Why do so few people volunteer now?

Going off track a bit, but nowadays organisations struggle to get anyone to be chairman, secretary, treasurer etc of anything either.

How many WI’s, Mothers’ Union branches, Ladies Groups etc close down because no one will take on the (voluntary) jobs?
The chairman of a local church group announced recently she would be standing down next year, has done it for years and is now in her 80’s.

It will fold, as no one else will do it, I’m sure.

Should add, I am sure I will be approached about taking it on, as I am one of the youngest members (early 70’s though!)

I’m afraid I won’t be doing it however.

I can't see it getting any better, with people working until they're 67 or 68.

Some down time is needed, particularly if voluntary roles require dealing with computers, money, tills and so on.

Good point. CalendarGirl. I don’t think it’s necessarily the role but the thought of committee work that can be offputting. I’ve done a couple of voluntary job where I enjoyed the work immensely but I loathed the committee side with all the niggling politics and petty behaviour.

I think there are many more volunteers than we realise, giving their time freely to make communities a better place. It may be a dad coaching an under-11s football team for the local club or someone leading a walk for Ramblers. Often, when we see people working on environmental projects, we may assume they are paid employees for a wildlife trust or a local council but they could be volunteers. I’ve worked on those myself. Also, there are many volunteer opportunities that came be done from home.

I have volunteered for a very long time. Even when I was working full time, I volunteered at weekends working for community radio and digitising historical records.

Currently, I do two voluntary jobs in arts and education. I got involved through word of mouth - not advertised positions.

I’ve just checked the local community volunteering service vacancies. There are hundreds of opportunities and groups, past and ongoing projects that I didn’t know existed.

I had no idea that the garden at my doctors’ surgery was developed as a social prescribing garden supported by the RHS and built as a joint project with the local Men in Sheds group. I didn’t know that another local surgery has a sensory garden developed by volunteers for the benefit of patients and carers who are living with dementia. These would have been one-off projects that now just need some occasional input to keep the gardens fresh and tidy so ideal for someone who work many hours or make a regular commitment.

I mention this on another recent discussion. Heritage Lottery Fund supports lots of community projects which offer both paid and voluntary opportunities. If someone wants to volunteer they may find inspiration on its website for something they can contribute to.

I do think that for some, or even many, people, mention volunteer work and they automatically think charity shop which is certainly isn’t for everyone. I think more people would come forward if they knew what opportunities are out there.

Some of my friends volunteer - one making refreshments for older people at a club (she says a lot of them are younger than her!), and visiting an elderly person to just have a chat. My other friend works in a charity shop. I used to be a Beanstalk reader (reading with children in school) but when I had to pick up my grandchildren from school it became quite a rush for me so I gave up. I think I've lost my confidence now to do anything as I'm not a very well organised sort of person. Maybe other people feel that way too.

TinSoldier I do think that for some, or even many, people, mention volunteer work and they automatically think charity shop which is certainly isn’t for everyone. I think more people would come forward if they knew what opportunities are out there

There are many volunteer opportunities at Churches. I've always volunteered at Church and Catholic school (our entire family, same school) - accomplished because we go there often anyway.

I have limited energy and my mobility is a restricted. I am looking to do some voluntary work, but many places e.g. charity shops, libraries, museums, want you to do a 3 hour stint. I, like an earlier poster, can’t stand for that length of time.
I will persist - I think there’s a local charity shop that will let you do less than 3 hours - but I have been surprised how inflexible some organisations can be.

When I retired, I volunteered at a school helping 5 and 6 year olds with their reading. I also got to help out on school trips which was lovely. My husband worked as a guide for The National Trust (unpaid). After his cancer treatment when he realised how difficult it was for some people to get to appointments, he volunteered as a driver taking people to and from hospital.
I mentioned this to a retired friend and she said 'I wouldn't do anything I wasn't paid for.'

Eloethan

Some of my friends volunteer - one making refreshments for older people at a club (she says a lot of them are younger than her!), and visiting an elderly person to just have a chat. My other friend works in a charity shop. I used to be a Beanstalk reader (reading with children in school) but when I had to pick up my grandchildren from school it became quite a rush for me so I gave up. I think I've lost my confidence now to do anything as I'm not a very well organised sort of person. Maybe other people feel that way too.

I can relate to your comments about loss of confidence, Eloethan.... I have been pretty much shielding since the start of the pandemic as my husband had various undiagnosed health issues which were exacerbated when we caught Covid in 2022 and another virus in 2023 which was even worse than the Covid in some respects. Recent tests were inconclusive but the GP omitted to explore 2 conditions that are hereditary in his family. I find I over share when I do see other people and most of my time is taken up with walking a furry grand baby - our son's gorgeous collie - and recovering from the wind/rain/snow etc. Like others on this thread, I was very active setting up, running and supporting a range of voluntary organisations as a SAHM in the 1970's and early 80's and my professional life involved supporting people in coping with life's challenges from the cradle to the grave. Just hearing what's involved in being a parent these days makes me want to go and have a wee lie down. I don't know how they do it. I must say, a part of me resents the fact that Mrs Thatcher and Mr Cameron were keen advocates of making so much of caring for others the responsibility of the voluntary sector......

I don't have a volunteer role at the moment having moved house to a different area from where I had a role. I am going to be looking for one this year but the process is not easy. DH has volunteered and been accepted by RNID but you would have thought he was joining the MI5. It an enormous process of on line interviews and forms to fill in and then to resubmit for errors in processing (their end not his). I think that's why some people don't volunteer - they get lost in the process.

Many people in my area are put off volunteering by the high cost of parking in the town centre as we are not on a bus route. I had always wanted to volunteer in a charity shop but a day’s parking fee would be prohibitive. However there is a charity which donates really good quality items to referred needy families and this has moved to premises on a local industrial estate and I have begun to volunteer here because it is accessible by car and has plenty of free parking which also benefits those who wish to donate.

rafichagan hit the nail on the head - so many grandparents help out with childcare .

For the past decade I visit four elderly ladies , who live very near to my house .

It's not always enjoyable and easy , but I visit because they were friends of my mother and I'm concerned about them .

I take flowers , plants or chocolates , cake or biscuits :

One of them used to rather aloof , but now she loves my visits because we talk about dogs or gardening .
I've arranged to take her to the Easter flower arranging at my church .

Another shouts about the same thing over and over again and sometimes phones me . She complains about her daughter .
I have to admit that her deterioration has shaken me .

I never know the reaction of the third one .
Sometimes , I get invited in and given tea and cake and sometimes I'm told that she's busy .
She has a history of totally erratic behaviour and was once sectioned .

The last one is embarrassed by her filthy house and clothes , but appreciates a call .
I went to a huge party for her recently .
.
I'll call around Mother's Day and certainly at Easter .

If our Vicar asks me to do other visits I'll do so .

I count looking after G'chn as volunteering!

I do try to meet a regular weekly commitment for a volunteering role but family circumstances have meant that I haven't been able to do so for a few months. I just hate feeling that I am being seen as 'unreliable' but family comes first. Consequently I have resigned from my volunteering role. It's so tricky.

Like others when I had the ability to stand for long periods and was able to lift things and help out I was the main carer for my mother and looked after small grandchildren now late 70s with some health problems I couldn’t do it. I think the later retirement age is going to cause huge problems all round.
Friends who had the time to volunteer stopped when they got bossed around, too late in life for that.

I love my voluntary role but now I am getting roped into my own family childcare which of course must be first.
Also voluntary work is I have learned very dependent on many many hours of goodwill and occasionally ( only very occasionally) I don’t like the feeling that I am tied again due to having already escaped my working life.

As I said in the OP, I love my volunteering and I think it gives me structure to my week.

I get a reasonable amount per mile if I have to travel and I can claim car parking if necessary. The paid staff are lovely and appreciate all the volunteers.

I was a SAHM and have volunteered since the youngest of my children started school.

I volunteer at our local hospital but it’s interesting how many people wouldn’t dream of volunteering. The main comment from ladies at my keep fit group is that they’ve worked all of their lives so now it’s their time. There are so many daytime activities and classes for retired people that perhaps some people don’t have time for volunteering.

We’re all different, and all have different needs. Some people, upon retirement, feel they no longer want to commit themselves to set routines which volunteering would require them to do. Others have other commitments which don’t allow them the time to give to a regular volunteering role.
It seems, too, from what others have posted, that there are many hoops to jump through these days in order to volunteer including detailed form filling, on line courses and interviews, and just don’t want to do that.
Of course, for some, volunteering is a blessing as they may find the sudden change from the ordered structure/routine of work to a less ordered routine of retirement difficult to deal with, and feel at a loss or even bored without that structure to part of their week.
However, although it’s a noble thing to do, volunteering isn’t for everyone.

Bixiboo

I volunteer at our local hospital but it’s interesting how many people wouldn’t dream of volunteering. The main comment from ladies at my keep fit group is that they’ve worked all of their lives so now it’s their time. There are so many daytime activities and classes for retired people that perhaps some people don’t have time for volunteering.

I think this, in part, sums it up. Retired people are living longer and are (generally) healthier. They have good private pensions and more disposable income than previous retirees. Many have social lives that out strip anything my younger friends have. They have several holidays a year, do weekend activity breaks, go to classes and play golf etc. Sixty is the new 40 as they say.

I started a volunteer role last year at a local school. A few hours a day, two days a week. It’s very rewarding and I’m beginning to see the difference it can make. Schools are desperate for volunteer help. I had to have a DBS check but I didn’t have to pay for it.

Too many of us have too many other activities or work these days, I suppose it’s easier if you are single, wanting to do things with partner I’m sure restricts volunteering.

A lot less men volunteer these days it’s difficult to get them involved at all with anything.

When I was working I still did one morning a week for 15 years as a volunteer in a charity shop. I also did a couple of years later on volunteering with a project for elderly isolated people.

I spent all of my 60s caring for my Mum. The last 3 years she was in a lovely care home and since I was there every other day they did mention volunteering there but another 3 years down the line and I don’t think that’s for me.

Recently I put my name forward to help with a local history group but I caught covid, just got over that then got Shingles and am far from well yet. Maybe it’s not meant to be.

I volunteer on an ad hoc basis in once a week in 5 weekly chunks plus anything else that I can manage. DH drives patients for cancer treatment once or twice a week.

We both enjoy the opportunity to interact with other people. And it gives us plenty to chat about.

I volunteered - tutoring maths - when I first retired, but then Mum took up all my spare time, until just as covid broke out. Then the covid years, and I’ve not had the inclination to start volunteering since. Tbh I am enjoying my time to do with as I want - in fact I love it!

I have been a volunteer at a sports club for over 20 years. In that time paid employees of the governing body are pushing more and more work towards clubs. Rich clubs use paid employees whilst us poorer ones struggle on. Sometimes as Club Secretary it takes up so much time I couldn’t do it and go out to work. It also requires computer skills that not everyone has. I’d love to find someone to take over but no one wants to take so much on.