What a palaver!
By Fleur
@Fleura (30985)
United Kingdom
July 19, 2023 6:18am CST
In the last year of my Dad’s life, he was no longer permitted to drive due to failing eyesight. He also had some other health problems, including an attack of gout and kidney issues, as well as needing hearing aids (he was 93), and all these things meant medical appointments to attend.
The problem was that he lived in a village about 30 miles away from the hospital, with only one bus per day to the nearest town and then probably another two buses to get to the hospital and the same to get back (assuming that it was actually possible to get the journeys to connect).
When I was able of course I drove him, but I lived 180 miles away with two young children, one of whom was in school, so it wasn’t easy.
Luckily he was referred to the Volunteer Driver Service, who would send a driver to pick him up and take him to his appointment, wait for him, and take him home again.
Fast forward a few years and I saw that the Volunteer Driver Service in my area is looking for more volunteers. My work is quite flexible so I thought I would sign up. I could take someone to hospital, take work with me to do while I waited (or get some shopping or whatever) and then take them home again. It would be a sort of payback for the help my Dad received. So I got in contact.
Well what a palaver it has been!
I had to send them all sorts of documents to prove my identity, my address, my ability to drive.
I had to agree to a criminal records check.
I had to send a photo (that sounds easy but getting a half-decent photo of me on my own is surprisingly difficult!).
And now I have to read and agree to a 20-page document of guidelines and procedures, confidentiality, health and safety, equality and diversity, safeguarding etc. etc. – and the worst part is that this document was sent electronically so before even starting to read that I had to get through two pages of terms and conditions (Ts & Cs) for use of the electronic documents.
The documents are accessed through a link sent in an email, so I would click on the link and it would open the first document. I would start to read through all the Ts & Cs, then something would happen and I would have to get up to deal with that, then when I got back I would have been logged out and I would have to start again from a new email link. This happened about six times and it’s taken the best part of a week to actually get through the Ts & Cs to use the electronic service to read the other lengthy document of guidelines etc.
All these electronic documents are meant to save time. The Ts & Cs give dire warnings that if you opt for paper copies the process will take much longer. Well actually I don’t think it would, it would be much quicker to pick up a sheaf of papers and just continue reading where you left off!
I’m almost regretting this idea. But I’m on the last step now so I guess I will press on and hope it’s worth it!
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2023.
14 people like this
14 responses
@DaddyEvil (140793)
• United States
19 Jul 23
I would have just opted for the paper copies and been done with it. I don't like electronic documents, anyway. They aren't secure.
I hope you manage to get through everything... eventually. 
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (140793)
• United States
19 Jul 23
@Fleura Yes, that always works... Accept the electronic documents and then try to get paper ones "next time". 
Yes, that always works... Accept the electronic documents and then try to get paper ones "next time". 1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345485)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jul 23
Why do they make these things so difficult? You're sticking with it but I wonder how many very efficient volunteers such organisations are losing because of all the red tape. Not just the red tape but the logging off, etc, that goes with it.
2 people like this
@Fleura (30985)
• United Kingdom
19 Jul 23
I guess they are relying on people not actually reading it. As soon as you sign one section, the system takes you immediately to the next place to sign, skipping over all the text which is the important part you are agreeing to, so you have to scroll back several pages. I imagine most people just quickly add their signature (or even a system-generated 'signature') to the four or five places it is required and send it back.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30985)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 23
@JudyEv It's a very important subject, you must also make sure both your names are on all utility accounts and all that sort of thing. Otherwise someone can end up in a real mess when they refuse to speak to anyone except the account holder and that person is out of reach one way or another.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345485)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jul 23
@Fleura Vince has an Applie Mac and mine is whatever-is-the-alternative. Today we were trying to set up his Mac so that, if he falls off the perch, I'd be able to pay the bills. I know it's not a very nice subject but it would be horrendous if he passed away and I couldn't pay bills, etc. In return, I'm going to teach him to use the vacuum cleaner!! 
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30985)
• United Kingdom
19 Jul 23
It's annoying that they seem to be relying on people not actually reading any of this stuff. As soon as you sign one section, the system takes you immediately to the next place to sign, skipping over all the text which is the important part you are agreeing to, so you have to scroll back several pages. After signing what I thought was the end I have now found there are a further 16 pages to get through. I imagine most people just quickly add their signature (or even a system-generated 'signature') to the four or five places it is required and send it back. All fine until something goes wrong and then you get the 'Well you agreed to all this at the start' situation.
2 people like this
@much2say (57058)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Jul 23
You're at the last steps . . . I keep my fingers crossed that the rest goes smoothly for you! It was sort of that way for me to volunteer at my kids' school . . . and I hear that now they have tacked on many more steps. They sure don't make it easy to volunteer!
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16839)
• China
20 Jul 23
You never have thought it was so difficult to do good deeds ! However maybe there is something in those formalities you go through.It is for the recipients‘ good.Is the flower in the photo Italian man Orchid ?
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30985)
• United Kingdom
21 Jul 23
@changjiangzhibin89 I'm already impressed by your knowledge of European orchids 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161972)
• United States
22 Jul 23
I think anyway you go they are going to be sending you off on a goose chase. I got the documents for when I helped my older sister. They are very much like what you are describing. But on paper. Then I had to fill out things for her. Then talk to the case manager on the phone. They make it really hard to help anyone anymore.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (48403)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
19 Jul 23
No wonder they're looking for more volunteers... that's a lot to go through just to volunteer. I wonder what hoops you'd have to go through if it was a paid position. Good luck with it.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (140346)
• India
20 Jul 23
You have gone that far and so may as well see to its end Hope you get to enjoy what you are doing
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (111139)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Jul 23
I would have went with paper. Glad you are almost done with it
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183865)
• United States
19 Jul 23
I think at that point I would have printed all of that out. I'm glad they are that thorough with you. There are some strange people out there these days. Good luck. It's a good thing that you're doing! Enjoy your day.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30985)
• United Kingdom
19 Jul 23
There are 38 pages in total, we don't have a printer so I would have to go to the library where it costs 35p per page for black and white printing. That's £13.30 ($17.16) just to read through all this guff. I think I will ask them to send any future paperwork in the post though.
1 person likes this
