i-almost-volunteer
On Saturday I’m going to spend a couple of hours volunteering at the Wildlife Watch club. I’ve no idea what to expect or how I’m going to be helping, as I have not yet volunteered for the club. In fact, I haven’t done any volunteer work before, apart from a sponsored 24 hour fast for Tear Fund when I was 11-years-old.
I came across the advert for Wildlife Watch volunteers on the intranet at work. It was the bug hunt and den building sessions that caught my attention - finally, a respectable excuse to forage about in the undergrowth exploring insect worlds and getting lost in muddy adventures! Bugs, dens and mud just about sum up the most treasured of my childhood memories. Enriching, extra curricular, skills-based activities – whatever name the latest education body is giving it these days – I know it was good for me because from personal experience I can now build an enticing home for slow worms and explain to people why you should never press a mole’s nose … and if those aren’t practical and worthy skills then I don’t what are.
I am also hoping to become a ‘proper’ volunteer for Friends of the Family – a group set up to befriend families who need help on a weekly basis. This can involve supervising children during after-school activities/homework or simply being there to talk to the parents or offer a hand with any chores they may be struggling to get done. I signed up to Friends of the Family a year ago and although I’ve attended several meetings and events I haven’t yet been trained to work with the families as the charity are waiting for more volunteers to make the programme cost effective. Hopefully this will begin early 2010.
I am particularly interested in volunteer work to do with supporting families as I hold a strong belief that the answer to a happy society begins at home by creating a supportive and safe environment within the family. If that can be achieved by lending a hand once a week, listening – and actually properly listening to someone’s worries, giving practical advice or playing games with children or helping with homework, then I can’t think of a better way to spend a few hours of my week.
I'm looking forward to my first experience as a volunteer. I have been informed by the Wildlife Watch leader that Saturday's session will involve making festive crafts from natural materials and remember: 'bring wellies'!
Great piece Elisa, how did it go? I'd love to know...
If you add @ in front of a username they get a notification that they've been mentioned, ie @fabiabates :o)
If i-volunteer can help promote volunteering to your colleagues then let us know...
'Fabiabates' ...not fibiabates - apologies!
Hello!
fibiabates - my work run quite a lot of fundraising events/raffles throughout the year and promote chairy work, which is really great. I'm trying to use our intranet to advertise local charities too but haven't got round to that yet! I feel a New Years resolution coming on...!
In reference to being a 'proper' volunteer - I didn't mean in comparison to the work of Wildlife Watch. I meant that I won't receive training at Friends of the Family until early 2010, so until then I am not really an official volunteer and hence not 'proper' yet! Sorry - a badly written paragraph!
Yes robjackson, it is a pity when care for the environment is regarded as somehow less important than woking with people. Any volunteering is superbly worthwhile and you could argue (at extremes) that if the planet is broke, nothing else will matter!
Out of interest why is volunteering for Friends of the Family 'proper' volunteering compared to volunteering for Wildlife Watch?
Elisa has raised an important point.
When you volunteer for the first time with a charity (whether it's your first or your 101st) you have no idea what to expect or how you're going to be helping.
Different charities use volunteers in different ways, and most charities have volunteers that do different things.
Many people have entirely the wrong idea, whether they expect that volunteering is like working in an unpaid job, or sitting around drinking endless cuppas, and fear of the unknown, unfortunately may deter people from volunteering.
It's useful for charities if volunteers can discuss or detail the skills they have now. It's useful for volunteers if charities can detail the skills needed, whether they will accept people without those skills and train them, and what past volunteers have learnt.
What can charities do to help ?
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Be clear about what volunteers can do to help - specify the job, the role, the support, training, management, location, whether it's subject to interview or CRB clearance or reference, what expenses are paid, and the minimum hours needed.
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Be clear about what the benefit to the charity will be, for example, this will help us be more efficient; this will help us get more income to help feed the hungry.
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Exemplify the benefits to the volunteer.
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Get a recommendation or testimonial from an existing volunteer, friendly reassurance is very comforting for new volunteers.
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If volunteers are mentioned in your annual report or publicity, make this known, but allow volunteers to opt out.
Best of luck Elisa, sure you'll love it but best wrap up warm it's gonna be a cold one!
Anyone who starts doing wildlife volunteering in mid-December has my total respect!! I remember doing some tree planting on a very cold day near Worcester a few years back. Toes numb, hands numb, ears numb - but a warm glow inside :-)
Hi Elisa - I'm sure you'll have a great time. It's good to hear you heard about the opportunity through yoru work intranet - is it something your company really supports?