what would you do for nothing but a thank you?

mayonnaise

Crashy needs treatment, not advice.

chucknorris

mayonnaise wrote: »

Crashy needs treatment, not advice.

Touche (extra words because my post was too short)

gazter

Moby wrote: »

Of course the use of charities and volunteering is the Govmts attempt to fill the gaps created by their corrosive policies towards public services. Cameron's 'Big Society' is the obvious example of this. Charity work and volunteering is fine if it is an adjunct to a service like lawyers working at a Law Centre to give free advice or doing things like running a football team etc....problems start when it is expected to replace a service. In my own area of work it is criminal the way in which Legal Aid has disappeared. I have many fathers in estranged relationships who presently have no access to their children because they cannot pay for their Court proceedings due to the withdrawal of Legal Aid. Of course all that is happening is that the govmt is saving money in the short term but storing up trouble for the future by implementing cuts that reduce access to justice with all the obvious implications.

The 'law centre' might have been giving free advice, but those giving the 'free advice' werent volunteers. They were salaried solicitors.

Loughton_Monkey

mayonnaise wrote: »

I haven't volunteered for anything for a long time now, I'm afraid to say.
But I do offer free financial advice on here to the less fortunate like brit, Graham and shortchanged....does that count?

Sadly not. Hardly anyone would classify "flogging a dead horse" as viable, useful, charity work.

Very few charities, in my view, are 'genuine'. Firstly, we have the majority of charities being 'technical devices' only (academy schools for instance) in which 'giving' or 'working for nothing' has nothing to do with it. They are there for tax reasons only.

Then there are the 'biggies' like Red Cross, Save the Children, etc. who may do some 'good', but arguably spend too much money raising funds, and having highly paid staff. One of these once defrauded me. The paid caller made it quite clear she was phoning to "renew" my direct debit for another year. I argued whether it was necessary, but she claimed it was. She did, in fact, set up an additional one, purely to get her commission. I complained in a big way to the charity itself, and received a very lethargic correction, no apology, and insistence that it was a pure clerical error [Bullpoo!!]. I cancelled the original one as well obviously.

I dislike intensely the 'political' charities like Rowntree, Shelter etc. Having started up trying to give physical help to the needy, they have kicked a lot of this into touch to become 'lobbying groups', spending the majority of money on highly biased political 'publicity'. Time was, when there were about 3,000 'lesbian theatre companies', especially in London, recruiting young female kids to enact highly political left wing so-called 'plays'. Since 'Yewtree', it is nice to see these rapidly disband.

Then we have a small proportion of genuine charities. Mrs LM does 2 days 'hard labour' with one involving disabled people. We throw a few direct debits at other charities, particularly animals, where (like the disabled) the subjects of the charity have genuine (rather than self-inflicted) needs.

Personally, I don't (generally won't) use my time routinely on 'good causes' [but will/have happily spent time helping neighbours and others that I know personally]. I generally prefer other things.

In recompense, however, Mrs LM and I have left all our wealth to charity when the last of us 'runs down the curtain and joins the choir invisible'. So they will benefit by (possibly) a 7 figure sum whilst denying the government of the day any inheritance tax. Clearly, specifically, we cannot possibly receive (and don't want) any 'thanks' for this. In effect, it is a way of helping charities in a big way, without it "costing" us anything, least of all time. Win-win!

Pennywise

I spent several years as a special constable, sometimes working a full night shift, often with the dog van or accident unit, not to mention a few hours virtually every weekend and 1 or 2 evenings per week.

I also spent several years with the local group of advanced motorists, observing trainee advanced motorists on guided drives every week and also as treasurer and secretary or the group.

None of this was paid, all done alongside a full time job. I got a hell of a lot out of it, though, in terms of personal development, confidence, real life experience, and I know that my volunteering swung a couple of jobs my way when the employer was torn between choosing from the best 2/3 candidates.

chucknorris

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

Personally, I don't (generally won't) use my time routinely on 'good causes' [but will/have happily spent time helping neighbours and others that I know personally]. I generally prefer other things.

I sort of volunteer as a taster at the local Gordins Gin distillary, although there is actually money involved, its £8/hr, its not much, but its all I can afford.

Dansmam

chucknorris wrote: »

I sort of volunteer as a taster at the local Gordins Gin distillary, although there is actually money involved, its £8/hr, its not much, but its all I can afford.

What??!!! I thank everyone on this thread, but really???!!! I'll thank you when you say it's true and not a p*** take x

Dansmam

Most people on here have made a,sensible contribution. Chuck, reflect, what have/could you contribute to a better life for others. You'd benefit too. Probably x

Generali

Dansmam wrote: »

Most people on here have made a,sensible contribution. Chuck, reflect, what have/could you contribute to a better life for others. You'd benefit too. Probably x

I think a liberal application of a sense of humour would help.

vivatifosi

Interesting thread, thanks for starting it. I've enjoyed finding out what others have done/are doing.

For my part I am one of three who run the residents association where I live. This involves really exciting stuff like arranging drain surveys and disabled parking spots. Initially this took much more time, e.g. working on road adoption, but has scaled back in recent years as the estate has matured.

I also see volunteering in my own job. Working in the public library sector this is an area where volunteers will be used more and more. Pragmatically, while over time this is a threat to my own job, I think it is right that my local authority do all that they can to keep libraries open and vibrant. Where I work they are doing a really good job under difficult circumstances. Balancing the needs and wants of the public with an ever shrinking budget is never easy, so my respect goes to authorities who manage to do this.