Working full time and volunteering?! Is it possible?

chocolatechipcookies

I'm applying for full time jobs at the moment, my part time job just isn't paying enough to cover more than two small bills and a small food shop. Plus it's the most boring job I've ever done. Anyway. I'm in the process of applying to volunteer to read to children/help them learn how to read on their own, but I'm worried that when I do get a full time job, I won't be able to volunteer. I really want to do this volunteering, it would mean a lot to me. But I also really want and need a full time job. Will I have to choose or are employers in the UK generally ok with volunteering. It's only one morning for a few hours.

Conor_3

Might be a bit hard during normal working hours.

Savvy_Sue

I would say it depends what kind of full-time job it is. If it's the kind of job where people normally from 9 till 5, then the kind of volunteering you're talking about could be hard to fit in. IF they offer flexitime then you might be able to haggle it, although where I've worked you couldn't take more than 13 days in a year - you might JUST be able to fiddle it, with school holidays, but you'd NEVER have any flexitime for anything else.

Some larger employers are very keen to promote volunteering though, so it's always worth asking. Plus if it's full-time work where your hours can vary or shifts are involved, then you may be able to always have a particular half day each week, especially if you say you have a volunteering commitment that day.

But if you find you can't, then consider training to be an adult basic skills volunteer / mentor. I'd have thought that helping an adult improve their literacy must be quite as rewarding as helping a child, and you might be able to do that in the evenings. The skills should be similar, I'd have thought, just the kind of language and the tools you use might need to change - or possibly just the tone of voice!

Hope you find something that suits.

chocolatechipcookies

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I would say it depends what kind of full-time job it is. If it's the kind of job where people normally from 9 till 5, then the kind of volunteering you're talking about could be hard to fit in. IF they offer flexitime then you might be able to haggle it, although where I've worked you couldn't take more than 13 days in a year - you might JUST be able to fiddle it, with school holidays, but you'd NEVER have any flexitime for anything else.

Some larger employers are very keen to promote volunteering though, so it's always worth asking. Plus if it's full-time work where your hours can vary or shifts are involved, then you may be able to always have a particular half day each week, especially if you say you have a volunteering commitment that day.

But if you find you can't, then consider training to be an adult basic skills volunteer / mentor. I'd have thought that helping an adult improve their literacy must be quite as rewarding as helping a child, and you might be able to do that in the evenings. The skills should be similar, I'd have thought, just the kind of language and the tools you use might need to change - or possibly just the tone of voice!

Hope you find something that suits.

Thanks. I have to volunteer with kids because of the course I'll be taking. I could always do both though! :money: