How much to live on

WYSPECIAL

Wednesday2000 said:

Does anyone else on here volunteer? I need ideas.

Do you want something long term and structured with a regular commitment or something that you can just turn up to a couple of times a year?

If there is a nature reserve or park near you there will almost certainly be a Friends Of ........ group that has sessions for clearing, planting etc.

Scout groups and cadets are always looking for volunteers and leaders.

Local hospices always want help with all sorts of things.

Once a week soup kitchen/cheap meal event at a local church or hall.

If your local Police Force is recruiting and you really want a challenge consider joining the Special Constabulary. If you don't want to be warranted they have civilian volunteering opportunities too.

Alnat1

I do some litter picking, alone, close to home and joining in with a local team. I also do hedgehog rescue as part of team that covers parts of South Yorkshire and currently have 4 half asleep hedgies in our spare bedroom.

I looked at other volunteering opportunities but realised they would have to be regular commitments and I wanted to be able to hop off for away days and holidays as and when the mood took. Retirement is meant to be an escape from having to ask for annual leave!

Wednesday2000

louby40 said:

What were the classes you did?

I'm struggling to remember them all! I did group meditation classes (they made up quite a lot of the 45 classes last year) flower arranging, Christmas wreath making, ceramics, book groups, a learning how to do Emotional Freedom Technique class and I went to a few group lectures on different subjects. I'm probably forgetting a lot of others.

I started going to Soundbaths last year too, except they aren't really classes as such.

I'm going out for a hair appointment in a minute and I'm in a rush, but I will read through all your suggestions on volunteer jobs while I'm getting my hair cut. Thank you for your helpful tips.  

Farway

Wednesday2000 said:

Does anyone else on here volunteer? I need ideas.

I did at local Age Concern, with some computer related stuff, like Family History, and some gardening, water pot plants etc.

May vary, but most need all sorts of volunteers, from making Cuppas, going out Befriending, office based, answer phone etc, kitchen help

Some volunteer jobs, like Scouts and Age Concern will require a check on Police records and referees, only saying so you know it's not personal, just routine filters

Savvy_Sue

Personally, I think it's worth thinking about the kind of thing you'd like to do, and - as suggested - whether you want a regular commitment, different one-off slots, or as and when. 

I felt I had skills gained at work I could offer, on an 'as and when' basis, and that this would work better for me than a weekly, probably term-time commitment. Having said that, I do have two weekly coffee sessions, but I'm part of a big enough team that I can say "can't do these dates" without feeling guilty.

Some organisations will ask for a minimum commitment, eg where I used to work we'd ask people to commit for a year, once a month. 

I didn't really want to extend my horizons or learn new skills or take up crafting, but you might. 

There are so many areas where people can volunteer, and what they do is essential!

Wednesday2000

I’m in the hairdressers and making a list of all these ideas in my 2026 journal, thanks.

I did volunteer as a befriender for a mental health charity back in London 20 years ago. I had forgotten about that.

I wouldn’t mind doing something like that or working for the local hospice as I worked for a hospice charity for a while.

MarzipanCrumble

I belong to u3a.  I run two groups:  Canasta and Cryptic Crosswords.  I am on the Committee and up until Dec of this year I was Membership Secretary.  u3a is a charity run by its members and is vibrant in most towns and cities.  We have over 50 groups - anything from banjo to choral to military history to circle dancing to languages to Dungeons & Dragons to traditional games.

Wonderful way to interact with your older community.

Wednesday2000

I keep hearing about the U3A groups. I'm going to have a look at my local ones next week. My husband is into Dungeons & Dragons so he would like to join a group like that.

ancientmum

I volunteer for our local Wildlife Trust, which can involve scrub or invasive plant clearing or just talking to visitors about the site.  I 'm also involved with our local museum, again engaging with visitors.  Both these activities can be done on an ad hoc basis, or as a regular commitment.
If you volunteer for the National Trust, free membership is available on a yearly basis if you do enough hours.

Savvy_Sue

ancientmum said:

If you volunteer for the National Trust, free membership is available on a yearly basis if you do enough hours.

And I think you get to take a guest in free, plus a discount in cafes and shops ... 

We don't have any NT properties close enough for me to want to do that, plus it's the regular commitment I'm a bit reluctant about.