Has anyone worked for a charity as unpaid volunteer. If so was it worthwhile/enjoyable. How about CAB - any good/bad experiences.

Hi Donk,
My uncle volunteers at CAB and really enjoys it. He did have to go on a few training courses and some refresher ones. You would have to dedicate a few days a week to it as well. But he does get a lot from it. I recently volunteered at a local hospice, but as I work full time it has been difficult to be of much use to them. I thought they would bite my hand off when I applied but they already have hundreds of volunteers (which is great!). So I am on the lookout for something that I can do occasionally, around a full time job. I would contact the CAB directly and see what they think. Good luck.

Hi donk, Yes there is a great deal of satisfaction to be had by volunteering your services.

I find that these days in particular time is one of the most valuable commodities anyone can give.

I help out just for a few hours a week at our local lifeboat shop and always feel that I've done a little bit of good as like you I don't have a great deal of time to spare.

Good luck with your endeavours.

This question is great insofar that it really holds a secret message that we should all be listening to. IF Mr Cameron really wants to get the British 'Big Society' up and running, he really needs to create a minister for charitable and voluntary work. Have plenty of posting space in the National Press, libraries, supermarkets ( yes messrs Tesco, every little bit helps, in and out of your profit margin ) etc. I would love to be financially solvent to work less and give up time for good causes but that is something that I just cannot do at the moment. That's not an excuse, that's a valid reason that I suspect many people would echo. However, I di help people in different ways ... I help them fill forms out, support people in their concerns, fears and worries and offer non judgemental advice where I feel fit to do so. All unpaid and all beyond my job remit but in a way, so much more satisfying. It's amazing just how many people start to shake as they fill out a form or need to write that special and important letter. It gives me a buzz to help them with that. And I can fit that into my daily grind.

Yes, I work for Oxfam as an unpaid volunteer and have done for about 5 years now. We run a busy and vibrant high street book and music shop, and have around 50 staff. We also organise all sorts of community based events from poetry evenings to book clubs to special events to raise funds for specific emergencies such as the recent Haiti and Pakistan disasters. Oxfam are happy for volunteers to give only the time they are willing/able to spare, anything from a couple of hours to several days a week, it's up to you. I have been on specialist training courses which were excellent quality, great fun, and which you attend only if you wish to. I thoroughly enjoy the time I give there, and work with some very interesting people from all sorts of professional backgrounds, and who come from all age groups. It's always rewarding to feel that you can personally make a difference to the lives of people who are so much worse off than you are yourself.