Why do so few people volunteer now?

I find that people very quickly become dependent on you. Once you start doing something, it is taken for granted that you will keep doing it.
Also, I used to help in a charity shop until a very unpleasant woman joined. She was one of those people who enjoys being nasty. I didn't volunteer in order to spend the day arguing, so I left.

I don’t mind public speaking and I always seem to end up as president of whatever organisation I am volunteering with.I don’t actually ever put myself forward but get leg roped ! I think,personally,that is the easiest job . The worst is being Secretary, a continuous nightmare with people ringing you all the time.

I did quite a lot of voluntary work when I was working full time, but now that I'm semi retired I can't commit as much. That may sound back to front, but when I was working I could commit to evenings, as I was tied to be here all week. Now, even when I'm working I can do it remotely, so we go away a lot, and I can't commit to a regular day (or more) every week.

I'd consider volunteering if I could do it remotely, although having said that, a major motivation for doing so would be to meet people, so maybe not.

Kittylester ,
I retired from working as a manager in a charity shop in the summer of 2022. & we were reliant on volunteers, however they weren’t always as reliable as you’d want them to be .
My aim was to start volunteering , I applied first to Age Uk as a “ Befriender” gave my references & waited 8 months for the whole process to play out at which point I gave up . It was as you can imagine a long winded way of vetting , undertaking online tests & telephone interviews.
That role was for a Telephone Befriender . Yes , I was accepted & declined
2nd shot was working for CAB same thing refs , telephone interview, online tests . Only to be advised that it would be working from home & you tree expected to work an 8 hour shift !
My aim if you like in wanting to volunteer was to meet people, get out of the house .
And before anyone asks, ‘ No’ I wouldn’t go back & volunteer at a retail Charity shop . It would leave me far too frustrated.

P

But don’t they .??
What makes you think people don’t volunteer ? We have absolutely no problem getting volunteers at our shop

One of my grandaughters volunteers at a food bank when she’s not working and others often volunteer at festivals to clean up afterwards or during… my daughter volunteers at a local theatre after work on a when needed basis
Again maybe it depends on the area but we have men volunteering at the shop not as many because hopefully most are busy working but we have about half a dozen I do beach cleans and thats usually got men involved ….and … men are starting to cotton on to mental health and the need to talk and show empathy to each other so there are a growing walk and talk groups for men
Perhaps London or big cities are different
I ve always volunteered even when I had a full time job (perhaps that’s why I’m not very rich 😀)

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 .

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.

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.

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......

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.'

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.