Volunteering - Have/would you?

James07

James07

James07

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Joined
6 Dec 2006
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Location
West Yorkshire
Ive been interested in doing this for a very long time.

Weather it was for a magistrates or just a charity, i always thought it would be a good experience and lok good on a CV..

Im currently applying for the Specials at the moment which is basically a voluntary police officer, exactly the same as being a police officer except the pay - for those of you that dont know.

But!! When searching the net i came across this,

http://www.workingabroad.com/page/26/nevada-wilderness-usa.htm

How cool does this look.

Have any of you ever done this? Would you ever do this?

Let me know your thoughts.

James.
 
My mum has told me that i should do it, its something she would do if she had her time again due to the fact that its such a learning curve and such an experience that would change you and could possibly make you see things a lot differently..
 
I very nearly went for the 3 week programme in Iceland, working in the parks, the only reason I didn't was due to work commitments. I really want to give it a go sometime in the future though.
It just seems a great way to get away from the rat race and spend your time doing something worthwhile whilst making the most of a great experience. Also seems a great way to meet new people.
 
Aye i know what you mean, its just an unimaginable experience, you get to relax completely when you get the time off, you work full on when your due to, hard, motivated, stressful work, which is what i love anyway, experiencing extremes of weather, seeing such a beautiful place aswell, could you imagine paying to see such a place? I know i can.

So if you can Volunteer to do something in a place which you would pay to visit, then why not go for it?

And get some brilliant life experience and definately that would curve your maturity and life.

EDIT: Can someone add abroad to the title after volunteering please, cheers.
 
Well I voluntereed for a company (profit making organisation in this case) I work for now about 15 months ago simply because I had nothing better to do and couldn't be employed at the time. As soon as I sorted the employment issue they took me on fulltime and been with them since.

I might consider volunteering abroad in the near future as well while I still have the opportunity (very few commitments, still living with parents, etc) just not sure I have any skills that might be that useful out there though.
 
neoboy said:
(very few commitments, still living with parents, etc) just not sure I have any skills that might be that useful out there though.
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You see im living with the monther which is why im seriously considering it, i have brilliant friends, i have no gf, i have no commitments at all to stay, except college, so maybe once thats finished id go, im working for Abbey National at the moment but its through an agency and i wont get offered perm for atleast 6 months (apparantly) so, maybeeeee.

And as for the skills, you gain them, you get training, you gain and improve skills, hense why i want to do it, would be amazing to come back with so many stories, id take out a diary and that and write so much, take pictures constantly, do lots of things and come back with so many memories, and what an experience to have.

You know, meet a girl, job interviews, friends, randomers, how impressed would they be?

Theres so many good things to doing it at a young age and im so interested in doing it, just, what could be bad things about doing this?
 
I've done bits of volunteering, on and off. Looked at becoming a Special in 2005 but postponed it, and haven't really wanted to/had the time since as I've been busy with my degree. I have, however, helped out with Thames Valley Police's IPLDP (if I've even got that right), which is their officer training programme. Basically involves doing roleplays and stuff, good fun and quite insightful.
 
TheVoice said:
which is their officer training programme. Basically involves doing roleplays and stuff, good fun and quite insightful.
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Is that locked to that specific region or is it regional?

Im very interested in being a police officer one day and that would be valuble to have..
 
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James07 said:
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Now that you're putting it this way I'm even more interested. My current job is something I wouldn't really have a problem leaving really, while it's not bad it's not something I'm interested in and want to have a career in. Plus I'm planning on going to University in September anyway and will be applying for my Door Supervisors badge soon (already have a place lined up) so it would mean that I would only leave a couple of months earlier that I wanted to.

If do this or something similar I would definitely have something to remember and I have more than enough time to do this before I head off to Uni.
 
neoboy said:
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Which post did you find inspiring?

The thing is with me though, id want to do it more than once, and would that really be feasable?

Could i afford to volunteer twice, three times, more?

If i did go i think id save so much money when i return due to the fact that ill have learnt to live without, not because i have no money, but because i dont need it, plus, traveling abroad alone would be quite daunting for anyone young.

Would be interesting though i think, and an experience that id love as i love my freedom.

I just want to know more about the work out there, what id actually do, how id do it, what id use, good and bad factors of it.
 
I'm in the process of applying for the special constabulary too, I tried for it last year but failed on the entrance exam, i'm going to be trying and re-trying untill I get there.. I really want to give something back to the community and I just find police work in general facinating.. :)
 
James07 said:
Is that locked to that specific region or is it regional?

Im very interested in being a police officer one day and that would be valuble to have..
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I don't know, best thing to do is contact WYP (assuming that's where you are currently) and see what they have to say. I can't imagine it being something that only TVP offer though, given that they're standardising and nationalising police officer training for the entire of the UK now. It'd make no sense. Might as well phone and ask though.

I found out about TVP's programme through Uni (studying Policing, actually!).
 
I've just done a very interesting 3 days a week for 3 months in a Juvenile Offenders Prison as a Learning Support Assistant.
I'm now in the process of waiting for 3 jobs to come up which I know are happening soon (obviously doesn't mean I'll get one).
 
TheVoice said:
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Aye ill contact them, ill check the website, ther must be something on there about it, im on there often enough looking at Police Jobs and keeping an eye out for the latest recruitment drive.

The link i posted above, has anyone here done this or anything similar?

dmpoole said:
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Good luck dude. My mum worked in a Prison as a Prison Officer, she wants to go back into it for some strange reason..
 
I think it's a good idea if you have got time. I do not. I am stupidly busy so it would be a daft idea for me.
 
James07 said:
Im currently applying for the Specials at the moment which is basically a voluntary police officer, exactly the same as being a police officer except the pay - for those of you that dont know.
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Is that the same as a CSO (community safety officer)? Because they don't have any powers of arrest IIRC.
 
PCSO - Police community support officer

They do have the power to arrest people, but they dont do things like, chase people, house arrests,they basically just walk the streets and keep the peace and do what they need to do if such an issue arises..

Whereas a Special is a Voluntary Police Officer, you have full rights, you have every power a police officer has except you dont get the pay that they get, and due to no pay, you dont get the special benifits, you get some, but not ones that correspond to the wage i.e. wage rise.

My mums mates fiance is one.. He tells me about it all the time, im currently in the process of applying and hes due to come over and help me with it. Its a lot easier to get into due to the fact that they need police and dont want to pay, but once you have done some experience you will find it easier to get into the police force which is the exact route im taking.
 
Worked at the TVC in Thailand for a while building houses, 'twas good fun and met some great people :D
 
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