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RHP

RHP User

M58

How do you serve your community. National volunteering week

May 12 2015

In this day of technology, mass global communication, and the decline in faiths we find that there is a decline in the number of people volunteering for unpaid community service. This is more pronounced in rural communities and among younger volunteers. There has also been a change in the type of volunteer work, from regular volunteering to spasmodic volunteering, with volunteers putting in less hours per year. Though the number of volunteers is rising, it is not in check with population growth and the total hours volunteered is decreasing. With an aging population this is a worrying trend. There are also other forms of community service. From business, there is job training, work experience, donating to the local community and schools and providing professional services to those in need but without means. There is unregistered services that provide help to people in need free of charge, everything from computer maintenance to cleaning and general home and garden duties. These are provided via word of mouth to those in need and are not registered as official community services. I am a strong advocate of all forms of community service and have been an active participant as both a private individual and as a business owner, and spent several years when younger providing full time unpaid volunteer work for various organisations. Unfortunately circumstance has me at a disadvantage, with transport and income making it hard to get about. But I still try and get out and help people with their computer problems, and helping people get there business plans and entrepreneurial endeavor one the move. As the trend seems to be in the direction of "what can the community do for me" I will take this time and promote Australian Volunteers of every variety, at home and oversea. They do us proud. So what have you done for your community? every little bit helps, from doing the neighbors lawn or fixing a leaky tap, donating blood, to helping out with local sports clubs. Do you have special skills that you can provide for those in need, or own a business and contribute that way. For those that have not tried it, there is no time like the present to try, and those that have can surely testify to the rewards volunteer work can give, a smile and a heart felt thank you makes it worth every second. A sense of belonging and appreciation is its own reward. To find out more about volunteering just google your state and volunteering, or go to volunteering australia (all one word) dot org Your community needs you! So please do tell us how volunteering has played a part in your life.

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Comments

  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    Encourage volunteering particularly if someone is looking for work...It's not just beneficial to the community but to the volunteer...I have kick started a twenty plus year career,it was a vocation really... just after three years I ended up managing services for people with disabilities.All as a result of volunteering..My current job is supporting young people who have learning disabilities at a local school,one where my daughter was a student and then a teacher...I started volunteering there three and a half years ago and have been working there two days a week for the past three years..I also volunteer between three and four hours a week...I love my job,it gives me a great deal of satisfaction and I am always learning something new..yesterday I learnt that Moses translated the book of Job from Aramaic to Hebrew..I never thought of ol' Mo' as a scholar before,just a Charlton Heston look alike..😀Over fifty percent of adults in this country are functionally illiterate ...the majority are men...so for all you very literate people ,why not volunteer in a program in schools or an Adult Literacy program xxFreya

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    Bit old school here...

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  • DynamicCouple36

    DynamicCouple36

    11 years ago

    As relative newcomers to Australia & Melbourne, we have just minutes ago registered at the local city council pop up desk at nearby shopping centre ... - Posted from rhpmobile

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    i have volunteered with the RSPCA on and off for around 25 years and also was a HPO for the children's court for a few years, it's a pleasure to help out where we can - Posted from rhpmobile

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    Nice one bloke and this one won't come back and bite you on the arse . I do some work in two community gardens that help feed those with a need. I also take my time for those that are homeless and have bad mental disabilities on the streets around my town by just giving them time and chatting, buying them a sandwich or coffee. I have also taken a couple of guys in with a bed in my spare room while they camp out waiting a few days for accommodation to become available. I need to do my second year of youth work study so I can open my door legally to those troubled youths that seem to be suffering more these days. For me it seems the world has become so fast that people don't think they have the time anymore and of course the fear that some have of these people as the media do not show enough of the everyday problems people with hardships face.

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    Another benefit from volunteer work is community awareness and communication. Providing help for the aged and disabled keeps them in touch with the community. You dont need to be a qualified carer to help with the garden care and general duties, or provide transport to and from the shops. Even a coffee and a chat can be very beneficial to someone living alone. Volunteer care services are always in need of more volunteers, or it could be as easy as knowing your neighbor and offering a helping hand. Neighborhood watch programs aids in localized communication and helps people feel safer in their homes. Do you know your neighbor's? do you know their phone numbers? Many people do not feel safe in their homes at night, from young to old. Knowing that your neighbors are keeping an eye and ear out for any suspicious behaviour helps alleviate the stress and fear of crime. Do you know your neighborhood watch representatives? do you have a local representative, maybe you could start neighborhood watch group. It is a great way to get to know your neighbors.Their web site can be found at www nhwa com au (put the dots in) and help reduce crime in your community. Donations. Many have items laying around that we no longer use, or may be broken and rather than getting it fixed you got a replacement. A washing machine, a fridge. These items may be easily fixed and there are many local government and community organisations that can turn you unwanted goods into useful items.Go to www givenow com au with the dots of course to learn how to give to your community.

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    As a handyman I come into contact with people who cannot afford the maintenance on their homes so I will fix a lot of stuff for free, clean the gutters etc.I also like to take my kids out and do some phantom planting on land not getting the councils attention, it's quite a buzz driving past trees I planted 10-15 years ago. Have a couple of trays of Tuart trees just waiting for some decent rain to do this years planting.

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    To help our local RSL and Arts Council with their events n functions... And of course anything to do with the little peeps, being that I have a few n of varying interests and ages, any spare time is usually spent on trying to organise others parts of our chaotic lives 😜 I have always admired Freya's input as I thought there was more to her than what I know, n now she has confirmed it, commendable..😘 And TisonlyI, great job! I would love to part of a community garden project, maybe something to think about.....plant the seed with the Lions Club etc..so to speak.... Thanks:)

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  • Seachange73

    Seachange73

    11 years ago

    i usually volunteer 1 day a month (not in last 2 months as work has taken hold of my time) in teaching disadvantage women in the local area (an affluent area but also have pockets of socioeconomically disadvantage families). Tehse woemen are sometime product of domestic violence (some are immigrants/refugees), drug abuse and illiteracy. they ahve fallen between the cracks of the system and are stuck. there is a local NGO that provides them with assistance specially the children's needs. my 'job' is to help in enabling thesse women by reaching out to them, teaching them simple skills in budgeting, computer skills (Internet, Word, etc) and socialisation. it only takes 3-4 hours a month. we work in a room while other volunteers take care of the kids in the playground and bring in a plate for snacks, coffee/tea are free and supplied by the community council. On occasions, we would arrange to take the women out for coffee in a 'real' cafe and have a cake and coffee, arranged with a local cafe who kindly gives it to us for free. the women come out feeling better about themselves everytime. It is empowering them and provides them tools to kickstart their lives. My boys were enrolled and grew up in the scouts to instill a sense of social responsibility and awareness in them. They volunteer in the RSL during anzac day (yep 4am wakeup call), visit aged homes 2x a year to help out the residents and pay some attention to those who are isolated and alone. We drive them all over for other projects and visits. I volunteer in the scout sausage sizzles at the local bunnings to raise money to fund raising for the scouts and their projects. i believe I fund the sausage sizzle by buying and eating half their sausages...with mustard. When the kids were in grade school, i was parent volunteer day once or twice a year. We go in to school on a designated saturday morning, my kids and I, and help around, either cleaning the grounds, help build the chook house, clean the chookhouse and gather the chicken shit for fertilizer for the school veggie patch, cultivate/maintain the veggie patches or general upkeep. All can be done with the kids to make them feel that we can make a difference in our community regardless of effort. Age is no barrier. Action speaks louder than words. I lead by example for my kids as in i have learnt from my parents.

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    I have in the past with lots of stuff with my kids, all the sports stuff I have in the past done stuff in the pony club, the chamber of commerce( doing charity stuff) I was a volunteer co ordination for training people to go into homes were mums were not doing so well with parenting. Red cross helped a friend re do a marathon thing for Asthma awareness now I just help people I know, take over food or run them to doctors appointments I have also rented houses to people who had no where to go, but found that did not work for me at all. that bit me on the bum big time when i worked in the city, I would always buy this homeless guy a coffee and sandwich ever day, and just hand it to him, we never exchanged a word to each other. it was just one of those things. I am really exhausted by people. I have nothing more to give

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    being batman and all I'm kept pretty busy. Atm I'm trying to get some peace and quiet while I hang upside down to get some sleep; but all that seems to be happening is my face is looking as red as an inflamed haemorrhoid 😊 - Posted from rhpmobile

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    Been to uni twice and using my knowledge to help others in emergency situations. I try and help the disabled once a month. Those just are amazing, if only ppl have them a chance. I have been offered to go to Nepal to assist with a non-government humanitarian organisation, but I couldn't get time off from work. I have been to Cambodia twice to help with the building of school rooms for kids. I wouldn't mind helping a local Lyons club out. Happy to help when I can.

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    I don't know where you live in Bris but there a quite a few Community Gardens here,Ashgrove Green Corner.,Windsor Northey Street,...but if you want to set one up,find some land owned by council,call a public meeting,lobby council and present them with a plan..PM me if you want more information re funding etc hugs xxFreya

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    Many years ago a permaculture initiative was started here in town with the aid of utilising the work for the dole program and the Salvation Army. That may be a good way to get something going. Sounds like Freya may be a great contact for you to get in touch with. Onya Freya

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    I swear all my volunteering for the P & C became a huge issue in my marriage breakdown.Funny thing is I got more gratitude from the school community, so they kept my time in the long run..... OK, not funny. I'm a massive advocate for 'helping out'. It can be for massive professionally run institution, to helping out in a food kitchen one night a month, to recognising a family who needs 'help'. Be it time with a fatherly figure, hand me downs, just keep your eyes peeled. If your gut says they need help, they sure as shit do. Be sensitive about it, but we all need to stop being so fucking polite and letting everyone around us drown in their own shit. Bring the village back I say!

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    please my Lady relax and simply share . As you say you have given enough now just share 😊 - Posted from rhpmobile

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    I volunteer for both marine rescue and rural fire brigade so my weeknds are always busy. But very rewarding for the resume. The sense of community spirt and characters you meet make it amazing. - Posted from rhpmobile

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  • Aristippusx2

    Aristippusx2

    11 years ago

    My partner and I are regular volunteers. She cares for the animals and I for the humans. The trend seems to be that the "next" generation have too many time pressures to contribute especially in the regions. Worrying when you consider that "our" baby boomer generation are reaching the physically incapable zone.

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    As a parent, I get involved in assisting 'my' school.... perhaps selfishly, as it means I get to enjoy being the school parent scene. Beyond the school community I also like walking the dogs at Doggy Rescue, assisting the various sporting clubs I participate with, and most importantly (in my mind) ...y making people smile as they walk through their day by offering one sincere and non-string compliment to a new person every day. I think if we all gave a stranger a random compliment every day, the effect on making the world a happier place would be significant. DG

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  • Seachange73

    Seachange73

    11 years ago

    Quoting 'Aristippusx2'The trend seems to be that the "next" generation have too many time pressures to contribute especially in the regions. Worrying when you consider that "our" baby boomer generation are reaching the physically incapable zone. I still hold hope. There are a lot more awareness among the younger generation of the despair in this world. i have witnessed some of the kindness and compassion soem of the younger generation via my kids, scouts, school, and the NGOs i deal with. Even corporations I have worked with have supported community based programs when opportunities were presented forward, thanks to the younger generation in the workforce. Very inspiring. I will not totally write them off. They just do it differently. check online community fund raising programs available that disseminate funds to community programs and help people start up businesses without expecting any returns. Ingenious. I believe we have to start them young, our kids, the next generation. We as the older generation, need to participate and lead by example so the act of volunteering and giving becomes second nature to them. Plant the seed in their mind early. Make the next generation aware of their surroundings and issues that affects them and the future generations, just like what our parents did for us. I will never stop doing what I do, despite the fact that I am heavily into the corporate and business side. i always tell my kids that every little thing helps, if we work as a community. We are part of a larger community and our actions reflect the community, so we have a choice how we choose to react and contribute back. I prefer to make my children think that despite the harsh realities, there still is kindness, compassion and generosity in spirit in all of us. We make our reality and choose paths in our lives. I choose to help, be happy, try to be content, grateful for my blessings and be unselfish by giving back. there is just too much hate and despair out there so I choose to add anymore. Monkey see, monkey do.

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    11 years ago

    volunteering teaching work in regions less fortunate than Australia. I was teaching adults Geography and Economics (Very basic economics) in English at a community college. It was a brief albeit very rewarding experience - would love to do it again but the circumstances are against me. It is very hard to get a volunteering job here in Sydney- as if volunteers were not needed. Whereas I am sure there would be plenty of opportunities to teach adults some knowledge and skills (e.g.. science, economics, finance, IT) I was even rejected from donating blood because I was traveling overseas too often - no one cared about that in Europe.

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  • sweetgem

    sweetgem

    11 years ago

    Please excuse the excitement shown in my response OP, but this is one of my favourite topics as I have something to contribute to the subject :-) In my entire high school life, I joined a youth club and went out with a bunch of youth and the club's coordinators every weekend to serve our local community centres, aged hostels and other charity associations (on various weekends of course) to do all sorts of volunteering works such as: - Set up chairs for elderly functions and social events; - Packed and cleaned up function hall; - Served food during events/functions; - Performed Chinese traditional and minority dances as part of the entertainment for the events, etc. I had so much fun and enjoyed every bit of the volunteering work because, I got to meet different people from different cultures/backgrounds and made some wonderful friends, whom I still hang out with today and we are best friends like brothers and sisters. In my adult life post HSC, I switched from physically volunteering to help out the community to financially contributed whenever the community needed a donation, as well as donated blood to begin with, then I moved on to donate plasma every month up until I was diagnosed with a medical condition, which I could no longer meet the Red Cross' screening criteria! Having lost this ability to fulfill my beloved charity work had me in tears for a while as I felt like as if a big chunk of me was taken away from me! But it's my own health and life that I needed to choose, so what option did I have left? :-( However, I am not one that would let any obstacles to stand in my way of pursuing my passions, so I signed up to World Vision to start sponsoring unfortunate children in third world countries, which marks one of my greatest achievements so far and I won't stop as long as I'm still capable of doing so. That's my story on how do I serve my community, Blindman67. - Posted from rhpmobile

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