Voluntary work?

Question

I have recently started volunteering at my local Scout centre working in the office and shop and it has given me a great lift in life(walked home with a spring in my step & a smile today) does anyone else do voluntary work and feel better for doing it?

bumblecherry, you haven't been to Belchamps in Hockley have you, I had a work placement there a couple of years ago (2005) and that is where I'm back at volunteering this Summer?

Answer 1

I run a book club at two local primary schools as a parent volunteer. The schools are in "deprived" areas and many of the children do not have books at home. I run a book swap shop where the children can borrow a book and then exchange it for another. The look on the children's faces when put in front of 300 books and told to choose was indescribable.
I asked the children if they would like to read a book and then go and see the film of the book at the cinema - one boy told me he had never been to the cinema before.
We are now funraising to ensure everyone can come to the theatre. All the children have to help, ie if we do a nearly new sale,they man the stalls. At the end of the day, they will all reap the benefits of their "work".
Some of the children struggle to read and write, but they turn up week after week and show such enthusiasm, sometimes it is heartbreaking.
My other group are making their own books and again the amount of effort going into each book is amazing.
I invited a rep from local footie team to read to the children recently, and they enjoyed that too.
My aim is to encourage children to open a book and read. I think reading is one of life's greatest gifts, and it gives me such a lovely feeling to hear the children talking about their favourite books.
Working with children is absolutely a two-way learning process, and I learn something new every day - sometimes things I would rather not learn, but hey, that's life!

Answer 2

I spent a year doing voluntary work at a local mental health charity, drop-in cente.

It was at a time when I had had to give up employed work due to my own mental health problems.

It kept me busy - so I didn't deteriorate by becoming isolated and demotivated.

It increased me self confidence and self esteem - which I needed after feeling that I'd been forced out of employment because of my illness.

It made me feel I had something to offer - helping others proved to be much more fulfilling than working behind a desk.

It made me passionate - I am now passionate about mental health, raising awareness, fighting stigma and discrimination.

It made me feel human again.

But best of all........ it led to a complete career change

I now work for the same mental health charity!!

Being a volunteer changed my life - for the better...!!

Answer 3

I was a volunteer adviser at the citizens advice bureau.
Although its a disgrace that volunteers are actually needed in lot of jobs that should be funded by the government, volunteering is one of the best ways to give yourself back confidence, self esteem etc and to feel appreciated is ace.
Its also a good experience for if youre going back into paid work.
So come on chaps...

Answer 4

Voluntary work I believe is a great way of increasing knowledge and learning experiences. I have been involved in youth work working with younger people then myself and even people with my age group. talking to different young people listening to their aspirations and able to support them in the way they want us to support them is a great experiences and i relish that feeling of cooperation and understanding having people say thank you or even if they don't i know within me that i have done something i wanted to do. there are those that are less unfortunate than myself who required that little extra support not sympathy but more empathy and directions and being there and with the help of others i have been able to at least direct them in the right directions and information is a reward in its self. its a wonderful feeling. good luck with yours and all the best.

Answer 5

Good for you!
glad you're enjoying it.
I used to do some voluntary work in a YMCA office, running a furniture recycling project and found it really satisfying.

Answer 6

I help out at the local animal shelter and also volounteer for WWF oil damage control in the Baltic area. I really enjoy both!

Answer 7

Yes I'm a soldier in the Territorial Army and its the best thing I ever did. My confidence has risen my fitness has improved and I feel like I'm serving my country. Rather than just myself.

Answer 8

I do voluntary work with elderly people and find it very rewarding. I hope someone will do the same for me when I'm older.

Answer 9

Voluntary work is result of high level of thinking.Working for bettering life of others is commendable.Keep it up.Congrats.

Answer 10

I help with our local prayer table once a week and help with a christian cafe once a week. It does make me feel good knowing i'm using my spare time to benefit others. It helps me to forget my problems for a few hours.They do say no good deed is a truly unselfish act.