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A Grand Day Out?
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Friend of Moose (U14307683) on Sunday, 9th January 2011
The organisation where I volunteer organises expenses-paid outings most months as a way of saying 'thank you', and providing us with opportunities to socialise.
For the first time recently I went on one of these events. This was partly because I'd been rung up and invited on the grounds that there was a spare (expensive) ticket. I was told the rendez-vous point. Subsquently I received both a letter outlining arrangements, and reminding me of the importance of turning up as arranged - and a phonecall asking for someone e.g. a relative who should be contacted in the case of any emergencies arising during this (non-dangerous) outing.
When I duly arrived, I met with a couple of other volunteers at the agreed rendez-vous point. We then got texted to say that the we were supposed to be meeting somewhere slighly different. When the three of us got there two staff members from the organisation where in the most terrible state saying that there was one more vounteer than there were tickets, but - never mind, not to worry - one of them would forego the event.
We all went with the remaning staff member, who rather than just dishing out the tickets asked us all to sign a 'register', but then kept grabbing at the file where the register was to check her other paperwork, so no one could actually put their names down. In any case the performance we were seeing was about to start.
At the interval, the staff member got us all sitting round a table in a corner of the venues. A big bag containing cartons of soft drink and huge amouts of crisp packets and sweeties got handed round, and the 'register' was brought round. We were also all asked - in this public place - to complete a detaile questionnaire about our emotional well-being/mental health - on the grounds that it was through the completion of these questionnaires that the organisation was able to access the funding to pay for the trip. We were also given individual codes to put on these questionnaires, which the organisation's office already had on its database.
Though the entertainment itself was enjoyable, all this other business did rather spoil my pleasure in the day.
I had been under the impression it was just going to be an ordinary relaxed works outing. I don't want to bite the hand that feeds me, but I found some of these happenings infantilising, and other occurences intrusive and annoying.
So do I
a) quietly avoid any other works 'socials'
or
b) tell my manager that it wasn't what I expected.
or
c) contact the volunteer representative on the organisation's management commitee with my views??? -
Message 2
Posted by Lili Bolero and the band played on (U10534540) on Sunday, 9th January 2011
Can you see any disadvantage in doing (c), Friend of Moose? Quite frankly, it all sounds completely bizarre to me, and if I had decided never to put myself in a similar position again, I would be fairly forthright to the organisers in giving my reasons.
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Message 3
Posted by MV Whitby May Rose (U6862284) on Sunday, 9th January 2011
It sounds like an episode of a Victoria Wood sitcom with Celia Imrie playing the part of the paid worker.
Im inclined towards a combination of all 3 FoM.
Poor you, it sounds really stressful. -
Message 4
Posted by Lili Bolero and the band played on (U10534540) on Sunday, 9th January 2011
Yes, you're right about Victoria Wood and Celia Imrie, whitbyrose! The only thing missing was when someone had to drop out because there weren't enough tickets, they should all have been made to do a 'sing off' in the street and get passers-by to vote who should go home.
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Message 5
Posted by Miladou bloody but unbowed (U3518248) on Sunday, 9th January 2011
Sounds really grim! Being me, I would just noisily avoid any future such outings.
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Message 6
Posted by Bearhug (U2258283) on Monday, 10th January 2011
I would go with C. I can understand that these days there may be some paperwork to do, but it should be kept to a minimum, and as far as possible, all done before the event, and the event itself just kept to a tick register, to make sure no one's gone astray.
I think it's reasonable to point out it could be better managed to make it more enjoyable - and if there's no way that they can manage to try and improve things for future, then I'd probably choose not to go again. But if everyone who gets annoyed with it just mutters to themselves, how will the powers that be know that there is discontent and things could be improved? -
Message 7
Posted by Lili Bolero and the band played on (U10534540) on Monday, 10th January 2011
I agree with Bearhug. (I often do).
It strikes me that the numerous phone calls and checking up done at the beginning might be as a result of 'bad experiences' in the past. Maybe people have dropped out without telling them because they couldn't be doing with all the hassle. It would be kindest to tell them how the organisation is perceived. -
Message 8
Posted by carrick-bend (U2288869) on Monday, 10th January 2011
B and C might be useful, and would give the organisation feedback, but it doesn't seem fair for you to have to go out on a limb by yourself.
How do your fellow volunteers feel? a collective feedback might be more effective.
I'm horrified at the lack of privacy afforded you all about your emotional well-being/mental health - apart from disregarding your rights, has it not occurred to anyone administrating this that they would get a fuller and franker response if you felt that your confidentiality wasn't compromised? -
Message 9
Posted by CC Growing old disgracefully (U13344869) on Monday, 10th January 2011
I do voluntary work and no one even got a Christmas card let alone a present as a thank you for what we do. No going out for a meal, nothing. When i was working we always got something at Christmas as well as out wages, Seems however when you give your time voluntry you get nothing!.
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Message 10
Posted by Lili Bolero and the band played on (U10534540) on Monday, 10th January 2011
Well perhaps you were just lucky in that particular paid job, Carol. We never get (or expect) anything for Christmas. Not even a pay rise for the last 2 years.
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Message 11
Posted by sagethyme (U5272261) on Monday, 10th January 2011
I would do b) and c)
Organisations need feedback. A charity which I help made some mistakes in the facilities for our stall at a large event. We improvised OK, then I wrote a carefully worded email suggesting improvements. They sent an appreciative reply and action was taken.
The same organisation provides an annual party for its volunteers.
It is important to encourage this and allow a little funding, especially if we are expected to run our libraries and schools for nothing. -
Message 12
Posted by Friend of Moose (U14307683) on Monday, 10th January 2011
I tried B today.
My manager was clearly concerned - and already knew about - the muddle re numbers of tickets. But I didn't feel s/he took on board my concern re being asked to fill in a questionnaire about my emotional/mental health without prior warning in a public place.
So not quite sure where this one will go. I don't see my fellow-volunteers normally. (It's a telephone helpline, so unless someone's shift finishes when yours starts, there is no overlap.) I could leave notes in their pigeonholes. I think the volunteer rep on Managment Committee has left. There is a grievance procedure, but my gut feeling would be that a further attempt to resolve things informally would be better..
I have supervision in a couple of weeks - but it's group supervision. All the same I may bring it up then.
(Morale is generally low in the organisation at the moment., because everyone is worried about funding cuts) -
Message 13
Posted by carrick-bend (U2288869) on Monday, 10th January 2011
I have supervision in a couple of weeks - but it's group supervision.Â
That implies to me that you're in a counselling-type role - that context makes it even worse that your completion of the questionnaires was treated in such a cavalier way.
Not good professional practice anyway, but definitely not if your organisation should know better. -
Message 14
Posted by Bearhug (U2258283) on Monday, 10th January 2011
I have supervision in a couple of weeks - but it's group supervision. All the same I may bring it up then.Â
I think that's a good idea - others may have been thinking it, and sometimes, it's easier to talk about things you're not so happy with if someone else has brought it up. -
Message 15
Posted by sweet-rocket (U11357111) on Monday, 10th January 2011
We were also all asked - in this public place - to complete a detaile questionnaire about our emotional well-being/mental health - on the grounds that it was through the completion of these questionnaires that the organisation was able to access the funding to pay for the trip. Â
It's a mite unusual for volunteers to be treated to what sounds to be fairly expensive outings once a month - I'd find out more about who is funding this and the criteria. It could well be completely above board of course, but as I say, it's uncommon. -
Message 16
Posted by Friend of Moose (U14307683) on Monday, 10th January 2011
There was yet more paperwork to do with the trip - that I was supposed to complete today - in my pigeonhole. Which enabled me to find out that the trip was Lottery funded.
Ironically - in view of all the crisps and sweets provided - one of the strands that this particular chunk of Lottery money is meant to be promoting is healthy eating.
All a bit murky. I hate this role of being the one who always is awkward/asks questions/challenges things. But sometimes there is no escape. I guess the thing is just to do it in a calm and pleasant way, and see where it leads.... -
Message 17
Posted by Morganish (U9108847) on Tuesday, 11th January 2011
The OP made me laugh. I used to work in large media organisations where there were often tickets offered on the intranet for various theatre performances and film premieres - offered by PR people, presumably, in the hope of getting publicity. One just grabbed them and went, no checking up, no form-filling, no register, no feedback required. If you liked film and theatre it was a wonderful perk.
I also, a few years ago worked for a voluntary organisation and discovered the wonderful word of grants and funding (aaaaaaaaaaghhh!), all of which require some form of pay-off in kind or in the mysteries of match-funding. I can quite imagine that there is some desperate arts organisation that can offer free or subsidised tickets to 'key' voluntary groups - but only if there is enough documentation and feedback to prove it is worthwhile. Perhaps on this occasion the tickets were offered for those who have emotional or mental health issues and there was some form of low-level fraud/accommodation involved - hence the half-time questionnaire. People have to hit their targets. If they were finding it difficult to access genuine mental health groups they may have looked around for another 'deserving' group that could help them achieve their figures.
If you suspect that the latter may be true, you might prefer to say nothing and just turn down future offers. Or not. A matter of conscience, really. My time in the voluntary sector left me feeling cynical - does it show? -
Message 18
Posted by Morganish (U9108847) on Tuesday, 11th January 2011
Ah, Lottery funding... In which case you will be filling in feedback forms, providing documentation and being contacted by someone checking that you did actually go for the next 12 months.
The voluntary group I am involved with looked into lottery funding and decided we wouldn't go through with it. It would have meant employing someone to manage the paperwork and we'd have had to fund their salary - probably from another grant provider who would also require endless paperwork. It's all pretty Kafka-esque. -
Message 19
Posted by Friend of Moose (U14307683) on Tuesday, 11th January 2011
Yes, I used to work in the arts. Venues forever offering each other free tickets like they were pizza flyers.
And now I have some freelance work writing reports on arts events.
But the palaver around last Saturday. That was something else.... -
Message 20
Posted by Tadpole (U2267185) on Tuesday, 11th January 2011
Moose, could you possibly be (unwillingly/unwittingly) participating in a Lottery-funded research study evaluating the impact of monthly social events on volunteers' emotional well-being? It sounds like it could be something like that, only it hasn't been fully explained and isn't being very well-handled. I would definitely raise your concerns in whatever way seems appropriate.
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Message 21
Posted by Silver Jenny (U12795676) on Tuesday, 11th January 2011
Fom, re OP. I would do b. and c. and decide on a. if/when you get an answer as to what was the purpose of all the data gathering.
I volunteer for a big charity. We have an after Christmas gathering for our particular project. Charity provides food, we pay for our own drinks and provide entertainment if required . It is a good time to catch up with people who volunteer on different days. Only work matter raised would be if there is a major change to anything which affects us all.
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