This idea that volunteers can’t do things that require skill, or won’t do things that carry risks for themselves, does a great disservice to the many brilliant charities who support people to do that skilfully and safely, in service of others. @stjacoo one line below is spot on! https://twitter.com/stjohnambulance/status/1329742534583709697

This interview is right up there with the other great comment ‘if I wouldn’t do it I wouldn’t ask others to’. Volunteering by its nature is someone making a personal choice to do something to help others. Many go through a great deal of training to do so, stand in the rain /2

Put their own health at risk to support many others, go out to sea in rough waves to keep people safe, talk people down from suicide willingly in spite of the toll it has on them and spend their spare time consoling others in their suffering. 3/

Not all volunteering is just turn up and feel good. Some of the work of volunteers can need skill, heart, be emotionally draining and put oneself at risk. But to suggest they are in turn putting others at risk just because they are giving up their time rather than paid 4/

Is a bit odd , as the daily mail inferred earlier this week. And let’s all stop pre judging what should be a paid role based on ‘I wouldn’t do it, doesn’t sound like fun’. Because it really isn’t about what others think. 5/

Instead let’s celebrate the people willing to give up their time and skill in support of others. In all sorts of settings. When we all get through this, I can say with confidence the millions of volunteers will have saved so many lives, that really should be the focus. 6/