I was sitting at home with my feet up eating my tea and watching the TV, Sound familiar? When i'd finished my tea I had a bath went to bed got up the following morning and went to work. This is a general routine for, I guess 90% of the population.

Anyway my point... As this is the time of year to spread a little christmas cheer I thought it was about time I tried to make a difference in life. Perhaps not mine but someones. Take time out to consentrate on someone else and try and make there life a little bit better. To say we are the most inteligent life forms on the planet I think we can be pretty selfish & stupid at times. I know there will be people out there who do generaly do good and take part in fundraising and charity work. However I as like many others do not. I always contribute to collections fill bags of clothes for collectors buy raffle tickets and other things we see on a daily basis. I give cash to people in town when asked I'm sure we have all met the self named "Friendliest Tramp In Sheffield" Who's name I do not know by the way although our conversations have amounted to more than those with my window cleaner who's name is Steve?

I guess what I'm trying to say is how can we make a differance for people who need it. If anyone has any ideas for fundraising, Charity Events or Deserving Charities then post on here. Anyone intrested in getting involved in an event arranged by the people of sheffield for the people of sheffield I think we should name it "The day to make a differance" Pm me or post. If you could contirbute by doing something your good at Baking Raffles whatever, Any local bands wanting to get involved it could be some good exposure. We will also need a venue!!!!

Please don't read this and disregard it, What else will you be doing. Anyone who has any stories of how they made a differance in the past please let us know.

Thanks for taking the time,

Thundera.

yesterday I had my tea, and despite having a bit of cold and really wanting to go to bed I went and taught a jiu jitsu session.
Okay, it's not helping homeless people, but I don't get paid for it and it's open to the public as well as lazy layabout students.
Then I came home and went to bed.

I love ur determination to actually do something that will benefit those who need it more than ourself!

The following site shouls be of use to you, Voluntary work can be very rewarding!!!!!

http://www.vas.org.uk/volunteering.html

This doesn't cost much to do

http://www.samaritanspurse.uk.com/occ/index.asp

I did some voluntary work at Age Concern. They run a project where older people with little or no computer experience can come in and have a series of hour-long computer lessons. I had a great time :) .

On the other hand, I also did some voluntary work in a hospice. I couldn't do it again; it's too distressing. You certainly need to be a certain type of person to work with the terminally ill. Hats off to all those nurses, medics and voluntary staff who do the job every day.

Hang on a minute, I've just responded to this thread on the 'General Chit-Chat' board.

[EDIT: Yes, I know this is the 'General Chit-Chat' board. The threads have now been merged :D .]

Well this year me and some friends raised around £8000 for Breakthrough Breast cancer.

Next year we are planning to start raising money for Macmillan Cancer Relief and the local Hospices.

We have an auction night, murder mystery nights, and a few other things planned for next year.

I spent a considerable amount of time in a hospice in the last few months, and the people that work there are an inspiration. This is why we have decided on fund raising for hospices, and Macmillan Cancer Relief, the money you raise for these charities goes towards services in your local area.

I also plan to start volunteering at the hospices in the next few months, but they have advised me that I need to take some time out after my mum died so that I am completely together.

I teach relaxation and meditation to children. Amongst other things.

In addition to raising problems speech impaired people have when they try to communicate at every conceivable opportunity on this forum and elsewhere, I was also involved with co-organising an Event in Sheffield for the Power Inquiry; event was in September.

We wish to publish our report for that Event shortly; the Power Inquiry is a major research project to consider political inclusion and participation funded by the Joseph Rowntree Research Fund.

Despite all of the work involved in organising that Event & serious communications problems because of this disabling speech impairment, it was a profound experience. it certainly proved to me that the more one puts in the more one gets out.

As 82% of the people who completed our survey said they would like us to run more events of that nature we are in the very early stages of planning our next Event.

By subtracting a smaller number from a large one?

this might sound all very superior, and apologies if it does because it's not meant to, but i try to make a little bit of a difference all year round if i can, rather than just at christmas. i TRY to be ethical about what i buy (trying to buy fair trade and avoid products that are made by companies who use sweatshop labour or test on animals), and i give both time and money to charities throughout the year.

I co-present ( and sometimes present solo) a show on hospital radio, its great fun and you really do feel like you are making a difference.
This wednesday I was on the wards collecting requests and there were two young lasses on one of the wards who were really pleased to see me and they had 3 or 4 songs played for them and also one of them has said she'd like to get involved in volunteering.
the nice thing was getting a call in the studio from them to say thanks for playing the songs and for cheering them up.

if anyone is interested in volunteering by the way , let me know and I can put you in touch with the membership co-ordinators.

:clap:

i jumped out of a plane at 10,000foot for MIND :D :D

I did 3 years of voluntary work as a classroom assistant for a local primary school :D
I've also volunteered at The Children's hospital, raised money for them aswell...

I have plans to do some voluntary work over the coming summer...Not sure in what yet though!

My wife plays a big part in the Autism community, so we do charity events for that. More importantly the data she collects (along with software i am writing) will help push forward research for therapies for Autistic Children and adults.

We give to charities we believe in on a regular basis.

I give donations for political actions I believe in. Only buy from ethical companies, as far as I can. Only work for companies that are ethical and most of my jobs have been for companies that make a difference. Buy free range and or organic where ever available.

It’s the small things that all add up.

You don't get paid for teaching cyclone? Try castleBBA, i'm sure they'll need instructors as all the one's they had left. Not exactly conducive to a stress free lifestyle but I think they do pay good money (for pretty much the same job you're doing now).

Originally posted by Crayfish
You don't get paid for teaching cyclone? Try castleBBA, i'm sure they'll need instructors as all the one's they had left. Not exactly conducive to a stress free lifestyle but I think they do pay good money (for pretty much the same job you're doing now).

I volunteer my time, I do it because I enjoy it and because I get taught for free when I want to train.
(Which isn't to say that we don't pay for sessions, obviously dojo hire isn't free).

This thread is relevant for me at the moment. I'm on the very brink of finishing a PhD (I have my final viva on Monday), so I'm looking forward to the free time I'll have when I do finish. There are a lot of things I'd like to take up once it's all done, and one of these is volunteering.

As I've got older, I've increasingly come to the conclusion that it's not possible to change the world, so all you can do is try and make a very small difference yourself. Do any of you have suggestions for volunteering activities, either things you personally have done, or activities that you've heard of?

I go and see my parents in the midlands about every other weekend, so I can't really commit to anything at weekends. I'm also a keen Liverpool fan, so I can't do Tuesday or Wednesday nights either. Therefore I'm looking for something on either a Monday or Thursday night for 2-3 hours. :)

Just wanted to give these people a plug (hope the link is ok).

I think its a great idea for making a difference. Basically you give small loans to businesses in the developing World. Loans can be as small as 15 pounds.

They give you details of the organisation or business needing a loan and what they need it for.

And remember its a loan, you get the money back and can then either re-loan the money or walk away.

It helps people to help themselves.

http://www.kiva.org/about.php

Originally posted by Daley
I can't do Tuesday or Wednesday nights either. Therefore I'm looking for something on either a Monday or Thursday night for 2-3 hours. :)

I do voluntary driving for Sheffield Mencap Gateway Club and they are always looking for more drivers and escorts. They particularly need escorts on Mondays as I've had my run cancelled in the past due to lack of escorts.

Originally posted by Ramen
My wife plays a big part in the Autism community, so we do charity events for that. More importantly the data she collects (along with software i am writing) will help push forward research for therapies for Autistic Children and adults.

We give to charities we believe in on a regular basis.

I give donations for political actions I believe in. Only buy from ethical companies, as far as I can. Only work for companies that are ethical and most of my jobs have been for companies that make a difference. Buy free range and or organic where ever available.

It’s the small things that all add up.

Any advice on sleep problems for an aspergic 23 year old?

Originally posted by bonny
Any advice on sleep problems for an aspergic 23 year old?

Check you PMs :)

I am a volunteer with Homestart Sheffield and give around 3 hours a week to support a family in their own home. It's very rewarding. I've supported a number of families over the years. See

www.hssheffield.org.uk

Big round of applause for the people who give their time or money to a good cause!

:clap: :clap: :clap:

Also this thread seems full of "PC brigade", "looney-left" people ;) :)

I knew there was good people out there. Would anyone be intrested in arranging a fundraising event? If any one knows of a venue we could use post a response. I was thinking big! All these responses have just shown how 1 person can make a differance our combined effort could change lives. As I mentioned before any bands intrested in a charity gig? A fair of some sort would be good come on guys be inventinve..

Originally posted by bonny
Any advice on sleep problems for an aspergic 23 year old?

Dont know the significance of sleep problems for someone who is 23 years old an aspergic. As a chronic insomniac for years, I've changed my sleeping pattern after discussing it with a herbalist at Alton & Jones Sharrowvale Road, Phone 0114 268 2468. They resolved the problem with 1 week's supply of a non-addictive solution which only cost me £3.50. An excellent long term effect is that unless I have an urgent deadline and am working through the night, I now invariably sleep through the night. :D

If anyone's interested in volunteering and wants to gain experience of working with young people, I'd recommend SOVA Appropriate Adult Scheme and Mentoring Scheme.

Appropriate Adults go out to assist young people and vulnerable adults in police station who've been arrested and are being interviewed by the police. You sit with them through the interview and help protect their rights.

The Mentoring Scheme matches volunteers with young people in the criminal justice system to give them support to get out of offending.

The training is excellent and the work is very interesting, IMO.

Anyone interested should contact SOVA on 22 88 545. PM me if you want more info.

Chicken Monkey x

Originally posted by scottf
i jumped out of a plane at 10,000foot for MIND :D :D

im guessing you had a parachute attached to your person, or you wouldn't be writing this now:hihi:

if you really want to help, you can send me £1,000 in used tenners, i dont mind..........erm, i'll get my coat:blush: