No more twin-set-and-pearls

According to the ‘Guardian Guide to Volunteering’, published in conjunction with the UK’s volunteering body TimeBank, “in the last five years the voluntary sector has shed its fusty twinset-and-pearls image.  It is no longer just for ladies who lunch.  Charities have learnt that they need to be flexible to fit into potential volunteers’ busy lives”.

Wandering around the Annual NUI Galway Volunteering Fair last week, it was evident that there are indeed more and more students taking action.  There were almost 2000 students present, encouraged by the University’s volunteer campaign and also by a growing number or academics who are promoting volunteer work among their students. 

There were no twin-set-and-pearl types at the fair, in fact, the event itself was very like the sports clubs and societies days held the week prior.  There was that same sense of occasion, the same level of colour, energy and excitement.
The volunteer organizations are changing their style to appeal to a wider ranges of volunteers and are becoming ever more flexible toward their time constraints.  For students, this is paramount, as lectures and exams cannot be missed – and they can worry that the organisation will not realise this.  However, the community partners do recognise the particular situations of students. 

Voluntary organisation also increasingly see that students are available at weird and wonderful times, during the day at the evenings, late at night.  These odd hours are often the times when homework clubs are run, or fundraising is done or helplines need to be manned.  The students also have their summers, a portion of which so many give over to volunteering. 

Part of the challenge in this area is communicating between both groups.  For community partners, they need to understand that students need a fresh ‘twin-set’ free approach and volunteer work that is perhaps short-term or flexible.  For students, they need to hear that volunteering is not a rigid thing, but something that can fit around them as an individual.  Last week’s fair, and the response from both groups since, indicated that the communication channels are opening wide.

(Pictured above is Deputy President and Registrar Jim Browne, Student Volunteer Coordinator Lorraine Tansey, Vice-President Mary O’Riordan and Deputy Mayor Galway Catherine Connolly.)