Why do so few people volunteer now?

biglouis

No one should be made to feel guilty or judged for not wishing to vounteer. We all have different commitments.

If you have to find bus fare or petrol money to get to a venue then thats an expense which may cut out some people who have spare time but little money.

I agree with this. Most of us have gone through our lives with commitments and there are always people saying we should do this or that, and being superior when we don't do things in the same way as we do.

When we retire is the time we can, if we are lucky, decide for ourselves how to spend our time. Some have more spare time than others, some are committed to looking after children, partners or parents, some live near more opportunities for volunteering and others struggle with transport. People have different levels of health and fitness, and more or less money to spend, and different skills to offer. The last thing people need is more to feel guilty about, and none of us needs to justify why we do or don't volunteer.

I have volunteered most of my life until the pandemic. I made a lot of friends through volunteering. Some I am still in touch with. Started off with things the boys were involved in. Then the local League of Friends,( then they closed the hospital!) Home Start, NEWCIS, NSPCC etc. Since the pandemic some of the things I did never restarted. I still do some things for dementia.

It is sad that even for some simple things there are all the regulations, form filling, safety etc. Things were held on trust years ago now because of the abuse of this trust everything has had to go to the other extreme.

It has also gone very difficult to put on events to raise money. Coffee Mornings and things aren't supported as they once were. If you are only a small group it is hard to find enough people to help with a large event.

In a local town there are no less than thirteen charity shops, Needless to say all asking for volunteers The Oxfam shop has been closed for several months. They are advertising the post of Manager for £28,000 per annum. Some of these charities must have to make a huge amount of money to cover the overheads let alone the charity?

I think it’s time.

It’s now unusual for one parent to stay at home in the week once the children go to school, and grandparents often seem to have childcare responsibilities which cut across their free time.

I’ve done a lot of volunteering in the past, but my health isn’t very reliable now, so I’m having to take some time out.

No one should be made to feel guilty or judged for not wishing to vounteer. We all have different commitments.

If you have to find bus fare or petrol money to get to a venue then thats an expense which may cut out some people who have spare time but little money.

My husband is looking to do some volunteering but like a previous poster is struggling to find something that interests him/uses his skills and who is taking on volunteers.

My friend worked in a charity shop for years. Then when covid started they insisted she had to wear a mask despite being exempt due to health problems. So they told her to leave and not return. She was very upset at the time.
It really put me off ever doing it tbh.
I do sponsor my DGCs school buying lots of books each year. Also house sit for AC when things are being delivered or tradesmen coming for repairs etc. Also look after DGC quite often.
I do have a lung condition which limits how long I could work for anyway unless it was sitting down or WFH job.

65sucks

Many people are on personal independent payment (PIP) Many are deemed unable to work due to their disability. Should they do volunteer work. They are at risk of loosing their PIP.

PIP isn’t means tested - you can work and claim PIP.
Perhaps people just don’t want to volunteer??

Missiseff

I wouldn't give up my time and not be paid for it, that's my reason

The milk of human kindness over floweth 🤷‍♀️

If you enjoy seeing beautiful, fresh flowers being arranged by talented Demonstrators…..check out your local NAFAS Flower Club ( you do not have to arrange flowers!)
They might be thankful for an extra volunteer to help with the running of their club

I used to do the Scout things, too. Cubs mainly, but also Beavers, and I stepped in to take Scouts when the leaders needed cover. I'd enjoy it again, I think, but I can't commit to a regular day, which is no good.

I used to volunteer. I was a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide leader for the best part of 30 years. I also volunteered in a charity shop. Then I moved. It has been impossible to find a volunteer vacancy locally.

I wouldn't give up my time and not be paid for it, that's my reason

Many people are on personal independent payment (PIP) Many are deemed unable to work due to their disability. Should they do volunteer work. They are at risk of loosing their PIP.

Like many on here I’ve been volunteering since my teens. Lots of my co-volunteers these days are finding they are being asked to look after grandchildren and it’s taking a lot out of them so they are cutting back or quitting volunteering. How the world changes!

I think it can be a luxury to be able to afford to do voluntary work. Travel expenses should be covered.

There are perks though. I had free first aid courses and sometimes horse riding when with the RDA.
In my current post at the food store/café I've had food hygiene training, Barista training and I can work the till

Well done 👍

I always thought I would do voluntary charity work and teach part time in a nursery when I retired 5 years ago. DH was 5 yrs younger than me and would have been still working full time for at least another ten years so I was happy to carry on doing 2 or 3 days a week working and a day volunteering. Sadly DH died very suddenly and the local nursery changed to employing nursery managers instead of teachers and the salary was reduced. After a year I got a casual hours post which then became a full time permanent post (not a reaching role). I love it and gladly do additional shifts. Also look after grandchild one day a week. I would love to do voluntary work especially for an animal charity but the nearest dog home and the nearest horse rescue are both a good 40 minute drive away and petrol is so expensive. I still want to do voluntary work at some point and really do admire those who do.

1)many charities need to do checks on staff which is both costly and time consuming. The delay in applying and getting approving means some people go elsewhere to fill their time.
2)if you want to do driving as a volunteer you have to declare the fact on your insurance and that can be costing you more than you would get in travel expenses
3) many pensioners are now involved in childcare for their grandkids and have little time
4) I remember shopping for an elderly lady every week when at school - I had to find the replacement when I left school. Too much guilt if you want to do something else

just a few reasons

I did try to volunteer for the Samaritans once. I went along for an interview and all seemed well until I was told it was essential I attend a meeting every Monday evening. This I coud not do due to a prior regular commitment. I promised to read the minutes of this meeting each week but I was told that was no good and I could not be accepted on that basis, so that was the end of that. I felt quite miffed. Any why didn;t they tell me that before I turned up for interview?

I think many organisations take advantage of volunteers and use them as free replacements for permanent paid employees. This causes resentment with both volunteers and paid employees.

grandtant
I wouldn’t work for any of the big charities. I’ve known too many managers over the years and know how they operate.
The charity where I volunteer is a local charity. All proceeds go to local children.

I do wonder if covid has made people more inclined to do all the things they've wanted to do (or not do any of things they don't want to)

I volunteer for the RVS in my local hospital cafe but its not for the faint hearted. I work a four hour shift over the lunchtime when its really busy and we never stop. Every time I look up from my till there is a queue. I do really enjoy it, but its not as sociable as I hoped because we are too busy to talk to each other. The problem is we are seriously short of volunteers which means those of us who do go in and working flat out. Bit of a vicious circle really. We can claim expenses and the application and training process was not too onerous. Some of it is for your own protection, there are so many allergies and complications now with serving food and drink. Apparently lots of volunteers left over Covid and never returned.

Sorry about the clerical errors. I have been painting walls all day and my hands are dreadfully stiff now.

There are many reasons for not volunteering.

Many people have become disillusioned about the big world-wide charities, that frequently pay their executive staff extremely large salaries, claiming that otherwise they cannot get the level of competancy they need AND pay bribes in third world countries to sticky fingered civil servants sayint they otherwise cannot get the help to those who need it.

This may be true, but honestly if countries outside Europe want aid, they must learn that bribery is not acceptable, and charities should not be paying top salaries to their employees, but should be sending the money to those in need.

On the local plan a lot of us do still volunteer, but cuts in public funding make volunteering much less enjoyable than it formerly was, simply because libraries, museeums, stately homes etc. er closed far more often that they are open, so even if you want to volunteer you may only be asked to do so once or twice during a summer.

I recently enquired about volunteering for a local art gallery as an invigilator.
But I was required to fill out a lengthy form .
They needed the names, address, and emails from two different referees, including phone numbers.
Which rather put me of as I seem to ask the same people for references and it’s getting a bit embarrassing.
Also, a lengthy questionnaire about my hobbies, interests etc.
I felt I was being interviewed for a job.
So I’m not volunteering anymore.