking notes and screenshots to remind me of certain procedures. I'm not surprised you it's taking you a while to learn new things but I'm sure you will get there in the end. I hope things improve for you soon.