voluntary work

DKLS

pimento wrote: »

Only fools and horses work for nothing.

Different perceptions and all that eh?

I volunteered at a hospice for a year when I was 18, as well as being a great experience and giving me some very important and humbling life lessons that have served me well both professionally and personally

My work there led directly to a job. One of the other volunteers husband ran a software company. so for me not a foolish act

mattw7

becks1978 wrote: »

you have no choice now.unless you want sactioning.

This is the problem now and my argument is companies aren't daft. They are well aware of the shortage of jobs so naturally its a way for them to get free labour until someone challenges this pathetic attempt by the government to get people working for their benefit.

Slave labour was abolished centuries ago, shame that our society is now bringing it back, along with racism it seems.

Firetastic

I've been volunteering with Citizens Advice Bureau for two months now. Initially I wanted to do Administration but you get trained as a General Advisor as well regardless of what role you want to do.

I am really enjoying it. This week I have just started conducting the interviews with the mentor sitting in for support.

Still got loads to learn but I am really loving it. Plus you get satisfaction from helping people.

pimento

Voluntary work is OK if you are actually volunteering. Telling somebody that they will be "sanctioned" if they don't do it is not on.

silaren

Agree that voluntary work can be good way to get into a paid position. There are so many possibilities out there and not just volunteer retail roles.

If you like outdoorsy/gardening/conservation/DIY stuff, BTCV - British Trust for Conversation Volunteers is worth consideering.

If you want to work with children, take a look at VRH - Volunteer Reading Help

If you like sport, have a look at London 2012

You could even ask at your local community centre to see if they need volunteers.

newmumincov

Museums often take volunteers - I worked for free (part time) at a museum handling rare specimens and recording data from them for a year and loved it.

paddedjohn

Try your local homeless charity, its very rewarding and opens your eyes as to how lucky you are.

Lith

Might get shot for what im about to say..

but i don't believe in voluntary work, nor does the family even my friends.... (if your good at something - never do it for free) You should be paid for your'e work. i'll rather be on JSA and sign on every 2 weeks and look for 'stable employment' than do 30 hours and get JSA for that.

But that's just me.

Anyway people do voluntary work to get experience i don't argue that - good luck

mountainofdebt

mattw7 wrote: »

This is the problem now and my argument is companies aren't daft. They are well aware of the shortage of jobs so naturally its a way for them to get free labour until someone challenges this pathetic attempt by the government to get people working for their benefit.

Slave labour was abolished centuries ago, shame that our society is now bringing it back, along with racism it seems.

So what do you think the unenployed should do then? sit on their backsides until some employer magics a job out of thin air for them?

I know if I was interviewing two people and one was doing voluntary work and the other wasn't, all other things being equal I would be going for the one who was doing voluntary work.


OP - don't see it as a punishment for being unemployed - see it as an opportunity. Your local assocation of voluntary organisations should be able to give you ideas of opportuities that doesn't include working in charity shops!

stephent82

I think that many people look at voluntary work in the wrong way. In my opinion there are two types of voluntary work:
1. To gain skills
2. To better your local community

I have done voluntary work in schools, running football clubs, running after school clubs, running youth clubs and tidying beaches. i have also worked at a visitor center in their accounts department.

Voluntary work is incredibly important. Without it many services we expect would not be there. It is also a great way of proving that you can do a job that you want well.