Do you volunteer?

Volunteered at a Charity shop for 28 years after having to take Medical Retirement. Mainly dealt with all the donated books, cd’s, vinyl & sometimes went on the Till! Really enjoyed doing something worthwhile that made me happy. Met some lovely people though one Manager, short lived, was a pain! Would encourage anyone thinking of Volunteering to give it a try! I only stopped due to ill health.

I enjoy my role as a Bookmark volunteer . It’s a brilliantly run organisation that is simply about facilitating regular weekly reading sessions with school children . These can be online with access to a huge variety of books and games , or in school with hands on resources . The Bookmark staff are friendly and supportive and have created a volunteer community that is good to be part of . The children are a joy . They always want new volunteers anywhere in the country.

I volunteer at my local Animal Rescue Center.
The animals don’t tell me what to do or answer me back like today’s younger generation do, it’s rewarding and I love the cuddles!

I’ve always worked volunteering for the last 40 years in various roles.
Now I’m retired, I just help moderate a recycling group, which keeps things out of landfill, and odd collection days for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

Vounteered with a few organisations. Victim Support, (supported victims of all different crimes)
Homestart, (supported families with children under 5 years.
Learning for Adults (helping adults to read) and currently cashier with a Men's organisation. Go in a couple of times a week and sort out their cash, receipts, banking.
Enjoyed being with all the organisations.
There are loads of opportunities to volunteer out there, you will be most welcome.

I will do that. Thank You!

Chicklette

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.

Thank you, I will!

I volunteered with St John Ambulance Brigade from age 12 for 27 years, also as a leader with Scouting and Girl Guiding for about 25 years. An instructor in a swimming club for the Disabled for 10 years and Riding for the Disabled for a couple of years with a few other short term commitments. In the end I felt all volunteered out and ill health also kicked in so I don't do it any more.

I volunteer for a local food bank, I stand at the entrance of my local Sainsbury's for two hours on a Sunday each month and ask shoppers to buy something extra for the food bank.
People are amazing and very generous, we do very well, some people bring a carrier bag full and occasionally a whole trolley full which makes me quite emotional.
I retired quite a few years ago and didn't want anything too regular but find that this really suits me and I get to meet some lovely people.

I am the volunteer fundraising Chair for our local RNLI station. Ive volunteered there for the past 4 years. Used to be in the shop on the pier.

Yes I volunteer both as the Chairman of a local history group - which is relatively straight forward but can be demanding -but more importantly as a volunteer for the national Heritage Open Days )see Google) which operate all across the country in mid September, this year they are Friday 11th - Sunday 20th, and offers a really useful way to ‘help out’ your local group and have a bit of fun without putting yourself out too much - so a brilliant way to start volunteering and soon.

I volunteer for a few varied organisations. …
At my local small theatre as an usher..
At a local charity as a Befriender, I also collect and deliver prescriptions and do food shopping for elderly people who are unable to get out.
Also at my local Police HQ escorting visitors and role play for trainees.
An interesting variety!

I volunteer in a hospice charity shop and also volunteer at local primary school ,to listen to readers.

Thank you everyone, this has given me lots of thought as what I can do 😀

I do lots of different volunteering. It gives me a real sense of purpose and has given me all sorts of different opportunities.
I’ve just had the most amazing experience as a volunteer at the British Transplant Games. I did some basic admin work, general stewarding and helped out at some of the events. It was truly humbling and life affirming, and a real privilege to be part of the transplant community. I read about the games on our local council website, and it had to be a real highlight of my year.

I've been a volunteer with Girlguiding UK for 35 years. I'm a leader with 2 Rainbow units as well as a Guide and Ranger Unit and love it, I've attended and helped organise a whole variety of trips, events, camps and residentials over the years and met some amazing people.

I did, before Covid, but it had to stop then. The volunteer job I had didnt survive and I dont want to tie up one day or half day every week and most volunteer jobs want some form of regular commitment. I like to be more flexible with my time.

I began volunteering when our elder son began school, helping out once a week with reading or baking. Over time I’ve volunteered as an advocate for adults with severe learning difficulties, taught adult literacy, been a volunteer counsellor, helped in a Scrapstore, supported parents in a contact centre and finally now am part of our surgery Patient Participation Group. It’s been mostly enjoyable and always rewarding in some way.

MaggsMcG

I did, before Covid, but it had to stop then. The volunteer job I had didnt survive and I dont want to tie up one day or half day every week and most volunteer jobs want some form of regular commitment. I like to be more flexible with my time.

When I was looking for something, this was a concern of mine but I was able to use this as a filter through the Volunteer Coordinator Bureau. I ended up as Treasurer for the local Talkimg Newspapers. Apart from 4 committee meetings a year everything else is either done from home or through ad hoc working groups which we arrange to suit ourselves. The group has an excellent secretary who is a really lively person and so we’ve started meeting up socially for coffee as we enjoy each others company.

I meant lovely person but she’s lively as well

I’ve volunteered in a charity shop for over 10 years and currently do 2 days a week. In the past I’ve helped at our local primary school, listening to children reading and also gardening. Until recently I was secretary on our village fete committee and got involved in events to help raise money for our village. It’s been very rewarding and I’ve made many friends. There are lots of opportunities out there for volunteers CherryPops and you’re sure to find something that suits you.

I've volunteered in lots of different ways over the years. I come from a family of volunteers with mum and 2 sisters all very active volunteers
As a teenager i remember standing with collecting tins. This was probably the first experience.
I helped out at playschool, then in my children's primary school doing crafts and moved to being a Brownie helper.
After a move to a bigger city I helped children with English, which was their second language.
And now I help out at a local Community garden. This has been so good for me, exercise, getting out and meeting people and knowing I'm doing some good in our wee toon. The work varies over the year and you can do as much or as little as you like. We have 2 gents over 80 who both fire up the Kelly kettle for our coffee breaks but are very good with joinery and repairs .
I'm now having to cut down on the more physical side of things, so no more digging up the dandelions, more pricking out the parsley. And we sell our produce so get to meet all sort of customers. very rewarding overall.
The charity running the garden recently got office premises which was previously a shop, so I now help another volunteer do window displays. This was my first career so that has really been great to get back to.
My latest volunteering is as a helper in a local day centre for dementia sufferers. I do one day a week and love it though i go home after my 5 hours and just sit down for the rest of the day. The helpers help with drinks, prep and serving of lunches, plus assisting with games and activities.
So I would say, Cherrypops, find out what there is you can do in your area, and go and try roles out.

I don't volunteer but I do work part-time for a charity as a self-employed fundraiser and I get paid pretty well for my efforts. I was a salesman for may years so know how to chat to people.

I volunteer at a drop in Centre for veterans. I laugh a lot with the people who pop in. We make tea and coffee and generally listen and chat. Conversations can be hilarious but sometimes serious. I love what I do and wouldn’t want to stop. I was a befriender for age uk during covid and I have also volunteered for an animal charity. It is the friendships you make and the time spent with like minded people that makes me want to keep going. I would recommend volunteering to anyone that is thinking about it.

I volunteer as a fosterer for a national cat charity. The charity provide a well-made cat run in my garden which includes a heated bedroom area and an outer part. They pay for food, cat litter and vets fees and we look after the cats until they are permanently homed. At the moment we are looking after seven little kittens that were originally semi-feral, but they are coming round nicely now, getting used to playing and being handled. It is very satisfying bringing them round so that they will interact well with humans. We have a say in who adopts them, and often get feedback for years on their progress. We regularly have to take them to the vets for regular jabs, etc. We can claim for transport and other incidental costs but usually we don't. We are part of a sociable local group who all have the same love of animals and we find it very rewarding.