What volunteering do you do?

[All uphill]

I have done bits of volunteering most of my adult life.

Currently I meet each week with refugees for coffee and conversation.

It helps them improve their English and understanding of our culture, and educates and occupies me enjoyably.

What do you do?

 

[Ian H]

I was a volunteer youth worker back in the 80s, until I started my own business. Currently it's all cycling-related: calendar events director for Audax UK; chair of Exeter Wheelers (it's our centenary year), and running various events.

 

[Drago]

In the past I've done search and rescue at various levels (search technician, planner, ops officer, search manager) and given up my time to do MTB training to SAR groups for free. Physically it's hard work and with Mrs D's variable health and my duties doing school runs etc it was proving harder to devote the time and make myself meaningfully available for jobs so reluctantly quit in 2021.

Ife also done volunteer marshaling at cycling events, but binned that duento the unpleasant rudeness of a minority of riders.

Now I give my time as a parish councillor, no political affiliation.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I volunteer with refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow and have done since retiring 2.5 years ago.

I help with all sorts of stuff, including an English conversation club. The range of needs is too broad to list and we signpost many to more appropriate and qualified support. The people who come to us are amazing, resilient, determined and eager. So many of them become volunteers themselves and give back as much as they can. I find it to be the highlight of my week, having made so many friends there.

The only other volunteering I did before that was around 9 years ago in Ghana for a Scottish charity which had built a boarding school for girls in the north. Another unforgettable experience full of joy and laughter.

I’d recommend volunteering to anyone and wish I’d done more in the past.

 

[oldwheels]

Currently none but in the past I was a Community Councillor and on the Harbour Committee which developed the marina. We had to take control as the Crown Estate would have done so otherwise. I was the company secretary of our local art centre.
Also involved in politics tho’ never considered standing myself.
Founder member of the cycle club and acted as marshal and often timekeeper at races.

 

[All uphill]

Another unforgettable experience full of joy and laughter.

Exactly my experience!

It continues to smash my preconceptions of people arriving here.

 

[stephec]

I've marshalled when I was in a cycling club, and I was on the core team of our local Parkrun until I had to give that up.

 

[Mo1959]

I've marshalled when I was in a cycling club, and I was on the core team of our local Parkrun until I had to give that up.

Are you still running?

 

[sevenfourate]

Something I’ve thought recently about doing.

This thread is quite humbling….

 

[stephec]

Are you still running?

Not for the past two months, still on Strava.

Last year I had covid in September and couldn't run for two months, when I finally did it took me until this July to get back to somewhere near what I was like.

Then this September I started feeling tired all the time and took a week off which is still on going, the doctor's put it down to a virus, and a blood test showed really low vitamin D so I'm on big tablets for ten weeks.

Might try a couple of miles next week.

The volunteering stopped about six years ago.

 

[All uphill]

Something I’ve thought recently about doing.

This thread is quite humbling….

If you find the right thing for you it's very rewarding. I get far more than I give.

From time to time I've been invited to use skills I've gained at work in a volunteering role. That has always felt like unpaid work.

Now I do things to challenge my preconceptions. I've volunteered with homeless people and now with refugees. Both have opened my eyes and humbled me.

 

[sevenfourate]

If you find the right thing for you it's very rewarding. I get far more than I give.

From time to time I've been invited to use skills I've gained at work in a volunteering role. That has always felt like unpaid work.

Now I do things to challenge my preconceptions. I've volunteered with homeless people and now with refugees. Both have opened my eyes and humbled me.

Sounds rewarding, interesting and mind-opening.

How do you find out / hear about openings for volunteers ?

 

[Drago]

You local carncil may well keep a register of local volunteering opportunities.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Sounds rewarding, interesting and mind-opening.

How do you find out / hear about openings for volunteers ?

I found out about mine through my daughter, who had done some fundraising at work for them.

There’s also an organisation up here called Volunteer Scotland which collates hundreds of volunteering opportunities to choose from. Is there perhaps something similar in England? Or just google ‘volunteering’ plus your town name.

 

[Gunk]

I volunteer every Wednesday for a local bike charity in their workshop, I do a mixture of servicing customers bikes and refurbishing donated bikes which we sell. Really rewarding work and one of the highlights of my week.

https://windrushbikeproject.uk/