h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Being a Community Service Volunteer - A1110501
Author: Dastardly, a Closet Gargoyle - Back in town. Anyone notice my absence? - U168963

It's been a while... I hope I haven't lost the knack.

Anyway, a straightforward article about being a CSV. Probably dull to most people but I think it'd be useful to anyone considering voluntary work.

Don't bother going easy on me. If my standards have slipped it's my own fault - I deserve a roasting.

D

BTW they've been updating their website so bear with me if the link doesn't work first time. It does look a lot snazzier than the old version though, so's well worth it.

Good entry I haven't CSVed, but it's something I would have done if I'd hadn't got into university, and if I end up unempolyed I'd consider it strongly.

Maybe it's worth mentioning that CSV work isn't the same as community service that some people are made to do as an alturnative to going to prison.

Another reasons to do CSV might be - that it gets you away from your parents whilst you leave school, and whilst you could get paid for the same job you would need experience to get the job. CSV give

#Maybe it's worth mentioning that CSV work isn't the same as community service that some people are made to do as an alturnative to going to prison. #

I thought

"Community Service has rather a bad name in the UK, with some people tending to view it as a soft alternative to prison. Becoming a Community Service Volunteer, however, is a long way from being forced to paint railings. Instead it is about choosing to spend time helping others."

made this clear. How could I improve it?

Aha, yes, living away from home. I was trying to shift the emphasis away from just school leavers, as on my placement I met lots of graduates and other people who wouldn't traditionally take a year out. But maybe I shifted it a little too far - I'll add it in.

To be honest I thought from that sentance that being a CSV volenteer in addition to being something you could choose to do was an alturnative to prison. But don't worry it may be just me being an idiot!

No, if you read it that way other people are bound to. I'll see if I can make it clearer.

Thanks

Dastardly

Another thing I would suggest making more clear is the title. Here in the US, "community service" has all sorts of different meanings, none of which exactly align to what you're talking about -- i.e.,

"community service" can refer to the volunteer hours someone is required to do for graduation from middle school, high school, or college/university.

"community service" can refer to the volunteer hours someone is required to do in place of a prison term.

"community service" can refer to what people in federal programs such as AmeriCorps engage in.

"community service" can refer to volunteer work taken on by a company -- i.e., if Motorola gives its employees paid release time to all go be mentors or tutors in local schools.

"community service" can also refer to the volunteer work you do solely because it will look good on your CV.

What all of these have in common is that they are somewhat more structured, and somewhat less voluntary, than regular "volunteering". But with the exception of something like the AmeriCorps program, none of them are organized in any kind of centralized manner. The average yank reading the title of your entry would have absolutely no clue that you're referring to a specific, UK-based, charity organization.


Mikey

Hi Dastardly!

Great that you're back.

I had a read through this entry. I found it easy to read and understand and think it's great.

Hi Dastardly!

Great that you're back.

I had a read through this entry. I found it easy to read and understand and think it's great.

Ok Have reworded the introduction a little, and changed the title (for now) to 'Volunteering with CSV'. I know that's not as clear as it could be but 'Volunteering with Community Service Volunteers' is too clunky and doesn't add much clarity. Any thoughts?

Thanks for all the feedback

And hello to ZSF. Good to see that you're still here - and still singing

D

Hi, Dastardly!

I agree that it's great to see you back here in Peer Review!

I think the entry is excellent - it gives a real feel for what the CSV experience involves, but isn't loaded down with too much detail.

Well done!

Azara

Thanks, it's much clearer to those of us on the other side of the pond, now.

Here's another couple of quick questions -- how long has CSV been around? Who started it? Where does their funding come from -- donations, government grants, some mix of the two?

Sounds quite a bit like the AmeriCorps thing we have here.


Mikey

*waves to Azara* Thankyou

Mikey, there's lots of information out there about CSV but I wasn't sure how much to include. I wanted to write an article about volunteering with them rather than the organisation, although obviously they're linked. I've added a bit more information under 'The Organisation'. I'm not keen on adding much about their funding - but yes it's a mix of the two. There's a long list here

http://www.csv.org.uk/About+Us/Our+Supporters/

Thanks for your help

D

I know how much it annoys people when we bump our entries up the list, but I just can't help myself Has no one got anything else to say?

D

I can sympathise

But no, I haven't got anything to say

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

umm. Too late, somebody else picked it


Congratulations!

umm. Too late, somebody else picked it


Congratulations!

Wonderful

Thankyou

D

for Dastardly!

Azara