Charity work

[Garrypoups]

Hi all, I was wondering how many of you devote some time to sharing your therapy skills free of charge, for a good cause?

I'm training in Reflexology at the moment, and when qualified I want to offer my skills say one Saturday a month, free of charge, in some capacity - I will get the opportunity to help out at a hospice as part of my reflexology training, and this is the kind of thing I want to do of my own accord, afterwards. Hospices, care homes, that kind of thing.

I already help out with a charity for elderly people, once a month, called Contact the Elderly, not in any therapy-related capacity (tho I will prob change that too when I am qualified), but just because it was something I heard about and felt very strongly that it was something I wanted to be involved in. It's the same kind of thing with my therapies (I'm also a reiki practitioner) - as much as I want to make a living from this, an important part for me includes making time to help people who need it most.

So I just wanted to see how many of you do the same type of thing, and hear what kind of things you do, and what you get out of it etc.

Mike

 

[Non-Christians fail again]

Hi Mike

I volunteer with Brent Carers Association 1 aftenoon a month offering body massage.

Also in a non-therapist capacity at a local childrens contact centre supervising visits between the children and their non-resident parent.



Wesam

 

[MsShyPianoGirl]

Hi, there is nothing wrong with doing charity work, i have done a fair bit over the years myself, and through this i have made some very good contacts.You never know who you are going to meet, along with this, some deserving people enjoy your treatments too.A chance meeting a couple of years ago, opened doors to a company that i wanted to approach,this again has been extremely valuable to me.

Therapist1960uk

 

[invackamn]

I have volunteered for the National Phobics Society (which is now re-branded as Anxiety UK http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk) offering EFT and NLP for various anxiety-related issues, for a period of few years, though unfortunately they do not offer complementary therapies any longer, because of funding and the emphasis on "evidence-based practice".

Masha

 

[Guetdentike]

I am having a chat with a local hospice on Tuesday, not sure what I would be doing, am hoping it's Reflexology, but am also qualified in Aroma and Swedish too.

It would be a great experience to help people and to support the Hospice.

Jo x

 

[The Nameless]

Good luck with that Jojo - let us know how you get on.

Sounds like there are lots of different ways in which to volunteer and help out. We had our local street party a couple of weekends ago, all proceeds went to a local community youth drop-in centre, I helped out on the book stall but next year, i am SO having a reflexology stall!

BBD - good luck with that too - sounds like it will be lots of fun too. Have you got a link where I can find out more information about what you're doing?

thanks, Mike

 

[miss_j]

Thanks Mike will do, am also doing a Christmas Fayre in November 10 min Aroma hand massage, should be a good way to get some more business

 

[Eoin Maye]

Hello Mike, Re. the pamper parties - quite often schools hold fundraiser pamper parties and I have done quite a few of those in the past, also charities like the National Childbirth Trust etc, they hold pamper party fundraisers. Its hard work though, a constant stream of clients every 15 minutes or so but good fun.
Re. the marathon - I am new to this but i am helping out with a charity that I support at the Royal Parks half marathon, offering mini massages for the runners for a specific charity the CBC. Quite often charities like to offer this as a thankyou to the participants and thats what I'll be doing there.
I have just started a sports massage diploma so I hope to do more pre and post massages at sports events, there's quite a lot of work goes on here I am told, i'll have to find out more myself about this too.
I am going to be organising local fundraisers too soon, the ISMA's National Stress Awareness Day in November is a good excuse to do some work.
bbd

 

[whammahefly]

I have been doing voluntary aromatherapy work for a charity for the past 10 years. I like to think that its me giving something back, but if the truth was known its always a two way exchange and even though i give my time freely, I do get back some very rewarding experiences.

Binah
x

 

[ScoobieGirl91]

Think I am more interested in the marathon helping out, bbd - more my cup of tea than actually running the marathon (and all the training that is involved!). I'm doing an itec in holistic massage next yr - so you can see why it appeals.

Hi Binah - you're absolutely right, it's all about giving something back - and if you get something back in return for it, it's a bonus. I'm about to take ownership of my first ever allotment (1st October!), and one of the old ladies from the group I help with has made me promise to take her up to the plot, and gave me lots of advice when I saw her on Sunday - and a bag full of onion bulbs to plant

 

[I Am Jesus]

Went for my interview today and had a lovely time, they're all such a nice bunch. I can't wait to start, I go in next Tuesday afternoon to go through paperwork and suchlike, and probably start the Monday after, am so excited x

 

[Sockmonkey888]

Excellent JoJo, well done! I'm sure you will find it very rewarding, and the people you help out will be very appreciative!

 

[Rotontomlew]

Hi Mike,

I treat animals with Reiki at the local RSPCA veterinary clinic with a minimum donation of £5 going to the clinic. This has only been for a couple of months now although like you have done voluntary work for longer.

The feedback so far has been great and very rewarding when you get comments back like "it's given me my dog back, she now cuddles once more and doesn't bite".

This gives me something other than my day job as an ethical specialist financial adviser, although rewarding, nothing can beat helping others this way.

Greg

 

[Antonia]

That sounds amazing Greg - good for you. I often give my cat reiki at home and she adores it. I worked on a friend's dog once after she had been speyed - as I laid my hands gently on her stitches, my hands nearly burned off - there was such incredible heat.

I can see there is a lot more scope for volunteering and giving something back than I had ever imagined!

 

[Mr. Sunshine]

Hi there!
When I moved to this part of the country I felt I wanted to give something to my new community. Lo and behold a few weeks later there was an article in the local paper that the local Women's Refuge were looking for volunteers in ANYTHING they could offer! I contacted them and went along to an afternoon meeting where they explained what volunteering would involve at the Refuge etc. Out of the 8 people there I was the only one offering Comp Therapy (Reiki).
After being CRB checked (because of the children at the Refuge) I offered a few sessions for staff, away from the Refuge, so they could experience for themselves what I was offering. After three sessions of doing that I was welcomed with open arms into the Refuge lol. It was such a rewarding experience to know that the Reiki was helping these women who had come from horrendous situations to end up there. I volunteered 2hrs a fortnight (that's all I could fit in around work commitments) and I ended up having a waiting list! Unfortunately, due to my own health problems 2yrs later I had to stop but I would highly recommend other therapists contact their local Refuge and see if they can help.

Love and light

reikiangel

xxx

 

[du minh]

What a lovely story. It sounds like you made a lot of difference to some people there. All very inspiring. I'm sorry you had to stop due to health issues of your own, and hope you're better now

 

[Emily W]

I have applied to work in one of the Crisis Christmas shelters in London for two shifts over the Christmas break. I've applied to be a "service volunteer", offering Indian Head Massage. The details are here in case anyone else fancies it,

https://web.crisis.org.uk/cc2009/

I think it will be very rewarding

I've also helped out at a pamper evening fundraiser for a local primary school, this was really good fun, everyone was so friendly, and I got a client out of it too.

 

[Michelle D]

I forgot all about this thread

I now devote 5 hours a week (2.5 hours Mon and Fri) to the local hospice, I love it, even been taught how to play Sudoku by one of the patients lol They have a family day coming up soon, looking forward to that as well.

One of the chaps wife was an Aromatherapist (recently given up to look after him) and her previous clients have been asking if she knows anyone else that does, so I gave him my card, yet to hear anything yet tho.

 

[bthzvcnx]

Some great ideas, as this is something I plan to do

x

 

[Nicole C]

Having volunteered for a well known Charity for 4 years ( in a non-therapist capacity)I am moving onto pastures new.

I start working at a Hospice at the end of the month and I'm really looking forward to it. X