I've heard about the Year of the Volunteer in Leeds and apparently it's nationwide. Has anyone found anything interesting to do through the scheme? The web site is www.do-it.org.uk (although I've found the web site isn't very accurate).

I need to do fewer things as a volunteer and find something I can get paid a decent amount to do!

I have been doing local voluntary work that I discovered through that site for the last four or five years. (I don't want to say what I was doing as it is a sensitive subject).

It has been a very rewarding experience and I made one very good friend who has enriched my life enormously. However the management changed a year ago and I resigned at the end of last year as it seemed that my personal safety was the least important consideration. Some of these do-gooders can get a bit carried away by the cause. It seems that just as everyone is jumping on the bandwagon I am jumping off.

There are plenty of other voluntary work opportunites - for example I have helped publicise English Touring Opera

I gave up doing all that stuff a few years ago... I needed some "me" time.