Do you volunteer?

I volunteered many years ago with the Macular Society. The locals and me meet monthly for a coffee and if anybody has any questions, me and the group leader help out. Most are shell shocked to learn there is a good possibility of them becoming severely sight impaired. I need help to put a signature on an official document and of course I can't read what I have signed in peace afterwards.

I’ve never really thought of the things I do or have done as volunteering but reading all these posts I suppose they are.
Over the years I have been on many committees for local causes and schools when our girls were younger . I’ve sung in choirs that have performed free to fund raise and for clubs and residential homes. I’m on the local WI committee .
A friend and I also run a local craft group. I’m always happy to bake for charity events.
Many of these help others by giving them somewhere to go and meet other people and I too have made friendships along the way.

Thank you everyone, this is so helpful. I’ve gots lots to think about but am now looking into either Homestart or the Samaritans.

Not any longer, but have done various voluntary positions over my lifetime. I really enjoy it, but my health is not so great just now. If it improves I will certainly consider taking it up again.

I volunteer as a gardener fora local National Trust one day a week. There are about 18 of us on my day and are a really varied group of people. 50% of them are approaching 80 so it must be doing them some good! We take a packed lunch with us and have some great conversations whilst wielding a hoe or picking the produce for the shop and restaurant. 👩‍🌾

I find I get a huge amount out of this work and meet some lovely people at the local foodbank, serving in the " shop".

Witzend

Used to. I used to drive people to and from various appointments - mostly GP/hospital, and once a month sit by the phone taking request calls for lifts, and trying to match them up with volunteer drivers. But would often end up doing them myself.

I eventually stopped because the scheme was intended for people who were unable to use public transport, and who couldn’t afford taxis, for what was usually quite short journeys.

Only the number of people who were blatantly taking the P, using the scheme as a free taxi service, really started to bother me, so I called it a day.

While I don’t do any voluntary work outside the house any more, I spend a great deal of time making items that are always wanted, for a particular charity.
It’s not just time either - the cost of materials and postage do certainly add up.

I am a befriender to a fellow veteran and buddy to people with cancer. I also work for a couple of hours a week helping with a community garden.

I teach tai chi and have done so for 17 years now. It's the most rewarding thing I could ever have done and I'm so grateful to have had this opportunity. We, the instructors not only are volunteers, but we pay to go to our own classes! The money raised goes towards all hall fees in the area. (four small towns/villages and to bringing in international instructors when we can. We pay all expenses, including air fares, for them but when we are bringing in someone from USA or Canada we try to combine with others in our group in Poland which makes that slightly more affordable for us all. It's really an all-consuming thing to do but as well as providing the benefits of tai chi for so many locally, we are also reaping the benefits in our own bodies. When I look at us all, I marvel at how healthy we all are- and there are a number of us in our mid 80s.

Like Cabbie21 I volunteered at Citizens Advice. I did it for ten years until I had to give up due to health problems. I really enjoyed being able to help people with a wide variety of issues and the staff and other volunteers were lovely. You do have to undertake training but most of it is done by shadowing other volunteers and you don’t need any specific qualifications or prior experience. You just need to be a good listener and communicator. I thoroughly tecomnend it if you want to keep your brain active.

I do a few bits but one thing that can be done at home if that suits and in your own time is checking puzzles for a local jigsaw festival, should you have one. Ours also sells checked jigsaws online all year round and raises an amazing amount of money for local charities. One of our charity shops is happy to take any with missing pieces, as long as they’re clearly marked as not complete.

Used to. I used to drive people to and from various appointments - mostly GP/hospital, and once a month sit by the phone taking request calls for lifts, and trying to match them up with volunteer drivers. But would often end up doing them myself.

I eventually stopped because the scheme was intended for people who were unable to use public transport, and who couldn’t afford taxis, for what was usually quite short journeys.

Only the number of people who were blatantly taking the P, using the scheme as a free taxi service, really started to bother me, so I called it a day.

The charity I volunteered with is a local one. I've been a befriender to a child between the age of 5 and 13 who would benefit from regular time with a committed adult. The volunteer spends time with the child, about 3 hours a week, for about 15 months, normally outside the home. But the child and parent/guardian know only your first name and don't know where you live. Training and enhanced DBS of course.
I was with Home Start for some years before this, about 12 years in all after retirement. I loved doing it but it was demanding. I could tell some stories!
Nowadays it's just litter-picking and occasional help with school visits to the local historic building.

I volunteered in a charity shop for 15 years. It was for a charity supporting kids with special needs. I worked closely with a good friend and we saw many Managers come and go. We both left when a new one came who most of the staff couldn’t get on with.

I also volunteered for 3 years on Saturdays for a charity helping older, socially isolated people. The funding ran out but it was great while it lasted.

I would like to volunteer again but I now have a disabled husband who needs me.

You probably have a u3a near you - they need committee members, group leadrs, teamakers, organisers, for the group as a whole & for the individual groups. Our u3a has 2000 members & 90 interest groups, so help is always welcome

Being a charity trustee can be great and its not physically demanding. Typically there are 6 board mtgs pa, an annual planning session, & you may be part of an online committee too. Many advertise posts or you can apply & wait for a vacancy.

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.

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 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'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’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 meant lovely person but she’s lively as well

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 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.

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.