Do you volunteer?

Have always volunteered. Tawny Owl many years ago, very active in what was then the Pre school playgroups Association. Then 14 years with the Alzheimers Association , main role befriending but was involved with many other areas of the Association. Very much like kittylester.
Sadly I am now sitting on the other side of the fence and doing the very best I can to support my DH who has Alzheimers. My volunteering taught me so much and gave me a sound understanding of the disease. However now it is so close to home I have a much deeper understanding of the complexities of Alzheimers Disease.
Volunteering in what ever area you choose will be very rewarding! Think about how much time you can spare and what interests you. Listening to children read in school , helping in a charity shop. There are so many opportunities and I am sure you will be valued where ever you go. Good luck !

emmasnan

I work as a helpline volunteer, supporting parents of babies that cry excessively or have sleep problems.
Very rewarding and I talk to some lovely parents.

I could have done with one of those 55 years ago 😩

I volunteered for the Citizens Advice Bureau, until my divorce and the need to find a ‘proper job’…..

Reading volunteer. I started by volunteering at the school where I used to teach, but they seem to forget that they weren’t paying me anymore, and added little extra jobs.
So now I volunteer at the local primary school. I occasionally do back up in the school office there too. It’s very rewarding.

I have volunteered in a charity shop for 10 years (a couple of years after I took early retirement). I only do 3 hours a week, so it doesn't interfere with my retirement social life and my busy time helping out with our 4 grandchildren; but when that peters out as they grow up, I'll up my hours. I really enjoy it and am good friends with the ladies I work along side. Also, I just love a bargain! I have bought some lovely things over the years and never fail to be amazed at some of the beautiful items that are donated.

I used to run an organisation that had around 1,000 volunteers in many different areas like meals on wheels, friendly visiting, transport to doctors and hospitals, running groups for disadvantaged people etc etc. When I retired I volunteered with our local police force looking after welfare of frail and isolated people. Now I just serve on various committees and organise speakers for groups, run an ancestry group and help organise outings for us older people. After I left work I vowed never to volunteer for anything ever again but somehow it didn’t work out that way ….

Children’s centre in the crèche, babies from six weeks and all preschool. I love it. I would do Samaritans but I couldn’t entertain a paedophile calling in, I’m afraid I’ve zero tolerance.

I love volunteering. I was an adviser and trainer for Citizens Advice for 15 years and loved it. worked with a delightful team and greatly enjoyed helping people with their problems, I really miss it now. . I also helped to take over our village library as a community library and also manned the desk. I have had to give up due to failing eyesight but still help with the running of our village hall and have done so since the eighties.
Volunteering is so good, you meet new people , learn new skills and, if you are in the right placement, get tremendous satisfaction without the responsibility and restrictions of work.

I was on the PTA for my children’s primary school and I used to help out listening to children reading . I also volunteered at my dc youth drama group . Making costumes and sets and working backstage during the performances .
Now I’m retired I volunteer at a charity shop . I do one afternoon a week . I love it and would do more but I’m a carer for my mum. I’ve meet some lovely people and often meet school mums from way back , usually buying toys and books for their dgc .

I volunteer in our village library and love it

dogsmother

Children’s centre in the crèche, babies from six weeks and all preschool. I love it. I would do Samaritans but I couldn’t entertain a paedophile calling in, I’m afraid I’ve zero tolerance.

My sister did two years, as a volunteer, answering calls to Childline. She became very fed up with the increasing number of men who thought it was hilarious to prank call. She could often hear their drunk mates laughing in the background.

I volunteer as an education ast at our local museum. School book in classes to learn about a period in history eg local woollen industry Saxons and vikings etc and I take a group at a time to look at period objects make a craft item eg Viking broach etc. it’s varied and fun. I also volunteer to arrange and teach craft afternoon at my WI.

I volunteer, and have done for many years. My principle volunteering now is that my daughter and I run a support group for people living with the rare neuro condition that I have. We give support on the phone, by email, through the facebook page that we run, and with face to face meetings - now the only f2f meetings in the UK for people with the condition. We work well together. We have also joined the society committee (which is very small) and play an active part in that. I write a bi-monthly newsletter, and have recently set up a funded partnership with another charity who provide specialised online exercise classes which are being well received. It means that our members get an very affordable exercise program and a bit of social interaction too. it is very satisfying.

I volunteer once a week at a foodbank kitchen in Poplar, East London run by Felix which has now merged with FareShare. We do some food prep work, but most of the cooking is done by chefs and our job is to assist the staff to pack up and send out about 5,000 meals a day. The food comes from every source including the big supermarkets, often in very good nick, and is saved from landfill. We're on our feet and working furiously but then we get an interesting lunch which could feature anything that has come in in the last few days.
I love it because feel I'm doing a little to help people who can't afford to feed themselves, and the staff and other volunteers are from every background and every age which makes for lively fun. I'm in my fourth year of helping out.

I volunteer at a women’s support charity. It’s a local charity ( ie not national) and offers a safe space for any woman who may need our services - all foc.

I came to volunteer the week after I retired ten years ago. I didn’t want to do nothing after a busy career. It’s been a great way of making friends and feeling that I’ve made a difference. I currently do two half days a week at the drop in sessions but have had lots of other roles in the past.

If you have the time and the energy I heartily recommend volunteering in some form.

I volunteer at a local musical theatre group I’ve even had a tiny part in two shows. I love it, it’s very sociable and upbeat.

I work for a voluntary organisation (part time) and volunteer there twice a month. It is a supported child contact centre. We offer a safe space for children to visit the parent they don’t live with. It can be hard work, particularly emotionally, but I love what we do. And our volunteers are fantastic and a great group of people who are all incredibly friendly. I’d suggest that kind of work to anyone who has a free day each month.
I also volunteer for our local parish nurse once or twice a month. I only really register people for the exercise class and take their money, but I get to meet a lot of lovely people.

That sounds such an interesting place to volunteer, Chicklette. I worked with under-fives for 38 years and feel I could be of help in this area. I'm looking up opportunities now.

I'm the treasurer for the local cats protection branch and handle all their neutering queries for assisted neutering on the phone - all from home

I found an advert online for a volunteer helper with a community group who meet once a week to chat, quiz, and needed someone to play music with lyrics so they could sing along. All my favourite things, and I’ve been happily helping out for about 4 years. I always say I get as much from it as the people who attend.

I volunteer at our local Community Food Hub. I mainly help out in the mornings with the delivery from FareShare and sorting the boxes. I also cover the cashiering when the regular lady is away. The other volunteers are very friendly and we have a lot of fun - I'd really miss it now if I had to give up.
We have many regular customers and I've met a lot of people in the community that I wouldn't have otherwise as I'm not very sociable!!
I will say that it's quite shocking how many of the younger folk don't know what to do with some of the veg we are given from the local allotments... (courgettes, marrows, etc).
From my own point of view, as we never know what we're getting till we see the despatch note, I have tried quite a few foods/items that I would never have bought in a supermarket. I really treasure my Thursdays now and find it very rewarding.

Brightphoebus If you like the idea of helping at a child contact centre you could look at www.naccc.com and search for a centre near you. You could then contact them and see if they need new volunteers. I’m always thrilled if people want to volunteer.

I used my professional skills and was a school governor for 22 years.

I volunteer once a week at the local hospital manning the Help Desk- showing people where to go for their clinics, finding out where patients are, fielding complaints about parking - anything really!
I also volunteer at the Community Library. It gives me a routine, helps keep me sane and gives me a purpose. I was bereft during COVID when everywhere shut down and I have made some wonderful friends. Thoroughly recommend it!

I volunteer at our library once a week.
I also volunteer at a local primary school helping children read 1:1 every Wednesday or day to suit.
I used to volunteer at Citizens Advice until they closed down the office. Plus did NT for a year and a councillor on our town council for two years.
For years I volunteered on the committee for our county netball league.
All very enjoyable and rewarding plus keeps the brain going🤓