Volunteering shouldn't be this hard, surely?

I have a friend with the same problem. She now volunteers for a charity which organises transport to hospital appointments etc. Apparently you can block off the days you’re busy on the website and also choose days and times when you’re available. I’m afraid I don’t have any more details. My friend lives quite far from me but I think this service is quite widespread.

Our food bank takes on casual volunteers. Most do odd days and just let the scheduler know when they cannot do a shift.

When my H first retired we did two voluntary projects.
One was with disabled children which was a regular commitment and one was driving people to hospital , dental, podiatrist appointments etc.
We could do that when we were able.
If we couldn't do a certain day we could say but we are free tomorrow.
That was ideal.
The other was more of a commitment as we could never let the parents, who desperately needed a break, down.

Have you considered school readers charity
I've been volunteering since May and though they want a degree of commitment I've had no issues if I say sorry can't come next week

My experience of volunteering has been to sit on various committees in housing associations and as a student rep in uni. A different kind of volunteering but still serving the community. The posters upthread are correct. If people do not turn up when expected (say for a committee) there may not be a quorum and then the event has to be re-scheduled. This is to the annoyance and inconvenience of those who do attend.

If you have difficulty with formal volunteering opportunities for an organization why not start up some new hobby or interest? Or volunteer informally in your local community helping out with shopping or small errands for the less mobile?

I understand your problem, I also couldn't commit to a regular day when I frst retired.

Then I found a charity that visited older people at home dealing with benefits claims, among other things. It wasideal. I would take on cliients as and when I had time and arrange to visit them at home. Unfotunately this schem ran out of funding and was stopped.

I also volunteered with a charity that maintained redundant churches. Again I had a group of churches I visited regularly, but when it suited me, emptying collection boxes, and generally keeping an eye on them, as well as help with fund raising events.

I think you need to look around for off beat opportunities, but I agree most charities need volunteers to commit to a regular time table, which if you cannot do it, you cannot do it.

Being unable to commit to regular days is why I don’t volunteer any more, though I’ve done so in the past. Dd1 has to go away for work fairly often, sometimes for as much 10 days, so I like to go and help SiL (60 miles away) who works FT, with 3 young children, 4 cats and chickens. 😱

I would love to live near enough one of the major theatres and would happily volunteer as an usher/programme seller at the theatre, opera or ballet. Or the proms - I once asked the usher if she stayed to listen to the concert and she sort of shrugged and said it depended on the piece! 😵‍💫

pascal30 That sounds excellent but I live 'out in the sticks' with regards to that type of work - at least to a certain extent - this would not be practical - a shame because it must be amazing to get free tickets lol.

B9exchange I was quite involved locally in the covid vaccination programme (admin) and was, in fact, offered a paid role after a few weeks - I was 64? Hopefully it's not your age, that would be so unfair.

Yes, I thought that might be the problem. It seems a shame but understandable. With the invigilating I do it works well as they know I don't want to be on any rota but also know that they can phone me either the day before or even on the day (if they have been let down or someone is sick) and I will always fill in if around. I had hoped I might find something like that? Heyho, back to the drawing board.

Is there are local Good Neighbours Scheme, driving people to and from hospital, shopping, etc? You would be offered jobs and up to you whether you accept them. If you can't drive, you could always offer to take on the duty officer role and accept requests and ring others.

I agree the local NHS volunteer scheme didn't lead to anything for me. I was hoping it might lead to paid employment, since even with tax you still keep 80% and I really could use some extra income, but having been messed about for seven months, after three interviews and two promises of starting soon, they have finally decided they do not have the finance to take me on. I have a suspicion my age might have come into it, they admitted I had vast esperience!

You could try exploring getvolunteering.co.uk/?

I volunteer a a big local concert and events venue. We have to do 2 events per month minimum and get sent a list of all the events and availablity so we can choose when we wish to work, a month in advance. This sort of thing might work well.. I get to see some amazing events and often get free tickets..

Even if you were to offer a few days a month it would require a degree of commitment and regularity, rota's need to be drawn up, other people considered. It would seem you want too much flexibility which would not really work in practice.

DH does volunteer driving for RVS taking people to hospital for radiotherapy. He is asked for his availability in the previous week.

Though, I suspect most volunteering opportunities require regular commitment. I have to commit to 6 weeks at a time for my role.

I think that is your problem, most organisations need to plan and your offer of occasional odd days just won’t work for them. I do remember when I was involved with a charity having to say no thanks to some volunteers. I was extremely unpopular but the object of the exercise is for volunteers to help not the other way round!

I would imagine that your requirement for flexibility is a problem - it means you can’t be relied on.