I've noticed you've been doing a lot of volunteering over there. I wonder how different the experience is? I used to do a few bits for the school when my boys were at primary but I don't think I was very good at it. I found it hard to separate myself from the 'work'. My eldest son has started a chess club at his school for year 7s which I think he finds both amusing and extremely trying. Ha! x
'If children and onions aren't your thing' is the best line I've read all month! My son has 2 boys who are both autistic (one nonverbal) and he started a coffee morning at their school with one of the teachers. It's turned out to very well attended and to be so helpful for parents and for him too. I'm retired and have no excuses not to do something, other than I'm always gallivanting around somewhere or other. You've got me thinking...x
Ha ha thanks! What a brilliant idea for your son to start that coffee morning. Parent led school groups are so much less intimidating to new parents.
I wonder how volunteering can work with a nomadic lifestyle? Perhaps gleaning might interest you? One off pieces of activism all over the country could work. X
The lane that leads to our marina often has piles of litter that people have clearly thrown out of cars and even worse, there's often piles of builders rubbish (even a bath!) just dumped. It makes me so sad that people are so disrespectful of the environment, so I'm going to take a black bag with me when I walk to the village and pick some of it up. That's a start x
Yes to this! I had wanted to volunteer for years but having a full time job and being a single parent prevented that...fast forward to a life crisis and deciding to re-train as a Psychotherapist, hello volunteering! My first placement was at a Bereavement service and was so humbling. I then volunteered offering free therapy as part of my training for 6 years. Not quite the same as what you are describing as it was a course requirement but incredibly meaningful nonetheless. It really is a wonderful thing to do for perspective, connection and meaning.
Oh gosh I can't even imagine what that experience was like - I've often felt drawn to doing some volunteering with the Samaritans but haven't known if I have the constitution for it. And yes to perspective, connection and meaning! There's nothing quite like it. xx
This is so good Holly. I have done some volunteering in the US and definitely am going to do more back in the UK. Thanks for sharing this info.
I've noticed you've been doing a lot of volunteering over there. I wonder how different the experience is? I used to do a few bits for the school when my boys were at primary but I don't think I was very good at it. I found it hard to separate myself from the 'work'. My eldest son has started a chess club at his school for year 7s which I think he finds both amusing and extremely trying. Ha! x
'If children and onions aren't your thing' is the best line I've read all month! My son has 2 boys who are both autistic (one nonverbal) and he started a coffee morning at their school with one of the teachers. It's turned out to very well attended and to be so helpful for parents and for him too. I'm retired and have no excuses not to do something, other than I'm always gallivanting around somewhere or other. You've got me thinking...x
Ha ha thanks! What a brilliant idea for your son to start that coffee morning. Parent led school groups are so much less intimidating to new parents.
I wonder how volunteering can work with a nomadic lifestyle? Perhaps gleaning might interest you? One off pieces of activism all over the country could work. X
The lane that leads to our marina often has piles of litter that people have clearly thrown out of cars and even worse, there's often piles of builders rubbish (even a bath!) just dumped. It makes me so sad that people are so disrespectful of the environment, so I'm going to take a black bag with me when I walk to the village and pick some of it up. That's a start x
That sounds great… but I’d wonder if you could get a group of you together? A way to connect maybe? Maybe harder than it sounds to a land lubber! X
That's a great idea x
Yes to this! I had wanted to volunteer for years but having a full time job and being a single parent prevented that...fast forward to a life crisis and deciding to re-train as a Psychotherapist, hello volunteering! My first placement was at a Bereavement service and was so humbling. I then volunteered offering free therapy as part of my training for 6 years. Not quite the same as what you are describing as it was a course requirement but incredibly meaningful nonetheless. It really is a wonderful thing to do for perspective, connection and meaning.
Oh gosh I can't even imagine what that experience was like - I've often felt drawn to doing some volunteering with the Samaritans but haven't known if I have the constitution for it. And yes to perspective, connection and meaning! There's nothing quite like it. xx
Well if you are working with Home Start that also requires the ‘constitution’ and it build like a muscle 💪. Good for you.