Volunteering - Does anyone here do it?

[The Funktopus]

Hi guys,

I thought I'd start a thread on the subject of volunteering, and was wondering whether anyone here did it? In essence, my job means I'm at work for typically 13 weeks at a time, then on leave for about 10-11, meaning I have some time on my hands.

My friends typically work during the week, so socialising with them Monday-Friday is somewhat difficult, and typically, by about 11am I have all the chores in my flat out of the way, and I've done my workout in the gym, meaning I'm then sat on my arse in the flat, watching TV or messing about on GTA V on the Playstation. I realise this maybe some people's idea of paradise , but after a couple of weeks, the novelty starts to wear a bit thin.

And here's where I thought volunteering might give me something gainful to do with my free time.

So, do any of my fellow OCUK'ers volunteer, and what is it you do? And more to the point, how did you find it, are there any websites or organisations you'd recommend getting in touch with?

Cheers!

 

[Jim99]

More important question: what on earth do you do for a living?

 

[tom_e]

Workers Beer Company are a good one to get in contact with if you like festivals, you'll usually do a 6 hour bar shift each day then you've got the rest of the time to enjoy the festival and you don't have to put a deposit down for the cost of the ticket like places like Oxfam make you do.

I done a lot of work for them from 2005-2011 had some great times, you'll meet some different people but also a lot of great people and it's perfect if you're around over the summer.

Edit: Burnsy's post has just reminded me of another thing any of the cadet organisations are always looking for volunteers, sea cadets would be perfect with your background.
I was never a volunteer but was a member of the Air cadets when I was younger and the volunteers we had there seemed to get a lot out of it.

 

[Burnsy2023]

I spend loads of time volunteering.

1. I'm a Special Constable working on a response team. I probably average around 60 hours a month on this.

2. I lead a Volunteer Police Cadet unit for the Constabulary. It's basically a youth group for young people aged 13-18 who learn about the Police and get involved in crime prevention and community engagement. This probably takes up another 60-70 hours a month. This included organising my team, getting cadet operations planned, dealing with child safeguarding, sessions inputs and coordinating the Duke of Edinburgh Award there's not much time left. With that said, I am involved in an amazing group of young people who have bags of enthusiasm; it's great to be part of helping them get new experiences and develop into young adults. I feel privileged to be part of the scheme.

There are plenty of youth organisations out there and if you're interested in this many are desperate for adult leaders.

 

[ci_newman]

I'm a Scout leader Admittedly the number of hours I've been doing recently has dropped since my second child arrived, but it is rewarding when I have the energy!

 

[CREATIVE!11]

Yes,

Volunteered in a charity shop for a while (pretty boring but gets you talking to people) and I volunteered with disabled people / in a hospice (Quite tough maybe not for everyone especially when you see relatives hearing a loved one has died).

However I think volunteering is a good character builder, there are plenty of websites online that will help you find something.

I spend loads of time volunteering.

1. I'm a Special Constable working on a response team. I probably average around 60 hours a month on this.

I actually applied to be a special but moved away, I may look into it again tbh.

 

[Dark_Injection]

I voluteered for 6 months in Germany and now im volunteering in a school in the Himalayas and have been here for 6 months already.

If your life can do it or your like me and enjoy finding different ways to travel the world, then why not.

Oh also i didnt find mine on the net, but i know a website people have used.

http://helpx.net

 

[Burnsy2023]

I actually applied to be a special but moved away, I may look into it again tbh.

It's worth doing as long as you're patient and have the time - it's really will sap all your free time. You'll have experiences that you can't get anywhere else.

 

[The Funktopus]

More important question: what on earth do you do for a living?

I'm an engineering officer in the Merchant Navy.

Thanks for the input guys, my search has turned up the sea cadets as a possibility, seeing as it's in a field related to what I do.

 

[Derp]

I volunteer at a soup kitchen once a week most weeks. I get called all sorts of names, and always come home stinking of tinned hotdogs... it's great!

I kind of stumbled into it. After separating from the wife a few years ago I found I had a lot of free time on my hands. There was a stand asking for donations of tinned food at my work... I didn't have anything but asked where I could donate. I went along to the car park it's run from with the intention of dropping off a bag of stuff and getting outta there as quickly as I could, but one of the people who run the place explained they were short-staffed that day and asked me if I'd help out whilst I was there. At the end of the evening she just looked over and said, "See you next week, yeah?". Been going most weeks for a couple of years now... rain or shine, the homeless are always there ready to eat some crappy hotdogs. Have even served them in the snow before

 

[Burnsy2023]

I'm an engineering officer in the Merchant Navy.

Thanks for the input guys, my search has turned up the sea cadets as a possibility, seeing as it's in a field related to what I do.

Sounds like a great idea. The sea scouts is another that may be interesting to you.

 

[Reaper 392]

I've been volunteering at Battersea dogs and cats home for the past couple of months and have been really enjoying it so far. There are loads of different roles you can volunteer for, but I went for being a cattery support volunteer. My main job is to keep the cattery clean, the moggies fed and generally help out the full time staff wherever I can, and once that is all sorted I get to socialise with some of the cats, which is always great.

 

[Raggs]

I have done voluntary work before in the conservation / woodland management sector, great fun met some good people the organization i did it for even paid for some useful courses too first aid at work, practical stuff ect..

 

[Grimley]

I help my local Royal British Legion with the poppy appeal & I've just rejoined a Lions club.

 

[Pawnless Endgame]

More important question: what on earth do you do for a living?

This. I need a job to pay the bills. When I was on the dole though, I did volunteer (with Age UK) as it was useful to put on the CV to fill up employment gaps.

 

[Burnsy2023]

This. I need a job to pay the bills. When I was on the dole though, I did volunteer (with Age UK) as it was useful to put on the CV to fill up employment gaps.

Volunteering is more than about filling gaps in the CV. I'm employed full time and I love putting my spare time to good use helping other people.

 

[Clipsey]

My wife and I volunteered at the local animal shelter. We both absolutely loved it, but more importantly, the animals liked it even more
Just wish I could retire and volunteer full time.

 

[abbotsmike]

I'm a scout leader in my "spare" time! It's good fun, keeps my hand in doing the things I loved doing as a scout, and means that I do my bit to stop the next generation being a bunch of wusses that cant operate a match or a pen knife!

 

[FoxEye]

Volunteering has been on my list of things to do for, well about 3 years... Really should give myself a kick up the arse and go do it.

Not sure what I'd do, mind... since I much prefer animals to people/kids

 

[peige]

Volunteering is something I also want to do, probably with the elderly or alike, don't know if I will be any good at it but feel I'd like to widen my world a little from the hamster wheel i'm on some weeks.