Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2016 April 23

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April 23

Statutory rape in English law

This question has been removed. Per the reference desk guidelines, the reference desk is not an appropriate place to request medical, legal or other professional advice, including any kind of medical diagnosis or prognosis, or treatment recommendations. For such advice, please see a qualified professional. If you don't believe this is such a request, please explain what you meant to ask, either here or on the Reference Desk's talk page. -- Mike V • Talk 22:03, 23 April 2016 (UTC)

Community voluntary work

What kind of voluntary work is likely to really get you into communities and teach you about different parts of society and life? Would things like event first aid or a listening helpline be good for that? Or would any voluntary work be good for that 2A02:C7D:B957:F500:5583:DA4E:8FCC:60A (talk) 20:55, 23 April 2016 (UTC)

Social worker comes to mind, although they are usually paid (minimally). Perhaps they take volunteers to help out ? StuRat (talk) 23:00, 23 April 2016 (UTC)

I wouldn't describe average pay of over £40,000 a year "minimal", perhaps we move in different socio-economic circles. DuncanHill (talk) 13:19, 24 April 2016 (UTC)

That's far more than they get paid in the US. StuRat (talk) 14:12, 24 April 2016 (UTC)

Regardless of pay and status in one country or another, the page Social worker (linked by User:StuRat above) starts off: "An academic and professional discipline..." - whereas organizations in the field of social welfare are likely to have positions for volunteers. -- Deborahjay (talk) 16:19, 24 April 2016 (UTC)

Many communities have many different volunteer opportunities. You could go to a hospital and see if they need anyone to visit the elderly. Nursing homes might do this as well. You could volunteer at an animal shelter. Yeah, you'll work with animals but there are other volunteers that you would interact with. You could help out at a food shelf food bank or soup kitchen. Maybe even a homeless shelter. Many churches have volunteer opportunities that they would know about as well. Dismas|^(talk) 02:32, 24 April 2016 (UTC)

Literacy programs and immigrant absorption would use skills you probably already have. The opportunities would depend on local demographics. Your city or county administration is likely to have a department dealing with assistance to at-risk populations. If you're politically affiliated, consider activity on behalf of a candidate you support, such as canvassing, or helping with the process of voter registration and getting out the vote. For insurance reasons, volunteers giving direct services (e.g. working with hospital inpatients, children, et al.) usually need to operate through some existing framework. -- Deborahjay (talk) 08:09, 24 April 2016 (UTC)