Looking To Volunteer!
 

In September, my youngest child goes to school.
I work evenings at the moment and can see myself doing so for sometime, while I find a job during the day that I could be flexible enough in to either not work in the holidays, or to work days term time then evenings in the holidays.
Anyway, I was thinking about starting to volunteer, while I will have this free time. I go to the gym every morning, so it would be afternoons really, a few times a week.
Only thing is, I don't know what I would like to volunteer for, or what places needed volunteers (other than charity shops)
I have no GCSE's so couldn't be something in education
If any of you have any ideas, or know someone I could contact for information that would be great
( I know it's not anywhere near September yet, but I like to be prepared)

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

volunteer at Saffrons school, they are always crying out for people to help with kids with reading in schools

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

It's in a school tho, do you not need some form of education to even volunteer?

If you do, this is no good to me

(I can read and write and add up and things, just never got a bit of paper to say I can:D)

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Ask LESS he needs a volunteer to do a lot of things:D

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I don't do back scratching and feet rubbing;)

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NO NO NO you dont NOT need any qualifications to do this, the school will only require you to have a CRB check, best person to ask about schools is emamum

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What's the check? Criminal check of some form?

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yeah its a police check

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Oh I'll pass that with flying colours cos I'm a good girl:D

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what about hoovering and cleaning cooking :D
he would love some one to have his tea ready after a long day at the pub with me

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Is there any other volunteering that can be done, other than that in schools?
I wouldn't mind doing that, I just don't know if there could be something more interesting

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well there you go then, you have no worries, i've had a few CRB checks done in the last few years, when i volunteered at the community centre on Accy road and when i did stuff at Reeces school

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My fella would also love to have a nicely cooked meal on the table, but as I said before, I work evenings, so even he has to cook his own:p
I know, I know, what good am I:rolleyes:

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

Thats fine the last orders opens at 10am so he can be back for his dinner if its ready instead.

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

Always being one who tries to solve problems rather than cause them, I could use someone a few afternoons to throw the hoover around the house, sow a few buttons on shirts make evening meals Ironing and a few other domestic chores.

This will relieve us both of a few problems, you having too much time on your hands and me not being a domesticated sort of bloke, I could get you a key cut so you wouldn't have to rely on me being in when you call.
So far as starting in September I can't see that being a problem as nothing has been done since last September so a few more months won't make any difference to me.

May I thank you in advance for volunteering and rest assured I will leave everything for you to tackle so that you can go home knowing that you have used your time in a useful fashion.

Oh and if you prove to be satisfactory I will contact the mods to arrange a standing order of some plus karma points every third week from your starting date.
http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies.../happy0036.gif

A big thank you to mick for knowing me too well!:D

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

Liquid lunch would suffice then?

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Oh but I couldn't possibly make your life any easier, your a fella, it's not allowed:D

You want it a bit like this?

How do women define a 50/50 relationship?

We cook- They eat.
We clean. They dirt.
We iron. They wrinkle.

Beside the karma points, as great as they are of course, what do I get out of it, ahhh going home thinking what a wonderful job I did.
I'm afraid all I can do, is offer you a small piece of advice.....

Don't spend £2 to dry-clean a shirt. Donate it to the Salvation Army instead. They'll clean it, put it on a hanger. Next morn buy it back for 50p.:D

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Anyone else got any ideas then? (Other than Less's scrubber:D)

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HHH Credit Union is always looking for volunteers. Telephone number 01706 215082. Im a volunteer with them.

The credit union is a savings bank ran by the members for the members. They give loans out as well. It started off about 13 years ago - ive been a volunteer since 1997, all it is is taking money off members and making sure it all adds up at the end. They have collection points in accrington as well as at the main office in haslingden.

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Think Oxfam in Accy is looking for volunteers, also maybe try the other charity shops.

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now thats a wondeful piece of advice for any bloke on his jack.:)

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Thanks for that Shillelagh, I might have a chat to you about that:)

Cashy, I do owt to be helpful:D lol

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You could volunteer at the Only Foals and Horses animal shelter or at the RSPCA in Altham.

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Your welcome we could do with more volunteers for the accy collections. Theyre held once a week i think theres one at the new era and one at the maundy office. I'm not sure were they are held - i do my stint at the hassy office.

The credit union is a good thing and helps people out when they need it. If anyone wants any details give me a shout seeing as its open now to people in hyndburn thats what the third h is - Haslingden, Helmshore and Hyndburn Credit Union.
Its open to anyone who lives and/OR works in the borough of hyndburn.

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

Yeah this sounds quite interesting, and as it is only once a week, that would leave me time to do something else also

Roll on September!

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

Where is the Only Foals and Horses shelter?
Couldn't do the RSPCA in Altham as I don't drive:(

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

hi just because you have no gcses does not mean you cant work in the education sector. i too was in a prodicument like yours am currentley doing a teaching assistants course level 2 and working in aschool, dont let a glich stop you from trying something you would like to ..... good luck

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Can you get work as a teaching assistant if you have no GCSEs? :eek:

I find that very surprising. Is this in a primary or secondary school?

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Age Concern are looking for volunteers......they would value people who could befriend an older person....help them to get out and shop, go to medical appointments, or simply to call on them and offer some company.

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

Thanks for all the advice, can't wait til September comes.
I think I might look into doing a few of them, rather than just volunteering at one place

If anyone else has other ideas I would still love to read them:)

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note that her age is 37. would that not have been o levels? she would be classed as mature and life experience would be taken into consideration. the college will test you to make sure you have the english, maths and science skills needed. theres no point being a ta if you cant do the work you are supposed be helping the children with. You can do a foundaion degree without anything higher than a gcse if you pass their tests........as long as you are a mature student

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

hi im working in primary school; but went to college in my own time and did aqa english, mathes, science, this is equivelent to gcses.Having only a basic knowledge of the above will not stop you from working in primary school.

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that doesn make sense. the idea of having a teaching assistant is to assist the teacher to teach the children. you CANNOT teach children a subject if your knowledge of the subject is so basic that you cannot do the work yourself!

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Hi, i am working in priumary school but i did AQA english, maths and science this is equivalent to GCSE i did this in my own time.Remember i am a special needs TA, and have done lots of home study on this. i also have a son with special educational needs, which gives me a deeper understanding and knowlege in this field. i also have Dyslexia and this hasn't stopped me from achieving my goals. All it takes is a lot of hard work if you are prepared to put the time in.

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i know how hard it is. I'm level 3. i have extra special needs training.

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I think that is something to be really proud of:)

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thankyou pendel red i am proud of myself...

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AQA is an education board, it provides GCSE papers. It IS GCSE in other words. Just like OCR, Edexcel etc.

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

Hi I have just read your message. Have you thought about helping out in the Women's Centre on Abbey St up near the Swan Pub. They wll train you and you can do any number of hours. One shift is usually 2.5 hours eihter morning or afternoon. There are lots of different things to do and you can get involved in more training if you are interested. Pop in and have a chat with them to find out more.

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

Thanks for this, this could be something I am looking for!

Would it matter if I go in now and start enquiring? As I can't start til the end of September?
Or should I wait?

Thanks Again

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ah ive done loads of courses through the womens centre

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

This kind of thing, I think I would love

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well have a wander down there tomorrow then Chelle, its just across from the tesco petrol station near the Swan pub, its only a little place, looks like a shop

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Yeah, I will, not working tomorra so might aswell

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

Hi It is fine to go down there tomorrow. The volunteer courses run every few weeks but tend to stop in the summer when the kids are off. My name is Stella and I am a volunteer counsellor in there. I shall be there tomorrow from about 12.45 -3.00 but have a client 1-2. You can ask for me if i am free and i will introduce you to the team or if you go in the morning Jennifer will be on the reception i think and she is a volunteer who can tell you more about it. The centre offers help and information to women about anything and everything and if they haven't got the answer, they refer people on to the places that can. They run courses to help develop computer skills, self esteem, confidence, creative skills etc and there is a donation only counselling service, a small library, and a creche so lots of variety. I also work at Maundy relief and there is always lots of help needed there. On Cannon St, there is the Council for Voluntary Services and they will be able to put you in touch with all sorts of organisations who are looking for volunteers if you have a particular interest that you would like to get involved with.

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That's great, thanks for all the information

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

http://www.do-it.org.uk/

This is a great site for volunteering opportunities It links you with areas you may be interested in, in towns you want to work. Some of the listings may be out of date but ring to check, there's no harm.

Just to say, the school thing (God some of you do like to attack dont you!) To volunteer in a school, primary or senior, all you need is a CRB clearance, which the school will probably sort out for you.

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

What a great site, thanks!

It'll help other people looking to volunteer too:)

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Just wanna say that site is ace!

Have been on and already passed my interest to 2 local centres that need volunteers, doing general work, administration and general helping out!

It's a very useful site, just wanted to say thanks:)

Karma on it's way!

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

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Thats great, thanks, I'll give them a ring tomorra:)

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

Your welcome AccyLass. Good luck.

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Just to let everyone know that your advice and input in this thread wasn't wasted!

After weeks of filling in forms and going backwards and forwards to interviews

I started a volunteer training course today down at the womens centre
This will last for 10 weeks

Also, as soon as they get the roof fixed (Oct hopefully) I will be training to become a Mentor at Positive Steps that is based on Cannon Street
This is a volunteer based company that helps people back into work, that have had time off for one reason or another
Whether they need extra training (which I can attend courses with them)
Confidence building, Help with cv's/forms, going through yellow pages and help in givng them the ability to write covering letters to suitable employers

Anyway, I can't wait!
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone that had a suggestion!

Re: Looking To Volunteer!
 

Good on you hope you enjoy