Volunteering Q & A

[Rincewind]

Good article for anyone thinking about volunteering. (even if it is in the Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/sep/03/charities-volunteers-employment-law-advice

[Reynard Bleu]

Only volunteer when ordered to do so.

[OzFox]

Only volunteer when ordered to do so.

Is that another Duke of Wellington quote?

[AoWW]

Only volunteer when ordered to do so.

Sounds like my other half!

[Rincewind]

Went in the coffee shop where I have applied to work today. Its on Bishop Street and in the methodist Church along there. Quie funy thing happened later on. I went in the Kings Head later anf someone I know came in. He's a bit of a church goer and knows I'm not. He was saying to me you know you'll have to join in with prayers and read the bible? I said no way I'm seving tea and thats it.

The landlord interupted and said OI no politics and no religion talk in here. He meant it as well.

Anyway there is a training session there. Well I think its there. The coffee shop does not belong to the church the space is hired out and run by some organisation that does business traing and other stuff.

I should have double checked when I was in there but as the jobs there I assume there will be some on hand training.

[Libertine]

Do it ASAP if you're young and unemployed. I waited way too long to start but been doing a couple for the last few months which have helped me get into an NHS apprenticeship which I got on Monday. Not great as I want a full job really but it's a start.

[Rincewind]

Just trying to look busy and if I'm doing something. Not young but if I am able to do part time jobs and still manage to live I think if a place are looking for part time workers younger people would prefer full time so us older ones stand a better chance.

Interesting article though. Volunteers do not have to be treated the same way as paid workers. Nothing wrong with that but if they do a decent job it helps if paid work becomes available.

[ADK]

I have to say i'm very much not keen on the idea of volunteering. I believe in the principal that if you do work for someone that you should receive payment.

[Rincewind]

I agree in some respect, but if it was not for the unpaid volunteers charities such as Cancer Research or Dr Banados would not be able to provide the care that they do. There are times thoughI wonder myself about it. There are people that do charity work do get paid a wage. They are normally the administraters and accountants and the ones at the top. But their role may be full time and cannot take days off. Normal volunteers can just ring up and not fake a sickie and say I'm not in the mood and they'll say OK thanks for letting us know.

[ADK]

I agree in some respect, but if it was not for the unpaid volunteers charities such as Cancer Research or Dr Banados would not be able to provide the care that they do. There are times thoughI wonder myself about it. There are people that do charity work do get paid a wage. They are normally the administraters and accountants and the ones at the top. But their role may be full time and cannot take days off. Normal volunteers can just ring up and not fake a sickie and say I'm not in the mood and they'll say OK thanks for letting us know.

I guess it is not for me to say what people should do or should not do but i feel you should receive some form of compensation if you do work. I would never work for free but i would do community work for low pay. I dislike where charities in the UK are providing services that should be provided by the government.

[Daggers]

Sounds like my other half!

Schizophrenia is manageable and treatable

[Rincewind]

Yes that's the crux of it. While people are volunteering the government (s) will cut their funding meaning community sevices and charities have less to go around so more volunteers are hired to replace the paid workers. There should be some sort of fund in place.

For instance I'm getting JSA Whhy not add a little to it if you do voluntary. It would be well below the national average but it would be some sort of award for not sitting on your backside and you get nothing atm anyway.

But the problem is once you start receiving cash the employment rules change. May be different if Govt pays.

[Knightonian]

I have to say i'm very much not keen on the idea of volunteering. I believe in the principal that if you do work for someone that you should receive payment.

I worked as an Administrator for the Red Cross for a year (on a voluntary basis). I believe in the principle that you look after your fellow humankind whenever you can. you look after those less fortunate than you and if you can.... you make their lives better.... I never expect payment for helping out someone less fortunate than me....

[ozleicester]

I support those that volunteer and have the highest regard for any one who does, its a truly fine thing and congratualtions and thank you, to everyone who does.

however, I am increasingly annoyed by the, (what appears to me at least), deliberate ploy by governments around the world to increase the amount of volunteering and charity collecting/fundraising when they are using it to reduce their responsibilities. Tax is paid to pay for hospitals etc, they should be fully staffed and not in NEED of volunteers, volunteers should be a benefit, instead they are now essential.

1) Increase tax (particularly to higher earners and corporations)

2) reduce wastage

3) Stop promising tax cuts etc just to get elected

[Rincewind]

Part curiosity I looked at overseas volunteering. Unless you are a specialist maybe in construction financial nursing etc, yo have to pay for your travel, accomi#ondation and living expenses from the piece I read it can run into thousnds. Unless you re rich or a TV celebrity in part of a documentary it is not worth it. If you are a specialist you would only get the basics and have some sort of living quarters and fed by the locas if it is a povert stricken area.

I often wonder if I could have done something years ago. Would I still be doing it as a long time server or would I have contracted an incurable disease? Would have been much more rewarding life. Doing instead of talking. What often put me off was the church connection. There is nothing wrong with them being involved, they do a lot of good work, it's the preaching and trying to convert the natives that I disagree with But then again if i had been doing it for 30 years they may have got to me as well and I'd be part of the cult.

I do the volunteering partly to gain new experiences and partly beause I can. The reward is knowing you have done something to change a persons life if only for a brief moment A smile and a thank you is payment enough.