Very Small Good Causes

[Dave2002]

I entirely accept that funding is missing but to my mind that underlines the need for cohorts of volunteers.

This is a long standing argument - sadly - and not everyone agrees. I used to belong to a PTA and we ran fairs and painted classrooms, and planted a garden. I didn’t think we should have had to do it, but we did fund at least one minibus. One of my more left leaning friends said it was a disgrace, and the school should have been properly funded in the first place. I agreed, but pointed out that our daily attempts to watch the pigs flying outside were an indication that we should just get on and do it. The school wasn’t even particularly badly funded - many were, and still are, a lot worse off.

[Lat-Literal]

I entirely accept that funding is missing but to my mind that underlines the need for cohorts of volunteers. The thread is about small-scale charities and I think schools could at least try to use this approach. Of course I stand to be corrected if some schools already do this but hearing of 2 or 3 state primaries in our area regularly turning out illiterate children at 11 is unacceptable.

Schools were not quite what I had in mind when beginning this thread. In principle, I would not be totally opposed to what is being discussed. However, I find that my response to it is much as I have provided on other threads before. A lack of clarity about current education structures and a range of anecdotes from the past which tend to influence my views. If I were to try to find any sort of link between those, it would again come down to modern culture and how, on balance, I don't think it is in any way superior to much earlier arrangements.

One, my grandmother was virtually illiterate. She was the soundest person I've ever known. Much more so than my parents and their brothers and sisters or me although in my case she didn't have the toughest competition. But I accept that she could be terribly compliant with almost everyone else given that the persistent social message was that the literate knew better. It is unlikely that semi-literacy would be especially helpful to anyone in today's much pushier world even if the employment trends are towards, as she was, the self-employed.

Two, I helped people who were semi-literate to read. I was nine at the time. They required one-to-one tuition which teachers could not provide and may have really needed to have been at a school for people with special needs. I believe that it was a great social education for me but my parents believed, wrongly in my opinion, that it held me back in the slightly longer term. I also read to the class when teachers had to be temporarily absent. My assumption is that this sort of thing would not be permitted today but I could be wrong. It seems very likely that parents who are far more grade conscious than mine ever were would be howling and screaming if it did occur. I would, though, permit it. While the workplace wasn't a wonderful thing for me, being able to communicate with the less well educated was not one of my many problems. I think it would lead to managers in the future having more empathy.

Three, while being of a nervous disposition, I was at a deprived infants' school every Wednesday afternoon for a term at 16. Previously I had helped a blind elderly woman to type but she wanted me to turn a jungle behind her house into a garden and that defeated me. I don't know what others in my school did but seem to recall a lack of enthusiasm all round. Community service was a sort of educational fad that is so common in organisations now and participating in it may indeed have been a voluntary alternative to sports. Anyhow, what I know is that there is no way on earth that a 16 year old male would just be allowed into a school in that role now, nor anyone of any age, and in many ways I think that is regrettable. Many of these schools have few male teachers. Fathers are often absent in children's lives. But sadly, in the climate today, there is a presumption that the average 16 year old could be dubious. That is close to paranoia and it doesn't fit in with the true facts about perpetrators. If anyone is to feel slightly intimidated in that situation, it is probably the average 16 year old but it is also a good challenge in terms of maturity. While I didn't contribute a great deal, I do think it was mainly win-win and I still have the nice leaving card they made me.

Four, while there is clearly a need to ensure that all potential volunteers are not likely to be threatening, the pendulum has swung far too far. As I know from two 60-something married neighbours who applied to join St John Ambulance, people are not thanked for their offers of help even at the time of application. Rather there is an arrogant "and why do you think you are suitable for this job?" approach with masses of paperwork to complete. Anyone might think that they were applying for actual work which is paid with a six figure salary. I have absolutely no time for it, especially when some who sit in boardrooms of a range of organisations making decisions on what questions to ask have been proven time and again to be of more dubious character than the vast majority of volunteers. So, yes, I would ditch the CRB checks or whatever they are called now. The young, the early retired and especially ex prisoners in need of rehabilitation should all be waved in to the voluntary sector. That is, other than in cases of convictions for past murder or sexual abuse. This, though, requires a change in the law to reverse both the ludicrous American litigation climate and aspects of European civil rights law. The counter-balance is that entry for senior managers needs to meet robust government led standards both in terms of applying for posts and in annually assessed efficacy. Whether it is the public or private sector, that level needs to be state controlled.

Five, I was put on a faddish voluntary work drive in my final year as a Civil Servant. The manager, effectively, of a unit of sixty who in 10% of his work was required to drum the other 59 into action. It was given to me because I was an average Joe on an average salary and there was already the hint that it wouldn't be long before I was leaving. Consequently, all of the claims that this was considered to be important were entirely bogus. What was really considered important was the kind of work being undertaken full time by the people of the future. This public relations exercise was greeted with minimal interest by most staff, including the few who undertook voluntary work in their spare time. Rather than supported by senior managers, I was told to use my initiative and just take it forward as I felt right. Ultimately, my own section went to an infants' school for just one morning. No CRB checks were required on the grounds that "all Civil Servants are probably alright". It was fascinating to witness a multicultural establishment in person. There were children of almost 20 different languages in the assembly for the "hymn", "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". But having been advised beforehand that we would be told what to do when we got there, we were just left to flit in and out of activities saying things like "yes, that is a very nice drawing", following which the school wrote to the Department and said ungraciously it had been a total waste of time.

Six, I thought schools had their own funding. In fact, given the academy status at least among some schools at the senior level, many of them can seem to be semi-private with Chief Executives on very high salaries. Certainly that was the case when a friend of mine was the chief accountant for education services in a major county. He'd have people who were called the heads of schools effing and blinding down the phone at him on a regular basis and contrary to popular perception it was the women who were the most aggressive. When I said to him that I was appalled by what he told me, he replied that I didn't fully understand that these people were hard business types first and teachers second, if they were teachers at all.

[jean]

...hearing of 2 or 3 state primaries in our area regularly turning out illiterate children at 11 is unacceptable.

There are always going to be some children who struggle with reading and writing. Why do you suppose volunteers would be better able to sort this than teachers?

But the real objection to schools relying on armies of volunteers is that the schools that need them most will be in areas where the supply of well-meaning middle-class people with time on their hands is lowest.

[Beef Oven!]

There are always going to be some children who struggle with reading and writing. Why do you suppose volunteers would be better able to sort this than teachers?

But the real objection to schools relying on armies of volunteers is that the schools that need them most will be in areas where the supply of well-meaning middle-class people with time on their hands is lowest.

But why must they be middle class, Jean? There are plenty of working class people with time on their hands who are perfectly able to carry out such roles.

[oddoneout]

Although this has gone off topic in terms of answering the question of financial support, the discussion about volunteers does highlight some of the difficulties of offering/using practical rather than financial support from well wishing members of the public. I have been involved in the volunteer world for many years and seen how it has changed. I know that many would-be volunteers are discouraged by the red tape, especially if they cannot see the relevance or need, but unfortunately simply being well-intentioned isn't enough. You would have thought that reports in the media would have provided some indication of why that is so, but folks don't seem to make the connection. Again, the sue-you culture is known about, but doesn't seem to translate into the need to observe rules and be insured as a volunteer, even if it's accepted as an employee.

Back to the original question - my financial support is mostly in the form of using the shops of local charities.

[oddoneout]

But why must they be middle class, Jean? There are plenty of working class people with time on their hands who are perfectly able to carry out such roles.

But in many cases they are less likely to consider it? Two views I came up against over the years boiled down a)to feeling inadequate to the role(education/knowledge)coupled with reluctance to mix with 'middle class do gooders' for fear of being made to feel inadequate, and b) 'why should I work for nothing?'
Is there a split into the middle-class approach of trying to fix something that's wrong, and a working class expectation that 'they' should/will fix said problem because 'they' know how?
And before anyone jumps down my throat I'm not implying better or worse, just voicing from experience over many years of trying to get folks other than the 'usual suspects' involved in such things as toddler groups, playschools, governing bodies.

[jean]

All of that.

And not being able to read and write very well isn't something that's suddenly happened in this generation. You can't help children with difficulties if you haven't overcome your own.

[DracoM]

Locally we have a problem with 'safeguarding issues'.

Meals on Wheels which for decades has used willing kids at a local school to help run this essential service has now been told that the school has to pull them out on 'safeguarding grounds', despite the fact that the central organisers are all DBS certed. This is a tiny town, there IS only one secondary school in it, it's a very close-knit community. Organisers are baffled. The running of the service is now seriously threatened without the kids' help. A worry on so many levels.

The bigger issue is that this is clearly making it very, very obvious to the kids that in some way, the 'older' generation is implicitly and now explicitly deemed suspect / untrustworthy, or, worse, those who organise such activities to support others are suspect or untrustworthy. What exercises me is the question as to whether there will ever be another generation of volunteers if this is the template that is being enforced, both implicitly and explicitly, and what is the long term relationship between the generations on a community level, and what will that do to long term community cohesion?

[Beef Oven!]

But in many cases they are less likely to consider it? Two views I came up against over the years boiled down a)to feeling inadequate to the role(education/knowledge)coupled with reluctance to mix with 'middle class do gooders' for fear of being made to feel inadequate, and b) 'why should I work for nothing?'
Is there a split into the middle-class approach of trying to fix something that's wrong, and a working class expectation that 'they' should/will fix said problem because 'they' know how?
And before anyone jumps down my throat I'm not implying better or worse, just voicing from experience over many years of trying to get folks other than the 'usual suspects' involved in such things as toddler groups, playschools, governing bodies.

We know all that. There is something about enabling people (rather than just excepting a (potentially) self fulfilling prophecy).

[oddoneout]

The future of volunteering, at least the small scale domestic kind mentioned above, is doubly threatened. Issues such as safeguarding are problematic - the difficulty may be as much lack of resources for training and supervision as any perceived or actual risk(in whichever direction - for meals on wheels it could be elderly at risk from youngsters exploiting the vulnerable as much as elderly acting inappropriately). The other big threat is from changing life circumstances. The pool of older (mainly) women are now increasingly at work and/or have care responsibilities to help their grown-up children, or elderly relatives, leaving little time for 'good works'. Those who are out of work may find that the DWP thwarts their efforts to volunteer.
There is also an increasing shift I think towards seeing money as a solution, so where people may be happy to donate for a cause they will find all sorts of reasons not to help in person. This can lead to the silly situation of parents wanting their children to participate in things like sports clubs and out of school activities but not being prepared to give a couple of hours of their time once a term to help - and then grumbling when there are waiting lists or closures....
It's a concern as those supposedly running the country are choosing to ignore the constraints and changing patterns while at the same time expecting charity and voluntary activity to pick up the slack caused by cuts to provision of services.

[jean]

...There is something about enabling people (rather than just excepting a (potentially) self fulfilling prophecy).

But that's a stage that has to be gone through before potential volunteers are ready and able to do what could be useful.

Admirable as it may be to take on the role of enabler, who do you envisage doing this?

Is it something you are already involved in yourself and if not, why not?

[Beef Oven!]

But that's a stage that has to be gone through before potential volunteers are ready and able to do what could be useful.

Admirable as it may be to take on the role of enabler, who do you envisage doing this?

Is it something you are already involved in yourself and if not, why not?

It has to be started in order to be completed.

There will be other volunteers who will have the skill set and qualifications to act as coaches/trainers. It's not hard.

No, I do other things.

[DracoM]

<< It's not hard. >>

Bitter experience tells me that is simply not true - I wish it WERE true, but it just ain't.

[Lat-Literal]

Locally we have a problem with 'safeguarding issues'.

Meals on Wheels which for decades has used willing kids at a local school to help run this essential service has now been told that the school has to pull them out on 'safeguarding grounds', despite the fact that the central organisers are all DBS certed. This is a tiny town, there IS only one secondary school in it, it's a very close-knit community. Organisers are baffled. The running of the service is now seriously threatened without the kids' help. A worry on so many levels.

The bigger issue is that this is clearly making it very, very obvious to the kids that in some way, the 'older' generation is implicitly and now explicitly deemed suspect / untrustworthy, or, worse, those who organise such activities to support others are suspect or untrustworthy. What exercises me is the question as to whether there will ever be another generation of volunteers if this is the template that is being enforced, both implicitly and explicitly, and what is the long term relationship between the generations on a community level, and what will that do to long term community cohesion?

Safeguarding is a 21st Century phenomenon imposed from on high. In the first half of this decade, we had constant news about cases of historical abuses. This was to inform us that the 1970s and the 1980s were not especially good. Many of us already knew it although for a while it seemed that it having been awful was now the only permissible version. Nothing of any good about those times could be presented in the mass media. Arguably, the agenda was to paint the new era in a more positive light. After all, most folk were reeling from the impacts of the financial crash and thinking that the olden days were better. Now we hear more of what is taking place in these times. That is with all the so-called safeguarding and the situation has hardly improved. There is no subtlety in the approach. The assumption in the processes is that volunteers work on their own. Actually, in very many cases, several work together.

Then there is the point about violent crime. Most of it now, as it has been historically, is young male upon young male. Often, as seen in the black communities of London, where knife crime in on the rise, it emerges from one's fear of the other. It is totally wrong to see any direct read-across there to every possible volunteering situation. Those people may always have had an entirely different outlook towards the vulnerable who do not represent a threat to them. Helping the vulnerable may well be advantageous to both parties, providing past criminals with a sense of social pride. And it extends to other areas too. People who are guilty of fraud do not always rob poorer people directly. Certainly that is true of much white collar crime where a bit of putting back into the community might well produce a better form of character. Authorities know these things and more. It isn't safety that is uppermost in their minds. It is the knowledge that we now have a system in which it is easy to sue and where going to court is promoted at every available opportunity as a money making lifestyle.

[Lat-Literal]

But in many cases they are less likely to consider it? Two views I came up against over the years boiled down a)to feeling inadequate to the role(education/knowledge)coupled with reluctance to mix with 'middle class do gooders' for fear of being made to feel inadequate, and b) 'why should I work for nothing?'
Is there a split into the middle-class approach of trying to fix something that's wrong, and a working class expectation that 'they' should/will fix said problem because 'they' know how?
And before anyone jumps down my throat I'm not implying better or worse, just voicing from experience over many years of trying to get folks other than the 'usual suspects' involved in such things as toddler groups, playschools, governing bodies.

I'm not sure on the class issue but realise it is wise to accept informed comments from people like you. Still, I have a number of provisos. There are two admittedly idealised and even possibly outmoded pictures in my mind about volunteering. One is very middle class and the other, actually, is distinctly working class. Both are about versions of community. I think that volunteering types may matter more than volunteering classes. There are, though, often greater barriers for ordinary workers. More time needs to be devoted to making ends meet. Employment can be physical or humdrum with an idea of wanting to escape oppressive management. If the notion of voluntary work is that it is also mainly physical or humdrum and working to middle class managers in a replica of the workplace, then it will be off putting. The old adage about clothing which in fact is an analogy is still true - managers prefer to dress down in their time off - and volunteering in a managerial role may well be a dressing down - while workers prefer to dress up - something that is unlikely to occur in meals on wheels.