Thick skins and apathy

I spoke with a co-ordinator two weeks ago who said that she would pass on the details of my Happystance project to the relevant personnel in two groups to whom I would like to offer workshops. I emailed the information to the co-ordinator immediately after our phone call. Well, as I found out today, the information wasn’t passed on, although the people involved actually share an office with this worker and are at two adjacent desks to hers. I wouldn’t mind quite so much if I hadn’t asked for the email addresses of the people involved, only to be told, “I’ll pass it on. They'll understand more of what you’re trying to do if I explain that I’ve spoken with you”!

As advised by every communication expert whose has ever laid pen to paper, I believe in accepting responsibility for the success of my communication with others, but there are times when we could all give each other a helping hand. According to a recent report in The Guardian the Year of the Volunteer has not been as successful as had been hoped. The article is based on a report that muses on the phenomenon of ‘the selfish volunteer’. I muse on the number of people who have possibly enquired only to be put off by the apathy that met their enquiry. I know a number of people who have made enquiries of a number of charities this year, and finally gave up when no-one responded to their phone calls or emails. Or worse, responded with initial enthusiasm, passed them on to someone else, who then failed to respond to voice mails, emails etc.

Workplace surveys consistently report that more than 70 per cent of people want to make a difference. A number of us choose to do that by volunteering through charities. Or, we have our own ideas, and set up our own projects. But, it should be easier for people who want to volunteer to do so without undue bureaucracy (Criminal Record checks for people who will not be coming into contact with any vulnerable people) and without losing them through the attrition of not communicating with them.

I’m not losing heart. But I am learning that you have to have a very thick skin when you are trying to promote the work of a social enterprise. People seem to be far more suspicious of it than they are of commercial ventures. Or, they don’t take it seriously and find it difficult to find time in their busy schedules to meet up with you. Or to pass information on to others.

Copyright 2005, Tony Plant Happystance Project