Volunteering

Chang Elephant · March 30, 2015

Respect to the lads doing the food banks. Disrespect to Thatcher for turning the UK from a social democracy into a tax avoidance banana republic.

Woolly Blue · March 30, 2015

Do a bit of work for CAB on a semi regular basis.

CahillsCornerFlag · March 30, 2015

The Cowboy said:
Used to get 2 days a year paid leave to do volunteering. Work would arrange lots of projects from creating urban gardens to doing deliveries for FareShare. I got involved in loads, it was great.

If anyone gets a chance to spend a day with FareShare, don't miss it. A very rewarding experience.

This looks great, well played.

COYBL25 · March 30, 2015

Do three mornings a week for the disabled charity Scope. Two of the mornings are supporting two dads who have kids with disabilities. The other morning is at Alder Hey supporting parents on two wards who have kids with neurological problems which have resulted in disability, often from birth.

I also do another morning as a volunteer for a local mental health charity supporting a young lad who has learning difficulties and many phobias.

I kind of fell into it by default due to having to pack in work to look after my youngest lad who is disabled. I found that I had a few hours to spare and decided to give something back.

The real heroes are some of parents of the kids I see at Alder Hey. You can't quantify the sacrifices that they have made to care for their kids.

Kurt. · March 31, 2015

2 mornings a week looking after @chicoazul 's mar.... hard work but somebody has to do it.

Eggs · March 31, 2015

.....I know somebody who retired and now uploads letters from soldiers in WW1, WW2 onto the Internet. I suppose it's a worthwhile venture, securing that detail for future generations.

strummer · March 31, 2015

Hats off to all the lads who volunteer their time for the less well off.to my shame I don't do anything like this cos I can't find the time.The fact that we now need so many foodbanks in this country is a disgrace.take direct action by voting out the torys on may 5th

Ashtonian · March 31, 2015

COYBL25 said:
The real heroes are some of parents of the kids I see at Alder Hey. You can't quantify the sacrifices that they have made to care for their kids.

Know exactly what you mean mate. Was in just before christmas with our baby and what she had was the most terrible thing in the world as you can imagine, until a 2 minute conversation with a nan of one of the patients put the whole thing into perspective on how lucky we were in comparison, and they didnt seem too down about what was happening which i thought was amazingly brave.

I don't volenteer but this christmas i am planning on going down to the ward the baby was on in there and donating presents to all of the kids there. Nothing major like but make sure for a little moment the kids get something to cheer them up close to christmas.

BlueIsTheColour · March 31, 2015

strummer said:
Hats off to all the lads who volunteer their time for the less well off.to my shame I don't do anything like this cos I can't find the time.The fact that we now need so many foodbanks in this country is a disgrace.take direct action by voting out the torys on may 5th

maybe we needed them while labour were in power but it took the tories to see the problem and actually set more up?

COYBL25 · March 31, 2015

Ashtonian said:
Know exactly what you mean mate. Was in just before christmas with our baby and what she had was the most terrible thing in the world as you can imagine, until a 2 minute conversation with a nan of one of the patients put the whole thing into perspective on how lucky we were in comparison, and they didnt seem too down about what was happening which i thought was amazingly brave.

I don't volenteer but this christmas i am planning on going down to the ward the baby was on in there and donating presents to all of the kids there. Nothing major like but make sure for a little moment the kids get something to cheer them up close to christmas.

Superb stuff mate. I think that you may have to jump through a few hoops though before you actually get to donate anything. There's loads of red tape involved with everything at the hospital . Most of it is to do with safeguarding etc. Close to the canteen there's the office that the Alder Hey volunteers operate out of. I'd go there first and ask advice, as the ward may turn you away if the right boxes ain't been ticked. It's crazy but it's the world we live in.

COYBL25 · March 31, 2015

Eggs said:
.....I know somebody who retired and now uploads letters from soldiers in WW1, WW2 onto the Internet. I suppose it's a worthwhile venture, securing that detail for future generations.

I think that's a wonderful thing to do mate, as its a small way of making sure that the world doesn't forget the sacrifices that were made by so many people.

COYBL25 · March 31, 2015

BlueIsTheColour said:
maybe we needed them while labour were in power but it took the tories to see the problem and actually set more up?

Simply untrue mate. A lot of the stuff that I do at Alder Hey as a volunteer used to be done by a dedicated Social Worker whose job went under this government to save money. I have no real opinion on either major political party, just stating a fact.

Ashtonian · March 31, 2015

COYBL25 said:
Superb stuff mate. I think that you may have to jump through a few hoops though before you actually get to donate anything . There's loads of red tape involved with everything at the hospital . Most of it is to do with safeguarding etc. Close to the canteen there's the office that the Alder Hey volunteers operate out of. I'd go there first and ask advice, as the ward may turn you away if the right boxes ain't been ticked. It's crazy but it's the world we live in.

Cheers mate, will look into that then with enough time to go.

To be honest when we had to go back in the day after we left there was a family doing that at the time and as stupid as it sounds i hold that little teddy in more regard as it was cheering her up whilst she was back in. Would love to do that for at least one other child this year.

Lionel Naismith · March 31, 2015

I'd like to do it one day. Working 40+ hours kills me off too much to do so. Hats off to those that do

Eggs · March 31, 2015

COYBL25 said:
I think that's a wonderful thing to do mate, as its a small way of making sure that the world doesn't forget the sacrifices that were made by so many people.

...absolutely. It's something I would consider when I hang up my pen next year as it's something to do from home (I suspect) whenever you have the spare time.