I get 1 paid volunteering day each year. What should I use it on?
Posted by jordangsy@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 38 comments
I don’t want to get into regular volunteering at this time, so it can’t be something that requires much setup or training. The voluntary work can be for any registered charity of my choice.
Where could I add the most value in 8 hours of effort? Assume I don’t have any specialist skills and I’d be volunteering as a general dogsbody.
EvilTaffyapple@reddit
I donate blood on mine.
horriblebear@reddit
My employer won't let me use them for blood donation as it's not an organised group event, e.g. I could use the day to organise a blood drive but I can't use it to personally donate. Remarkably closed-minded of them and glad yours is more enlightened.
EvilTaffyapple@reddit
To be fair I’m the only employee in my team on the continent of Europe. I have no team to do any activities with haha.
bB390@reddit
I don’t know why it’s never crossed my mind to use the volunteer day for giving blood. Definitely looking into this!
LDNLibero@reddit
I had never thought to do this. I've just done my 25th donation and they're always on weekends. Thanks for the idea!
glass_halffull0@reddit
This is the best one. No hassle for the workers, no training required for you. And you get to save a life
Competitive_Rub_9590@reddit
I know the royal British legion do a lot in that aspect might be worth a look
Polz34@reddit
Depends on what you like but near me (Wiltshire) we have lots of outdoors stuff, like litter picking, weeding communal spaces, even cleaning out the canal!
ODFoxtrotOscar@reddit
See if you have a local community garden, and do two afternoons there (8 hours gardening in a one-r might be rather hard if you’re not used to it)
kittykat7931@reddit
Lots of businesses do a group volunteering day where they will join an organisation to complete a specific task like a litter pick, packing care packages for a domestic abuse charity or preparing a sensory garden. These are just the examples I can think of off the top of my head that friends or associates have taken part in. Can you arrange to get a group of people together to do something that will make more of a difference? Reach out to local organisations in the area to see if there is something you can do for them.
SilverellaUK@reddit
My daughter's company did this and they ended up working like slaves the whole day preparing gir an evening event while the charity people swanned around talking about what they would be wearing to the event.
evenstevens280@reddit
Litter picking
GinBitch@reddit
Absolutely this one. The local council will give you bags and a grabber if you contact them.
cold_tap_hot_brew@reddit
And pick somewhere different to the local beauty spots that everyone wants to be photographed doing.
Get the rubbish from chicken wire fencing that catches all the crap blown in the wind. Do round the back of alleys.
Gornal-Annie6133@reddit
Or local “Friends of the park” group, many of which hold a day for a spruce up.
LittleUglyBug@reddit
My son does this and he spends a day at the dog pound.
boudicas_shield@reddit
My husband did one of his at the Cat Protection and had a lovely time. Unfortunately there was an outbreak of cat flu at the time, but the upside was that he got put in the Kitten Wing. They needed volunteers to spend all day giving the kittens human interaction and playtime lol.
The only downside for him was when he got home and I discovered he hadn't stuffed any spare kittens in his pockets for me. (Kidding, of course).
SmallUK@reddit
If you have a local sports team that is registered as a charity they will always gladly accept someone to sit on a ride on lawnmower
CollThom@reddit
Why should someone be forced to not do the speed limit because someone else decides everyone should be going 20mph below the speed limit? Speeding up when someone is overtaking is dangerous, regardless of your hypothetical situation. That’s not someone who’s happy not doing the speed limit, that’s someone who is driving dangerously. You’re supposed to drive to the conditions and believe it or not, driving too slowly is actually an offence, the same as speeding is.
Affectionate_You_858@reddit
Walk dogs at your local shelter
YarnPenguin@reddit
Someone high up in my dept uses his 3 volunteer days at Glastonbury. Stewarding, litter picking, first aiding
Stunning_Judgment618@reddit
Felix project!! They have like 5 locations all over London
Number60nopeas@reddit
Local animal rescues
TheRiddlerTHFC@reddit
Cleaning the local area / river bank (if appropriate)
bellathebeaut@reddit
I used mine to help out at a special needs school. The teachers would always have an activity for me to get involved in and it was very satisfying. The kids were so lovely and made it a lot of fun!
Humble-Film678@reddit
I have the same and I used mine last year on volunteering with a local rescue farm. I really recommend doing something local if you can as they really need all the help they can get
ShadowBannedSkyRu1e@reddit
The pound, entertain some dogs
lilfaeri@reddit
dog rescue centres can be great. you could walk the dogs for a couple of hours, do some training / play with them in the paddocks. help clean out their kennels, volunteer in the shop if they have one, help sort through donations etc.
i know a couple of dog rescue centres near me that do volunteer days with workplaces / individuals as well as having regular volunteers so i’m sure you’d be able to find somewhere you’d be welcome even if it was just for a day.
if you like dogs then i think it’s worth considering :)
baeworth@reddit
I don’t know where abouts in the UK you’re based but I am a corporate responsibility coordinator and it’s my job to source volunteering opportunities for my colleagues, here are some kinds of charities that we volunteer with, and all you have to do is email them to ask, a lot of them are very grateful!
Riding schools for disabled - if you are okay to work around horses and don’t mind a bit of diy/maintenance work
RSPCA/animal shelters - again it’s a lot of mucking out but you also get animal cuddles. Bonus points if you can take some supplies so to you (tons of food, biscuits, blankets etc but always ask what’s needed first)
Community gardens/cemeteries - it’s gardening work mostly but make the most of the sunshine!
Cancer charities/ community centres- find your local one, particularly if they have a garden which you can help tidy up or perhaps just provide company to residents.
Care homes - again could be gardening, a bit of maintenance around the centre or keeping people company
You can also get in touch with your local rotary club to see if there are any events/collections or charities you can get involved with
If you tell me where you’re based I may be able to help more specifically :)
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Is this just you or group from work?
Does it have to be in the week or can you get a lieu day for a weekend day?
Big_Lavishness_6823@reddit
It obviously depends on your area. Start with what's available locally and work backwards. If you don't know what's available locally there's your first problem.
These things are often a pain in the arse for charities as the hassle and risk of supervising a one-off visit from someone not committed to their cause will likely outweigh any benefit to them.
Astrid---@reddit
London Wildlife Trust
da316@reddit
Where are you based/can do the work from? I’ve worked for crisis before in the warehouse which always needs help or more direct help can be found working for one of the homeless charities in London offering food directly to people off the street.
windy_on_the_hill@reddit
What do you care about?
People? Animals? Kids? Environment? Homelessness?
Many charities will have something. You can use it where you like.
Realistically, you might be pretty useless for your first (only) day of any new role. However, you will get a glimpse of what is happening and learn about the issues. You will do more good talking about the charity afterwards.
So, go and do what you can. Ask them how to spread the word. And talk about it with your colleagues and friends.
Fullmoon-Angua@reddit
Spending some time with an elderly neighbour who doesn't have family.
OneDay_OneLife@reddit
Little Village - sort clothes and toys for families in need.
Felix Project - Warehouses and kitchens to help against food waster and hunger.
melancholyy-scorpio@reddit
What are you passionate about / what calls to you? Disabled children, disabled adults, dementia patients, animals?
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