Why bother?

[Ray Scully]

An organisation I chair was nominates for the Queens Award for Voluntary service. We were unsuccessful which we accept
However, all we received was an unsigned letter informing us of this, and stating that due to the volume of nominations they were unable to provide any feed back. I find this disrespectful and does not take into account the amount of work involved in participating in the scheme
IS IT ANY WONDER SO FEW PEOPLE VOLUNTEER THESE DAYS.

Ray

[david63]

Sadly, Ray, these days there are so many obstacles put in the way and so many hurdles for volunteers to jump over that many just can't be bothered

[Stephen]

Usually a mile of red tape plus our old friend 'elf and safety'.

[Frank Manning]

I'm sure you wont give up though Ray. I am involved with a charity (3 actually) and when we are being demotivated in any way, I just think of the people who will benefit from what we are doing, and say "stuff things like recognition, and awards". Its knowing that we are helping some people less fortunate than ourselves which is the real reward, and I bet that is your experience too. So

[Ray Scully]

I'm sure you wont give up though Ray. I am involved with a charity (3 actually) and when we are being demotivated in any way, I just think of the people who will benefit from what we are doing, and say "stuff things like recognition, and awards". Its knowing that we are helping some people less fortunate than ourselves which is the real reward, and I bet that is your experience too. So

You are s right Frank. It's just that we thought the recognition would encourage others to join the team

Ray

[Frank Manning]

One problem these days is that many people involved at the management end of these schemes are not skilled in engaging with and motivating others. It is just a job to them. It would not have taken much effort to include a paragraph praising the efforts of your charity, and saying that in this instance you haven't qualified for an award, but do keep going because your work is obviously so worthwhile. Even if it is a standards letter, as long as it is written, personally addressed and signed it will have some positive effect.

[ITWA Travel Writer]

Sadly, Ray, these days there are so many obstacles put in the way and so many hurdles for volunteers to jump over that many just can't be bothered

Talk about hurdles and hoops.

Before my dear lady retired, she was the administrator of the Macmillan Team up here in Moray and before that in the Highlands. Her main office was located within the Macmillan Hospice within the town and she had a secondary one in the main hospital where she organised the chemotherapy clinics.

Maureen was in at the start, as part of the management team, in building the hospice which was funded totally by local donations.

When she retired a year ago, the hospice manger wanted her to come back to work as a volunteer so that they could continue to use her admin skills. After discussions with Macmillan and the Health Board they advised that she should wait a year before returning so that the bulk of the patients which she had looked after would have been replaced by new ones, thus safeguarding her against any accusation under data protection. This seemed like a reasonable request.

However, when she decided to return, the NHS told the hospice that she would have to be vetted under the Police Scotland Act and numerous other Acts to see if she was a suitable person to work within the hospice. The chairman of the health board, who we know, reported this to the board but was told by his officials that although they knew Maureen, her work and her background they could make no exceptions. This vetting has taken three months, tied up in bureaucracy, but has finally been resolved. She now returns one day a week to teach the volunteers.

[david63]

... thus safeguarding her against any accusation under data protection. This seemed like a reasonable request.

Totally unreasonable to me as I fail to see what "data protection" has to do with this. If she had continued to work then she would, as she is now, be bound by the Data Protection Act (unless there is a different one in Scotland)

However, when she decided to return, the NHS told the hospice that she would have to be vetted under the Police Scotland Act and numerous other Acts to see if she was a suitable person to work within the hospice. The chairman of the health board, who we know, reported this to the board but was told by his officials that although they knew Maureen, her work and her background they could make no exceptions. This vetting has taken three months, tied up in bureaucracy, but has finally been resolved. She now returns one day a week to teach the volunteers.

I actually agree with that request. Although she is known to many anything could have happened in the 12 months that she was away.

[jacksparrow]

I have been a volunteer at the same place for 10 years and the jobs that I do have saved them a considerable amount of money. Some places would fold if it wasn't for their volunteers and yes most of the time it is worth it.

[Holiday Planner]

Part of my (paid) job at the museum is to help coordinate our volunteers. A very strict regulation is that you cannot ask someone to do a job voluntarily when they stop being paid for it. You contravene all sorts of employment law. I suspect that was the real reason Maureen was asked to have a break. Any checks she had done as staff are, unfortunately no longer valid as a volunteer. I know it seems crazy, but there are sound reasons for the regulations ... Safeguarding both the volunteer and others.