[Closed] Volunteering - does anyone here do this?

I thought about it but the pay was no good 😉

Seriously, yes a few years ago doing wildlife conservation locally, I was drag down by a mate and it only lasted two visits.The people in charge were a bunch of muppets who thought they could order people about like Nazi's.

Oh dear, that wasn't good! I upset my local conservation charity by riding through their 'nature reserve' and have the nerve to wish them a 'good morning'. In fact I am hoping that I will get told off. 🙄

But I can see that it's one thing getting paid to take crap ...

Yes, I love helping. I do posters and leaflet design for various charities, used to voulenteer at a centre for down syndrome adults. Give it a go!

I did.

I was Voluntary Ranger for the Pentland Hills Regional Park.

I agreed to do one weekend per month, but did a lot extra.

As an "experienced outdoor person" with an interest in conservation etc, it was right up my street. I used some of my professional skills to cone up with a better patrol system, including maps of the patrol routes and "trouble" spots.

It helped me get back into hill-walking and such when I needed an incentive after my daughter was born.

I fell out with the PHRP during the F&M crisis. It was over a policy matter and me shopping them to Radio Scotland......

I tried to get into something again recently - leading walks and so on - but the organisation was more interested in my IT skills, so that put me off.

1. Yes, guided jogging groups for folk who want to get into exercise
2. Once a week for 45 mins; I use it as a rest/slow day in terms of exercise
3. I like running, other folk wanted to run
4. Yes - it's put me in touch with folk with completely different backgrounds, helped me get an insight into different cultures (it's not just white middle class folk who come along) and it looks good on my CV

Double post - iPhone...

C_G it was annoying as some of the people were decent and I had skills to offer them.

1. Does anyone volunteer and, if so, doing what?

I build and maintain bike trails in the local State Parks in Maryland and Delaware, USA.

2. Commitment - how regularly? This could be the stumbling block for me.

3. Did you want to use your specific skills or was it by chance that something appealed?

4. Has this helped you, ie in your development as a person, and in what way?

Thanks for the replies. 🙂

So you're all basically utilising your existing skills?

druid - so have you been blacklisted now then?

chickadee - is that through your local County/Borough Council?

catflees - do you have those skills anyway?

I have thought about volunteering/training for the Samaritans but, and it's a big but, it would be pretty tough stuff. Could I handle that.

yes - I'm involved with a local voluntary youth work project. I do a fair bit of 'face to face' with the young people, and also a bit of basic book-keeping to take some of the admin load off their paid workers.

I'm really using existing skills, as I trained as a youth worker, although it's not exactly what I get paid to do these days.

I love volunteering - keeps my hand in with young people, which in turn helps my perspective on the day job.

I volunteer one day a week as a gardener for the National Trust. It started out as a way to fill my time after leaving uni and not getting a job, but I enjoyed it so much I have decided to do a college course and try to get a job in the industry.

Samaritans 😯

Good luck, not something I could do.

Check this out for LOADS of volunteering opportunities - you can select by type of work you want to do, and what time & days you can commmit to.

www.do-it.org.uk/

I have a friend who's a Samaritan and it can be incredibly tough. She once listened to someone overdose and die while she was on the phone to them and wasn't able to intervene - but as she put it, at least they didn't die alone. She has to commit to one night shift a month in addition to regular shifts but I'm not sure if that's a national thing.

I hit rocks and barrow stuff at Glentress, every couple of weeks... Interesting to do and good people, and it doesn't take much time out of my week (unless i blow my leg up and can't ride for a week, grr). But it doesn't really feel like proper volunteering somehow.

My mum was a Samaritan c-g, it is tough. There are other simular schemes for people in need who are on the road to rehabilitation. Often voulnteers are asked to do those kind of things before being a Samaritan IIRC. I have the skills already for the design work, I got into helping at the SYA (scope young adults) centre by chance, I already worked in an after school club on the same premises for ADHD children and thought I don't do anything on Friday mornings why not help out. I did an art class for the SYA and have such lovely memories of the times I helped.

Been thinking about giving it a go, but not sure where to start!

Good luck alexonabike a job you enjoy is the key to a happy working life mate.

I haven’t for a while but after the the tsunami which hit Sri Lanka I volunteered my time and skills to produce a new structural design for a steel framed school which was located in a village where a work colleague come from.
I spent every night for almost a month working on the design and drawings and at the end even though my contribution was small in comparison to what others contributed but it made me feel as if I was giving a little back. I regards to personal development not in my case it was a friend who asked for my help, the biggest realisation was once construction began that made me smile that my little bit will help the rebuilding of the country and the lives of the children.

I used to work for oxfam and i loved it. Managers were a problem, as one of them was ?20ish and wanted to run his little empire and got a bit bossy, and got quite offended that i wasn't scared of him. It was however generally a pleasant way to spend some time doing something completely different from my normal job.

Though oxfam were quite chilled with me re:commitment, that was the main stumbling block. I had 2months off work (had to take all my leave, didn't have any money to go away) so decided to volunteer, but most places were "every tuesday for 6 months" rather than whenever suited me which made it quite hard. I'd do it again, but i'd like to do something more outdoorsy and less structured, I like to just get on with things without being directed or told what to do (e.g at oxfam I could just sort books or work the tills etc)

I help out at Abigales old school when ever they ask me, about 10 days a year, always outside work. Biking, rafting, and all that great stuff. Cant wait for the next invite.

Yes,
I volunteered to work for the Red Cross helping as an emergency service support person. If your house had burnt down and you had nowhere to go, I might turn up to offer advice, help and a cup of tea.

It was very rewarding as it took my mind off other things that were going on in my life. As far as commitment it was very flexible, we had a rotor and I could chose the times (mainly nights) to suit my circumstances.

Also got to meet some lovely other people in the charity and fire service. It was very rewarding as some people we so appreciative of us turning up - thought we only worked in foreign countries...

volunteered a few hours of my time this morning to service 10 kids bikes to be sold at a local NCT charity sale and have regularly volunteered at local kids/family events for years. (I wouldn't volunteer to do anything every week tho.)
oh.. and used to volunteer to do first aid at festivals, more to do with getting in free, VIP camping in a campervan and access all areas pass than out of goodness tho.. 😉

St. Ann's Hospice has the pleasure of my servces 8 hours per week. Usually two 4 hours evenings per week, mostly on the wards. Just doing the basic, non medical stuff although I often get lumbered with the inmates children. It's pretty boring for the youngsters so we go off and cause trouble somewhere.
I do it as penance for nearly emotionaly and financialy bankruptng my wife and she's the boss of the wards.

I'm a School governor - no experience required and many schools are desperate for governors who are not parents (they have to have a certain number who aren't).

Chair of school governers and a Samaritan.

Governors is about 3/4 meetings a terms, bit more work than normal as I'm a chair, and I'm interview panels and so on. Samaritans varies depending on staffing at your local branch, but it's normally a few hours every month and a night session.

Yes,

I've worked in a soup kitchen in the US. I am blessed with a wonderful team of people in my organisation who were all happy to exchange the usual corporate BS day / "now get out of that" type challenge for this activity.

We all got a huge amount out of this experience. Seeing how efficiently a work place could be run, and how little waste there was, was amazing.

Also realising how supplying what the customer needs was refreshing.

Personally I took great pleasure from talking to the people coming to the kitchen. People who were genuinely down on their luck but were intelligent and educated.

As for commitment - I don't have enough opportunities to do this (I can only do it occassionally when I'm in the US). BUT - I would happily trade annual leave to go back there and help out some more.

I did some early trail fairy stuff at Glen Tress. In my early twenties I did lots of motorsport marshalling.

I used to be M.O. for Glencoul bothy in Sutherland. I gave that up because for family reasons I had to move back to Glasgow. I could have kept it on I guess, but all the paperwork in the MBA also put me off. So I now maintain a non-MBA 'secret' bothy.

Volunteering is good. The key is finding something you have a passion for. With me it's not people focused, but if it involves the outdoors I'll give it a go. I can see a spell as a volunteer ranger somewhere at some point.

I volunteer for the local blind society. Started off reading news for their weekly talking newspaper (they have a rota so only had to do it once a month). I couldn't believe the number of people who got the weekly tape, and so many of them wrote in to say how it helped them feel more in touch with the outside world. Then I got asked to do a weekly 10 minute radio show for the local community radio, aimed at blind people. This involved learning how to record and produce in the studio, researching for the shows, interviewing people etc, often at events. Good fun but after a couple of years I began to run out of ideas so passed it on to someone else. I still do the news reading for the tapes which takes only a couple of hours every few weeks. Its given me new skills, I've met some nice people, and I stick it on my CV - dont know if it has any effect but you never know...

I'm currently on the school ptfa commitee and have been helping out at the local scout group for about 6 months and am starting leader training in the new year.
Now my paid work commitents have changed for the better and may change again, I'd like to help the local search and rescue team and one of the local soup kitchens, although there all church based which i'm not overly keen on, but i've wanted to do something to help the homeless for years so will probably just bite the bullet, and put up with the religious side.

1. Does anyone volunteer and, if so, doing what?
I volunteer on 2 fronts - I'm an adult civilian instructor (soon to be uniformed SNCO staff) for my local Air Cadet Squadron, and I also volunteer trailbuild for Singletraction.

2. Commitment - how regularly?
For Cadets, I put in 2 Parade nights a week, as well as the odd weekend to take Cadets flying, gliding, shooting and any courses that might help me progress in the Corps. SingletrAction volunteering is usually once a month, and possibly the odd extra day elsewhere for manning a stall/tent at events.

3. Did you want to use your specific skills or was it by chance that something appealed?
I used to be a Cadet myself and decided that I wanted to give something back that would help current and future Cadets. I left Cadets as a senior Cadet NCO and had passed Air Navigation, shooting, DofE and other stuff. Trailbuilding, well, I wanted to put in some effort and work on the trails I ride regularly.

4. Has this helped you, ie in your development as a person, and in what way?
Hmmmm. I've calmed down and matured more since working within the Cadet organization, and the courses I've done and got access to, have certainly improved me and my outlook on life. My attitude towards young uns has changed as well, and I'm more likely to help those who are asking or needing help without too much thinking on my part.

As with anything, especially volunteering, the more effort you put in, then the more you will ultimately get out of it.

Used to be a Beaver leader then a Cub leader whilst my boys were going through. Didn't really put enough effort in as I really struggled for time, but it was constantly surprising how many parents wouldn't help but were happy to have a pop. Still glad I did my 7 years though.

cinnamon_girl - Member
Thanks for the replies.

So you're all basically utilising your existing skills?

druid - so have you been blacklisted now then?

Ah - I see how you could read that into my response.
No - as far as I'm aware, there is no blacklist, although I can understand that PHRP might not want to give me a glowing reference. What I was getting at was that I wanted to volunteer for some sort of outdoor activities, as that's where my preferences lie, whereas organisations tend to look at my experience and skills and want to use them to [i]their[/i] maximum advantage.

I also tried to volunteer for a couple of other things, but I found that the organisations were awful at replying to my queries.

If you can find something that you are interested in doing, I'd say that you should give it a go. Just make sure you go in with your eyes open. It's to no ones advantage to commit to something your heart isn't in.

Yes, I volunteered assisting 9 adults with learning disabilities.

I did it for a year and a half, 15-20 hours per week, it was great, Only stopped due to the fact that my hours in my regular job increased and I found I was routinely working a 65-80 hour week!

Am searching for a new opportunity now.

Blimey, this thread has been a real eye-opener! It's so nice that people muck in and 'give something back' as it were. What's interesting is the different skillsets that people have and have put to such commendable use.

I have done my bit in the past, ie back in my running days I used to do cross-country training after school with the teenagers. Also helped out with coaching teenagers at the local athletics club. Did some painting of school premises too.

Other thoughts I've had are helping out with dementia sufferers and, wait for it, helping out in the local Police station.

Thanks so much for replies. 🙂

I volunteered to get the experience I needed to get into the line of work I am in. Everyone wants an experienced operator, but no-one wants an inexperienced one.

I am now a forester for the National Trust. The roles within the Trust are more than just countryside, house, or garden and the time commitments variable, I volunteered full-time and stayed in provided accommodation, some come once a week, others on projects or time to time.

Current volunteering links online are fairly rubbish, so better to talk to your local property, though these vary too, worth an ask.

CG - If you want to do stuff with people living with dementia you can - ( not sufferers please) Most nursing homes will happily take on volunteers and the alzheimers society will as well.
http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents.php?categoryID=200150

I have worked a lot with people with dementia - it takes a certain type of person to do it but volunteers in the community can make a huge difference

1. I've been doing volunteer trailbuilding at Gisburn Forest since August 2009 or thereabouts.

2. Scheduled dig days are once a month, plus a few ad hoc days now and again, so it's not really that tying.

3. Suppose it was something that just appealed - I rode there fairly regularly, and this seemed like an opportunity to add to and improve what was already there.

4. Can't say it's helped me develop myself as such, it's just been good fun, and very satisfying.

I'm also just applying for a volunteer post on a 3-year project due to start early next year surveying, recording and documenting the prehistoric rock art of Rombalds Moor. This should be a great opportunity to spend even more time in the outdoors indulging my love of prehistoric remains, and learning new skills into the bargain.

I'm a swimming coach for the club I swam in years ago. I do three hours a week over two nights.

Only as a trail fairy for Healey Nab, its every couple of months at weekends.

Dig at Gisburn when I can, really enjoy it due to the banter. Nice mix of people I wouldn't generally meet which is great. The building of the tracks is secondary to me really. However the idea that someone else can enjoy what I helped to make does make you feel better about your day. Also helped out at the brownbacks racing at lee quarry. Really enjoyed that and is highly recommended. Get involved in something in your area. I did and it initially put me out of my comfort zone being with people I didn't know but that's part the reason why I did it.

I started volunteering this year. I had one day at a community woodland which was great except that when I turned up in the morning I was told that 'we start the day with a song', and handed a laminated sheet on which were the words of the song. There were four of us. I was the new person. Standing in a circle singing a vaguely pagan, humanist hymn. I sometimes find new situations difficult. I went off the scale on that one. They were otherwise, quite lovely people but I haven't been back.

I have been doing some voluntary work with a talking newspaper for the blind. I have a fair bit of experience in recording and editing audio and hoped that I would be able to offer those skills but got drafted into the copying team. Living nearby and being flexible with my time meant that I was often called on at short notice which I didn't mind.
They also periodically produce an audio magazine to which I'd hoped to contribute. There is a nearby blind cycling group that I'd love to make a report on.

I've also put myself forward to run an art group at a drop-in centre for people diagnosed with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. I had a brief bit of training and then had to have CRB disclosure and that took a couple of months. I also looked into doing similar for a mental health charity but that's a bit too close to how I am so probably not best suitable. (I'm also supsicious that I may be a little way along the spectrum myself). Working with Aspergers folk requires a commitment. Maybe only a few hours a fortnight but over a couple of years.

Unfortunately, things have not been good and I've not been able to do anything since June and I do feel like I've let people down a bit.
From what I've witnessed with my family, anything that goes to giving some relief to those caring for dementia sufferers is much in need and greatly appreciated.

Not dementia sufferers please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Living with dementia. Its a subtle but important difference

I have been the chair of the trustee board of a large advice centre for coming up to 7 years. We meet every 6 weeks in the evening but as chair need to spend more time with the executive management than the other trustees, and also have to do fair amount of work at home e.g. helping with funding bids, commissioning processes etc. There are another 8 volunteer trustees and around 60 volunteers providing advice to our clients (there will be more demand for volunteer advisors as the impact of the spending cuts starts to be felt with more enquiries about benefits and more people facing debt and other financial problems).

For the last 2.5 years I have also been delivering the marketing session, and sometimes the sales session, of the Prince's Trust 4 day Business Course for young people looking to set up their own business - this is either half a day or a full day once a month depending whether it is just the marketing session.

In the past I have also been chair of another organisation which worked with young people at risk of homelessness, providing them with accommodation and training. I also volunteered for Oxfam Campaigns team for a number of years in the early 90s which was fun and involved meeting politicians and personalities who would support a particular campaign. I have also mentored a small number of people on a voluntary basis in the past.

I get a lot of satisfaction from the volunteering I have done - the feedback from the young people on the Prince's Trust courses is really motivating - and its great to see how some of the young people develop. If asked what my single biggest achievement has been it would be a fundraising appeal I coordinated for Oxfam which led to a plane of emergency equipment being sent from Bristol to Rwanda in the mid 90s.

On the flip side being a trustee (and particularly being chair) can be stressful - for example undertaking a re-organisation and having to make redundancies due to funding problems. There is also a huge amount of responsibilty and very little thanks or appreciation, as few other people in the organisation realise that you are doing this on a voluntary basis.

I work as a self-employed management consultant and I work primarily with public and not-for-profit sectors such as charities, community organisations and social enterprises. As such my volunteering gives me the knowledge, skills, experience and perhaps most importantly the credibility when working with clients. For example I can empathise with the issues facing the trustee boards of client organisations.

So b*gger David Cameron's idea of "Big Society" - it's already happening across the country and amongst the regulars of STW!

yep, local trail network.

met a few others, do my bit for keeping trails in good nick, learnt some trail building skills (and how other people see lines on the trail helps with riding too).

probably avg a day a month - more regular in winter when ground is damp and good to dig, less in summer when it bakes hard and the poisonous things are around more.

I volunteer once a week at Macmillan Cancer Support office in Edinburgh. I'm in the finance department and do all kinds of work, from processing gift aid claims, sending out reports, updating the spreadsheets, input data as well as standing in front of 4 drawers and filing for 2 hours 😉 Great opportunity and experience connected with my uni course as I'm studying accountancy. I might not be directly helping people like others here but I do think I somehow contribute and benefit from it in the same time. It's a charity but it has the financial side like any other company. I get real life experience and can make life easier for the lovely 3 ladies working full time in that department. Amount of work there is huge and there is always something to do.

I help/hinder the running of SingletrAction and as my day job is cutting hair then it has and continues to help me develop my complete lack of computer skills and an understanding of the hoops that have to jumped through before anybody can build an actual trail.... 😯

Plus i turn up and do the actual digging but this gives me such pleasure that it doesn't count..

We do not order anybody about (unless they ask nicely) and put no pressure on peeps to turn up. It eithers works for you or it doesn't.

In my case i think you just get to that age (i was 35) where you are happy to put something back. Just make sure its something you are passionate about

I volunteered in a local theatre when I was a student - didn't last long as they were v disorganised and frankly quite bitchy (shock horror) and I didn't want to give up my time for that.

Since I grew up have been on various committees involved in MTB racing, and now help run events locally using a combination of volunteers if we can but sometimes we have to pay people. I often help out at local events it's fun sometimes to not have to be in the driving seat.

Also help SC coaches supervise local kids training group every second wednesday in summer. Which I think is the key, be realistic about how much time you can spend, and be prepared to make a committment. They can't run the group if not enough adults with proper training and clearances turn up for the sessions.

I find it very rewarding and would encourage you to get involved.

Just don't overtax yourself I have found myself in that position where folk are just taking advantage and stressing about something that should be rewarding.

I'm a trustee for the local Headway group - which makes sense because I work as a case manager for people with brain injuries anyway, and I'm passionate about developing networks and pathways for people with brain injuries and their families, so that the largely hidden needs of this surprisingly large group of people starts to get on the radar of the authorities. I work on the principle of 'together we are stronger' and 'if you've got the energy, why not?' I also think individuals and families need to be put at the heart of these services (subjects not objects) so I'm into helping self-organised groups get active and get strong.

Don't confuse volunteering with all this 'Big Society' bollocks, because frankly that's a smokescreen for cutting state services and outsourcing/privatising risk. The best voluntary services fill specialist niches alongside well funded and well planned public services, which are necessarily more generic.

And now it's off to work we go..............!

Yes, I read news articles for the local talking newspaper for the blind. Time commitment is one evening a month. I work full-time, so would otherwise be limited in what I could do on a regular basis.

I did an internet search on local charities, and this one had a well-organised web site, and good set-up for recruiting new volunteers. It's also personal to me as when my grandfather lost his sight, his local talking newspaper was a real lifeline.

The main plus for me (being a self-employed home worker) is that I get to chat to people, and it's something completely different from what I usually do.

Good luck finding something!

MrsT

I do marketing stuff for Aston Hill and was involved in a dig day there yesterday.

Sometimes it takes up an awful lot of time, but I do get a kick seeing the the races filling faster and people obviously getting a buzz from riding there. I genuinely believe that the Hill is an awesome venue and I love seeing people enjoying it. To me that makes it all very worthwhile.

I am a coach for a local rugby club - about 3 hours on a Thursday evening and most of a Sunday for 8 months a year. There are good days and bad days - given that I coach the Colts team (U,17, U18 and U19) this is only to be expected. However overall I do enjoy the activity and it has been very useful to improve my inter-personal skills. Done it for a number of years and am starting to reach the end of my involvement.

As an aside, like most people who volunteer, I am surprised at the number of people (normally parents) who are not prepared to assist with activities and then have a go at the people who do.

I volunteer at a local cycle club. probably 3 out of 4 saturday mornings. I'm an SMBLA mtb leader and level 2 BC coach (soon to be mtb specific) and really enjoy it. Not a big commitment but enough for me.

As an aside, like most people who volunteer, I am surprised at the number of people (normally parents) who are not prepared to assist with activities and then have a go at the people who do.

Yes, definitely. It's always easier to point out what's wrong than actually do something about it.

As an aside, like most people who volunteer, I am surprised at the number of people (normally parents) who are not prepared to assist with activities and then have a go at the people who do.

well said, it won't be the first time a parent has had a pop for no valid reason, usually when things are explianed to them they apologise but not in all cases.

my wife and i help run a small charity doing social projects in india. takes up allot of our time(esp during the summer when most of our fund raisers are), dont get paid but my s/e work, which only takes up 30hrs max per week, pays ok. as trustees we meet perhaps 4 times a year. i also do 3hrs a week in the local rspca shop.
the india work is great, its small but affective. the only downer is its a can of worms; there is always more that could be done . i'm part indian so we get to see the projects on a regular basis. no other reason to do it except it felt right to do something as we are fortunate to have the luxury of donating some time. local shop is great because its local!

I've done a range of things over the years and continue to do so

Practical conservation and survey work
Leading a schools expedition to Bolivia
Trail building and
Outdoor youth work and coaching
Fell rescue team

It's helped me to gain work in the past, to maintain perspective on my day job and has provided job satisfaction when my paid work has failed to deliver in that department.

I'm sceptical also of the "Big Society". I know lots of people who "give back" regularly though perhaps there are sections of society who could be persuaded to think a little more than just about number one.

I volunteered for around a year, 4-5 hours a week plus extra bits here and there. Eventually got a paid job doing it which I love and gave up my soul destroying 9-5. Community music, helping kids make and play music essentially.

I do some IT help for another charity at the mo.

Scouts, assistant scout leader, I got asked and figured if I wouldn't do it why should anybody else. My kids are too young but are working their way through Beavers and Cubs so will be in the group soon.

Special skills? nope but I am generally practical and like outdoor stuff so happy to pass on what I can. I did take them for their cycling badge, its scary how many cannot ride a bike aged 10-14ish, 5 miles and only one broken bone 😕

I'm not sure I enjoy it all the time, often it frustrates me but occasionally I think I have managed to pass something on.

If nothing else it does give my mates something to tease me about 🙂

1 night a week, two weekends a year and assorted other bits

Mrs B helps out at a lunch club a couple of hours once a week for older, but able people who can get to the venue.

She also see's a total of 3 people who are living with dementia at their home. One weekly and two less often. This is through Age Concern. She has enjoyed this and does gets far more from it then she ever thought she would. (One guy, who died recently, was a code breaker at GCHQ during WW2). Just because they are old does not make them interesting.

I was made redundant a month ago and once I sort myself out I will probably volunteer for something also.

1. Institute of Advanced Motorists - Local group Vice-Chairman and volunteer instructor - on average about 2 hours every other Sat morning and one or two evenings a month. Not strictly all volunteering as you have to be a member but I also get paid for certain training I provide.

Why? Doing my bit to help improve driving standards and make the roads safer.

2. School Governor. Also got more involved with school build. About a morning a month.

3. Run the local Residents Association (I've been 'Acting Chairman' for the last 5 years). Organise Community Events (we've an Owl Prowl next Tues!) put out the occasional newsletter and organise infrequent meetings. Maximum 7 days over the year.

4. Help marshall and provide 'First Aid' cover at bike events.

5. Help run a monthly community 'Litter Pick' group

6. Do the occasional 'Community Speed Watch' with the local police / councillors.

7. Dabble in politics - member of the local executive.

8. The Mummers (secret sect - you'll have to look it up 😉

And each Weds Night I usually lead a local group of lay-abouts on a bike ride 😀

Allied to those, not so much 'volunteering' but I try to get to support other groups like our local Cyclists Campaign Group, the Local History Society, Gardening Club etc etc. Often just by turning up and taking part in the debate or helping make the tea etc. 😆

Have done lots similar over the years:
- Trustee for an Environmental Charity (which set up the first 'Farmers Market').
- Helped teach young offenders to read and write.
- Ran a 'Bike Maintenance and Riding Skills' course at the local yoof club.

Why? Something different from work, helps widen your interests. Using skills I've gained at work to help outside and to an extent vice versa. Most of all because it's good to give as well as take and it's important to me to be part of the local community.

Yes, like work there's the occasional numpty but on the whole people understand your a volunteer and there's less of the pressure and hassle that accompany 'real' work.

Thanks to all those above for everything you do!

Go for it C_G and let us know how you get on.

Up until last year I was a council walk leader. Mainly leading walks every fortnight for a 4-5 mile or 2 hour stint.

I saw an ad. in the local paper and after an interview, I was handed over the responsibility of leading as many as 35 people around our local countryside.

Its one of the best things I ever did. There are so many lonely people out there in this world, and our walks were a way of getting them out of their homes and out into some fresh air.

So many regulars came that they began to hold gatherings and social events for themselves.

Poor health made me give it up last year, but I shall be back.

The feeling of putting something back into our community is a strong one. I urge everyone to go and find something that suits them and have a go.

Good luck c-g.