Community Worker

Outreach Community Work - Advantages: Empowering People, Changing Lives, Rewarding - Disadvantages: Soul destroying at times, work not always appreciated, failed projects

I am writing this opinion, partly because I am training to be a community worker and partly because so far people have written in this category about voluntary work and volunteering and I want to clarify this. YOU CAN ACTUALLY BE A PAID COMMUNITY WORKER. Ever since I was young I have been in youth clubs, done voluntary summer clubs etc but when I left school I went into retail. Now retail is okay but I am not really someone who cherishes the thought of retail management.... and quite frankly if you don't like that kind of business you are quite often stuck with part time work at minimum wage (or not much more) There are full time posts of course but ...  Read the complete review

I hate the word volunteer, when referring to volunteering per se. It gives me the impression that any other work is done through coercion and ultimatums. It’s also a very weak word. ‘Volunteer’. Kids volunteer to be monitors at school (no milk, Maggie, no milk!). I might volunteer to cook the meal tonight (If I don’t, I starve!). But ‘volunteering’, as in working for no pay for the benefit of others who could not normally afford your services, has much more impact than that I have already described. Question: Are Category Assistants on Dooyoo, ‘volunteers’? Well yes, they volunteer for ...  Read the complete review

Ok, so you don't get paid. But you can get a lot out of doing voluntary work. There are a huge range of schemes out there, ranging from overseas work (organisations such as Raleigh International or smaller organisations) where you could be building schools, to local community based projects. There is something suitable for everyone, from painting houses to helping out in after school clubs for kids. As the work is voluntary, usually places are very flexible as to when you can help out and the types of jobs you do. My first experience of volunteering came about through my school work experience at the end of year 11. My work placement was with a Birmingham ...  Read the complete review