Any advice for voluntary work?

newlysingle_2

Hi, I have just enrolled on an Access to Social Science course at my local college, hoping to do a Social Work degree next year. With all the people being refused places at Uni this year, and being an 'older' student I realise that my application for the course will need to stand out. Does anyone have any idea of some voluntary work that I could do to increase my chances? I have thought about our local Sure Start, but they only take volunteers on approx 3 times a year, due to the training. Any advice would be brilliant. Thanks all.

xx newlysinglexx

dieselhead

Have you considered helping out with Brownies or Guides, they are always desperate for leaders and as one myself I can honestly say it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.

bestpud

Do you have experience with any client groups already?

And are you looking to work with children specifically?

I may be talking rubbish, but I think they'd like to see people with some knowledge/experience of the different groups social workers mostly help.

Drug/alcohol services
Adults/children with disabilities
(Youth) offenders
People with mental illness

That kind of thing?

MrsManda

You should have a local voluntary service. Speak to them and see what they can offer/who they can put you in touch with. When I was out of work a few years ago I went to my local voluntary service and ended up volunteering a few days a week at a softplay centre for under 5s run by one of the local churches, and also did some training with a family support association where I then got paired with a family with difficult circumstances who just needed some extra support. In my case it was a single parent family with a disabled child. If you drive, people like Help the Aged and Age Concern are often looking for drivers to take people shopping and take around meals on wheels.
Another good place to talk to is your local hospital. They'll have a patients service for meet&greeters, hospital transport, etc.... and almost always looking for volunteers

flutterbyuk25

First off decide what client group you want to work with eg kids, disabled, elderly etc.

Then try your local council to see if they have anything. I volunteer for my council's Youth Offending Team, working with 10-16 year olds. It's hard work bit rewarding at times. You can also gain valuable training too, like drug&alcohol awareness etc.

Or try Do It website for other volunteer opportunities.

HTH

x

SailorSam

I had a year with Victim Support and really enjoyed it.
Perhaps a little like Social Work in-so-much that you would speak to clients who are down and try to help them.
Many of the VS volunteers went on to work in other agencies.

lisa*_5

I work for a charity and provide a homelessness service for my local council. We're always looking for volunteers. You could try enquiring with your local council or your local volunteer services.

Oldernotwiser

bestpud wrote: »

Do you have experience with any client groups already?

And are you looking to work with children specifically?

I may be talking rubbish, but I think they'd like to see people with some knowledge/experience of the different groups social workers mostly help.

Drug/alcohol services
Adults/children with disabilities
(Youth) offenders
People with mental illness

That kind of thing?

You're quite right; the OP really needs to get experience with one or more of the client groups rather than something like Guides. Paid care work is often easy to get and would be acceptable, either working with the elderly or with people with special needs.

eklynne

Please don't assume being an 'older' student will be count against you in any way. Unis are very welcoming to adult returners as they are less likely to drop out and tend to gain higher marks than their younger contemporaries.
Social science faculties in particular are very welcoming to mature students.
Good luck with everything

newlysingle_2

Thank you for all your replies, I am interested in child/ family social work. I think I am going to spend the day on google and the phone to try and sort something. I am so excited though this is something I have wanted to do since I was 14, but I allowed myself to be swayed by other people opinions, never again, I am determined to do this now and show my children what you get from hard work!

Oldernotwiser

newlysingle wrote: »

Thank you for all your replies, I am interested in child/ family social work. I think I am going to spend the day on google and the phone to try and sort something. I am so excited though this is something I have wanted to do since I was 14, but I allowed myself to be swayed by other people opinions, never again, I am determined to do this now and show my children what you get from hard work!

That's a terrific attitude; it's a wondeful incentive to children to see their parents studying by choice and to realise that education isn't just something for the young.

I'm sure that your tutors will explain this, but don't forget that you'll need GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent) for a Social Work degree.

Good luck.