I have always been interested in volunteering but can also understand that often it is challenging to find opportunities that fit around a full time job. Many charities have interesting roles but for obvious reasons (training, legal barriers, service hours) these often require that you commit to a certain number of hours and days, more often than not, within working hours. People often feel that their skills and experience will not be put to good use by doing basic data entry or making tea, even though these tasks can make a huge difference to an underfunded and under-resourced team.
That said, I have managed to find a variety of ways to work with charities in a meaningful ways; I’ve organized events independently, been part of a dementia befriending project, fundraised within the companies I’ve worked and taken part in the obligatory sports challenges.
However, I have recently been inspired by a movement born from the idea that we are all able to do something for someone; for nothing #dosomethingfornothing, www.dosomethingfornothing.net. One of the main driving forces behind this movement is a hairdresser called Josh Coombes who reaches out to the homeless in his city and offers them free haircuts. It made me think that in fact we are all able to make a difference in a small way in our own communities, it requires a slight shift in our thinking but I think it is hugely encouraging to see the birth of these kinds of independent movements.
Really there is no excuse, you can take your skills and experience and do something for nothing, within the time you have available. I like the idea that instead only looking towards charities for suitable volunteer opportunities, instead we all start to look at what we can independently offer within own communities.