hi

[wannabemedic321]

I am thinking about volunteering with children & adults with learning disabilities, I found it kinda scary and daunting when i went to visit (no offence meant to anyone), but I think I will get used to it.

Is it good for the P.S. for medicine, and I know its what you get out of it, but is this something that would look good as opposed to working in a care home, etc.

Also, does anyone have any tips to help me feel more comfortable, or will it just take time to get used to and adjust.

I look forward to hearing everyone's tips/opinions/views.

[wannabemedic321]

Also, could someone please change the title to "working with disabled people good for P.S. and tips".

I am guessing only an admin can do that. it would be much appreciated.

[Spin doctor]

There are no 'tips' for feeling comfortable as such. Yes it can be quite daunting working with people with learning disabilities for the first time, but it's also lots of fun, it's just about relaxing and getting to know the people you're working with.

My advice is to pick something you're really interested in as your work experience, rather than what will look best on your personal statement. Just being there and clocking up the hours but never really learning anything isn't good enough. If this a client group you're really keen to work with and learn from you'll have a great time and will really enjoy your volunteering. However, if you'd really rather do something else than do it, it's not about what will look best, but what you'll learn the most from.

[wannabemedic321]

There are no 'tips' for feeling comfortable as such. Yes it can be quite daunting working with people with learning disabilities for the first time, but it's also lots of fun, it's just about relaxing and getting to know the people you're working with.

My advice is to pick something you're really interested in as your work experience, rather than what will look best on your personal statement. Just being there and clocking up the hours but never really learning anything isn't good enough. If this a client group you're really keen to work with and learn from you'll have a great time and will really enjoy your volunteering. However, if you'd really rather do something else than do it, it's not about what will look best, but what you'll learn the most from.

I can't think of any volunteering work at the moment that I am sure I would enjoy, but I think I will be fine with the disabled people volunteering.

Also, how can I get the title for this topic changed?

[Spin doctor]

Also, how can I get the title for this topic changed?

I don't know

I can't think of any volunteering work at the moment that I am sure I would enjoy, but I think I will be fine with the disabled people volunteering.

I've just spent all evening recruiting new volunteers for a project, and if any one of them said that they'd be straight out of the door. If you're not doing it because you want to do it or care about making a difference to peoples lives, then don't do it, being "fine" with it isn't enough. It shouldn't be a chore, but a good chance for you to learn lots, meet some new and interesting people and hopefully have some fun in the process.

[foxyamy]

I've just spent all evening recruiting new volunteers for a project, and if any one of them said that they'd be straight out of the door.

I think that's a bit harsh! It can be quite difficult when you first start volunteering, especially when it's something you've done before, as you are never going to know whether you enjoy it or not until you've had a go.

With regards to advice Spin doctor, I would say that you just need to go down a few times to wherever you're volunteering. Just relax and try to get as much advice as you can from other people who work/volunteer in the place. When I first started working with people with learning disabilities I found it quite daunting, even though I had tonnes of experience working in other health care settings, because learning disabilities is a lot different to other areas of health care. Now I love it though - it's really rewarding if you stick with it, especially as you get to know the people you are working with.

I would add though that Wannabemedic does have a point in that if you go a few times and you still aren't enjoying it, and don't feel comfortable, then I wouldn't carry on doing it just to put experience on your PS. It would be better in that case to find something else, because you are never going to be able to talk about your experiences in an interview in a positive light if you don't like what you are doing, and that is after all the point of doing the experience in the first place. I am pretty sure that no volunteer placement looks any better than any other, it's more about what you learn from it.

[Spin doctor]

I think that's a bit harsh! It can be quite difficult when you first start volunteering, especially when it's something you've done before, as you are never going to know whether you enjoy it or not until you've had a go.

I don't really think it's harsh. Of course you're never completely sure if you're going to enjoy something until you try it, but if I was interviewing someone who told me they were "fine" with it, because it will look good on their personal statement, I wouldn't have them on our team. You have to bring a positive attitude and do this for reasons more than the personal statement, otherwise you won't even make a good volunteer let alone a good doctor.

I'm not necessarily saying that's your attitude, just the way it came across

[foxyamy]

Hence if you read the rest of my post...
I just meant it was a bit harsh not to give someone a chance to have a go. You are obviously someone who like me is a little older (based on the fact you're applying to GEPs) and I just remember when I was younger it's probably not that obvious what you are going to get out of volunteering.
I have met plenty of people who originally volunteer with the sole intent of getting experience on their CV but who have subsequently realised that they are actually getting so much more out of it and make fantastic volunteers. Of course, that's not everyone, and if I was working with someone who continued to do it just because they thought they were going to look better because of it then I would probably change my mind!
But anyway, I'm not going to argue, as I can see your point in some ways, and maybe you have experience of working with these type of people.
I must say, I do think that the fact that it is mandatory to have some experience may not really help with that, as it is bound to encourage that type of attitude, with people just viewing volunteering as a hoop they need to jump through. But such is the game of medicine I suppose...