The "Voluntary" sector

[Chilli.s]

And then there's the other kind of charity, one that does its collecting/sales in this country, runs that with volunteers and moves money and goods far far away out of sight of the charities commission and HMRC. Who knows what goes on. How many round the world flights can you have as a reasonable running expense if that all looks ok.

 

[xenon]

Why is it impossible?

Because some socially useful work can’t or won’t be paid for by either the people who benefit from it or tax . Economies of scale. If you are going to say under another political system other things are possible. Fine. I’m not interested in Daydreaming today though.

 

[redsquirrel]

Unions require a lot of voluntary work - reps, branch officers, lay reps etc.

But surely we should argue that all the time people expend in those positions should be freed up by time release from the employer. The time for union duties should not come from reps/officers "free" time (though I know that in practice most of it does)

 

[likesfish]

Genuine volunteer work fine.
but for example, running ambulance transport with paid workers with a contract is not voluntary neither is paid care work. OK St Johns ambulance have a reputation so unlikely to fuck the whole thing up by subcontracting to some bloke with an old ambulance they found in the friday ad Parliament misled over patient transport ambulance scandal

 

[Dogsauce]

Volunteering should be for hobby shit like restoring vintage buses or digging out old canals, wiping people’s arses or diverting kids away from trouble is something that should be paid for by the state and at a decent rate.

It’s a pity we can’t reorganise society so that useless jobs such as doorstep selling of electricity and gas or designing a new logo for a mobile phone shop are done by the voluntary sector and the stuff that society actually needs is done efficiently and effectively by fairly remunerated staff.

 

[porp]

What we seem to lack in the UK are charities and foundations that are both big and independent. I sometimes think of the Guggenheim refusing to lend artworks to the Trumps. But then again, that's linked to large scale private philanthropy, which is problematic in its own way.

 

[SpookyFrank]

It's impossible for all work to be paid work though.

I refuse to accept that it is beyond the wit of man to ensure that all those doing socially productive work are compensated.

 

[likesfish]

RNLI is big and fiercely independent a Royal Navy officer described it like dealing with a slightly damp mafia.
They do not suffer fools at all the government wonk who wanted to discuss gender and ethnic make up of their lifeboat crews went away wishing they hadn't mentioned it
Because nobody cares who drags you out of the sea just as long as they do.

 

[Sasaferrato]

Voluntary sector is what you do when you are too rich to need to work and want something to get you out of the house for a few hours a week, like a sort of structured socialising thing.

Or retired. When you look at the people staffing the charity shops, they don't tend to be in the first flush.

 

[Sasaferrato]

RNLI is big and fiercely independent a Royal Navy officer described it like dealing with a slightly damp mafia.
They do not suffer fools at all the government wonk who wanted to discuss gender and ethnic make up of their lifeboat crews went away wishing they hadn't mentioned it
Because nobody cares who drags you out of the sea just as long as they do.

You cannot but be in awe of the RNLI. When you see the conditions that they will sail in, it is breathtaking. Only the Cox and the engineer are paid AFAIK, so the others risk their lives on a purely altruistic basis.

 

[dylanredefined]

You cannot but be in awe of the RNLI. When you see the conditions that they will sail in, it is breathtaking. Only the Cox and the engineer are paid AFAIK, so the others risk their lives on a purely altruistic basis.

Having had to hand my pocket money over to them after being rescued(parents idea not the RNLI) I'm a bit resentful still seeing the rib turn up to rescue me was good.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Having had to hand my pocket money over to them after being rescued(parents idea not the RNLI) I'm a bit resentful still seeing the rib turn up to rescue me was good.

You must have got a hefty wedge of pocket money for that not to be a good deal.

 

[dylanredefined]

You must have got a hefty wedge of pocket money for that not to be a good deal.

Kids not exactly the most logical of things.
Probably the embarrassment of the whole thing more than anything.

 

[likesfish]

You cannot but be in awe of the RNLI. When you see the conditions that they will sail in, it is breathtaking. Only the Cox and the engineer are paid AFAIK, so the others risk their lives on a purely altruistic basis.

think they may get expenses but buggering about on the sea in a rib trying to fish some drunk arse whose jumped off the palace pier (it was never Brighton pier noble you cunts) is dangerous enough let alone the serious weather those nutters go out in.