I was referring particularly in that blog to my local parish council but I would like to return to the idea and I apologise if some of my comments are political in nature. As I've often said I support no political party and am interested in people as individuals rather than as mass groups.
I'm sure I would be critical of whatever party is in power but an article in the Observer newspaper concerned me.
It stated that the idea of people volunteering in their local communities during Coronation weekend could become a damp squib as fewer people are volunteering.
The point about volunteering is it's voluntary which may be stating the obvious but is something that needs to be investigated and unpicked.
It means that people who are going to volunteer do so naturally and out of a wish to help something or somebody. They don't do it when somebody, and even in this case the King, suggests it might be a good idea.
The article pointed out that people either have less time or less inclination to volunteer and I think this is true. Today younger people face more and more demands on their time and often don't feel valued in what they do anyway.
There's also more anger around. NHS workers are so fed up with the way they claim that they have been treated that they are scarcely going to offer more of their time and skills unpaid. And that goes for people involved in many other professions and jobs as well.
In my life of volunteering, I have found one thing to be true (That sounds like a quote from the American Declaration of Independence) and that is how easy it is to rise to the top of the tree as a volunteer compared to the paid sector of life.
In the Samaritans I ended up as a deputy director. In the Round Table I was a member of the area executive. I became chairman of governors at a school and chairman of football and cricket clubs. I'm not suggesting for a minute that I have any specific skills that make me a must for these positions. It's more the point that others didn't at the time fancy or have the time to give and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time or the right place at the right time depending on how you look at things.
In working situations, it's a different matter of course. There, people are often scrambling over each other to progress to the next level because it means more prestige, more power and more money and money is a big inducement.
Volunteering brings with it no salary. Occasionally expenses can be claimed but this I have never done, looking at any costs incurred as a donation to the organisation or group I am a part of.
As a volunteer I have always felt reasonably valued and I have a few awards presented to me over the years which have been very much appreciated. I have particularly valued those that brought with them a monetary award for a charity of my choice. The reason I have continued to volunteer is to support groups and organisations I feel passionate about.
In general, however, I feel that the veritable army of volunteers is not genuinely appreciated by the powers that be and neither do I think they appreciate the time that goes into volunteering.
The Observer article states that there aren't enough volunteers in the Scout movement with thousands of youngsters on waiting lists.
That's sad but I know for a fact that many people are put off from volunteering due to checks, health and safety issues, form filling, courses to attend etc. They end up saying "I just can't be bothered to do all that." I'm not suggesting that checks shouldn't be made but a few years ago you needed a check for each voluntary position. Sports club involvement, one check, school involvement, one check, charity involvement one check and so it went on. Volunteers disappeared under a weight of paperwork. One check should have been sufficient to cover all.
A friend and myself always say that if volunteers went on strike, the country would grind to a standstill. There would be no amateur sports clubs, no charity work, no uniformed voluntary organisation and so on and on and on. Just take a moment to think about groups that would fall apart or be much weaker if volunteers withdrew their labour. Of course volunteers will never strike for more money or better working conditions. I used to joke that as chair of governors I would be putting in for a 400% pay rise. 400% of nothing is nothing.
So this blog is a small thank you to everyone that contributes to society through volunteering. Let's not take them for granted and let's always respect and value what they do.