Big Society's Big Mouth Powered by v

I think its an absolute joke. Ultimately, if we all weren't volounteering - SOMEBODY ELSE WOULD BE PAID TO. Is travel costs and food expenses all they think is holding us back from achieving great things? To offer expenses is simply insulting. Nevermind rent, bills, clothes, haircuts, toiletries etc. - we're young! We dont need those.... Companies have tightened their purse strings, a lot of migrants work entry level jobs and just to really rub salt in the wound - tuition fees were increased and EMA scrapped. This is in addtition to the already blatant age discrimination within the benefit system. Under 25's rate? Do I not need as much food, heat & light as the next person? Why do I have less rights than the majority of my friends just I am a bit younger? David Cameron needs to get real and stop thinking about his own short-term self interest, and focus on the young people who are the future of Britains economy. I'd like to see Cameron volounteer his role for a year (lets face it, he can afford it) and donate his salary towards the countrys financial deficit. Volounteering, cuts to youth services, and tuition fees certainly isn't inspiring me to do anything great. Except leave the country.  Read less

I totally agree with what's been said so far. I havn't been able to find a job in childcare in my area and i wanted to do a course at university which involved a work placement, if i got onto the course i was going to do the placement voluntry, but i have a house and young child to pay for and being in university you dont get any help or benifits to pay housing and living costs. i am now pregnant with my second child so those plans are on hold. People with full time jobs don't have time to volunteer, and cant afford time off because of the increase in living costs! Society shouldn't pick on the young but on the overpaid footballers, actors ect they have money that won't be missed and could affored to give up a weeks wage and have spare time on their hands! I may not volunteer but i spend alot of time planning fundrasers for diffrent local charities, which is something i think everyone can fit into their lifestyle no matter how little time they have on their hands!  Read less

All you need to be a volunteer is enthusiasm!
I have managed to fit my volunteering around full time work, although a lot of this has been based at home - organising events, contacting businesses etc. However, I do find it a struggle to fit it all in and always wish I could do more! I don't drive, which restricts me to travelling by bus, and considering the bus service is about to be cut, it will make it even more difficult for me to volunteer in the evenings - I wouldn't be able to get home!

I don't think that 'being busy' is an excuse for those who don't want to volunteer, as until you try and squeeze it all in you honestly don't think you'll have enough time. It depends if you're really passionate about, and enjoy, what volunteering you choose to do. I really want to get into Youth Work, particularly empowering young people and helping them to gain skills and confidence (like volunteering has done for me). At the moment, the only way I can gain experience in this field is to be involved in youth led projects, and I am looking forward to volunteering with the Youth Offending Service once my CRB arrives. I have to work, which limits the time I have to volunteer. But I have to volunteer to gain experience working with young people...

So many services would collapse without volunteers, but at the end of the day paid work - earning enough money to live - has to take priority. I could never afford to work even part time, and volunteer the rest - let alone be a full time volunteer. So I'll just keep squeezing it in and finding the time! I don't agree with qualified workers being made redundant with the idea that volunteers should be able to fill in the gaps. With so many jobs at risk, many people are going beyond their contracted duties just to try and show that they are worth their salary - unpaid overtime is common amongst my friends, limiting their free time further. Even those who would like to volunteer are just so tired and worried about paying the bills that taking on any further responsibility would be impossible.

Organisations and charities staffed by volunteers do fantastic work. But they should not have to pick up the slack, or replace, government and council services staffed by experienced professionals - which appears to be the main notion behind the Big Society.

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