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| Turning swords into ploughshares; or let's go for birds not bombs | Turning swords into ploughshares; or let's go for birds not bombs |
| (9 months later) | |
| I started the month with voluntary ranger patrol for the North York Moors National Park on the coast north of Scarborough and although I could see the sea fret – or mist - far out to sea where it should always stay, on the cliff tops it was sunny, and, out of the breeze, hot. | I started the month with voluntary ranger patrol for the North York Moors National Park on the coast north of Scarborough and although I could see the sea fret – or mist - far out to sea where it should always stay, on the cliff tops it was sunny, and, out of the breeze, hot. |
| As I walked first south and then back north I was accompanied by the screams of the gulls and the more melodious song of the sky larks, heard but not seen. Near the sewage treatment plant, a mixture of old and new farm buildings, there were masses of swallows, swifts and house martins. This is a fascinating section of coast with several places where the intrepid can descend to the shore and a curious flat series of rock formations along the beach, formed by differential erosion of the different rocks. | As I walked first south and then back north I was accompanied by the screams of the gulls and the more melodious song of the sky larks, heard but not seen. Near the sewage treatment plant, a mixture of old and new farm buildings, there were masses of swallows, swifts and house martins. This is a fascinating section of coast with several places where the intrepid can descend to the shore and a curious flat series of rock formations along the beach, formed by differential erosion of the different rocks. |
| Then came the subject of my title for this post, an old coastguard look out and its brick mine shelter (they would have had to move fast to get into it!) now converted into a look out for a local bird watching group to watch for migrating birds. How wonderful I thought; a relic not just of the second world war but also of the cold war, now converted into marvellous peace time use. | Then came the subject of my title for this post, an old coastguard look out and its brick mine shelter (they would have had to move fast to get into it!) now converted into a look out for a local bird watching group to watch for migrating birds. How wonderful I thought; a relic not just of the second world war but also of the cold war, now converted into marvellous peace time use. |
| What a pity that the monstrosity at Fylingdales can't be treated in the same way, or even all done away with. | What a pity that the monstrosity at Fylingdales can't be treated in the same way, or even all done away with. |
| For the last half hour of my patrol the sea fret blows in and out, first of all obliterating the view, then just as suddenly blowing back to sea again, a ghostly meteorological feature. | For the last half hour of my patrol the sea fret blows in and out, first of all obliterating the view, then just as suddenly blowing back to sea again, a ghostly meteorological feature. |
| There is talk in the national press of 'better off' pensioners losing or paying for their bus passes. Really I would rather pay more tax; the bus pass is not just a 'ticket to ride' but keeps cars off the road and for socially isolated pensioners can be a lifeline to company. However, if all pensioners had a proper level of pension then we wouldn't need any perks at all. | There is talk in the national press of 'better off' pensioners losing or paying for their bus passes. Really I would rather pay more tax; the bus pass is not just a 'ticket to ride' but keeps cars off the road and for socially isolated pensioners can be a lifeline to company. However, if all pensioners had a proper level of pension then we wouldn't need any perks at all. |
| Meanwhile, I was having a trying time as a Short Stop coordinator for Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network (LASSN). Things started quite well with the computer set up and some tidying-up in the garden almost completed. This kind of volunteering is good I thought, doing something useful plus the gardening. Then five referrals in quick succession, Pafras, the Refugee Council and the Red Cross. As I took all the details my heart sank. I already knew that we were short of hosts and that leaky roofs, holidays and long term destitute people had reduced the number of Short Stop beds. I warned the caseworkers and set to work. To make things harder every call went to voicemail. | Meanwhile, I was having a trying time as a Short Stop coordinator for Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network (LASSN). Things started quite well with the computer set up and some tidying-up in the garden almost completed. This kind of volunteering is good I thought, doing something useful plus the gardening. Then five referrals in quick succession, Pafras, the Refugee Council and the Red Cross. As I took all the details my heart sank. I already knew that we were short of hosts and that leaky roofs, holidays and long term destitute people had reduced the number of Short Stop beds. I warned the caseworkers and set to work. To make things harder every call went to voicemail. |
| Finally, several hours later and the gardening still not finished, I had placed three people. Then one of the case workers rang me back, her client could sleep on a friend's floor. Only one unplaced. I rang the agency back; at least it was a warm, dry evening, if it had to be the park. I remembered what LASSN told me when I started coordinating - that I must switch off when I finish and on no account blame myself if we hadn't found everyone a bed. | Finally, several hours later and the gardening still not finished, I had placed three people. Then one of the case workers rang me back, her client could sleep on a friend's floor. Only one unplaced. I rang the agency back; at least it was a warm, dry evening, if it had to be the park. I remembered what LASSN told me when I started coordinating - that I must switch off when I finish and on no account blame myself if we hadn't found everyone a bed. |
| Fortunately I trained myself to do just that when I was teaching in a very deprived part of east London. I had done what I could and I could do no more. | Fortunately I trained myself to do just that when I was teaching in a very deprived part of east London. I had done what I could and I could do no more. |
| It helped that I could jump on my bike and spin off to have my hair cut. Concentrating on the traffic took my mind off anything else; not much point in having an accident, I wouldn't be of any use to anyone then. | It helped that I could jump on my bike and spin off to have my hair cut. Concentrating on the traffic took my mind off anything else; not much point in having an accident, I wouldn't be of any use to anyone then. |
| The next day was Coasties, working with the National Trust. When I got to Ravenscar it was misty and cold, but it cleared a little and we set to work in the old brick kilns next to the disused railway from Scarborough to Whitby and beyond. At present it is hard to tell that these were brick kilns, but one day that might change as the area is cleared so that the industrial past of this now peaceful area will be revealed. | The next day was Coasties, working with the National Trust. When I got to Ravenscar it was misty and cold, but it cleared a little and we set to work in the old brick kilns next to the disused railway from Scarborough to Whitby and beyond. At present it is hard to tell that these were brick kilns, but one day that might change as the area is cleared so that the industrial past of this now peaceful area will be revealed. |
| Our work was mostly clearing invasive trees and shrubs and laying wood chippings on the paths. Other paths were consolidated with shale, like the wood chippings sourced locally. The brick kilns apparently used local materials to make the bricks but I forgot to ask whether they brought in coal or used local heather or bracken for the fuel. Below us we can see the old alum works, another part of Ravenscar's industrial past. | Our work was mostly clearing invasive trees and shrubs and laying wood chippings on the paths. Other paths were consolidated with shale, like the wood chippings sourced locally. The brick kilns apparently used local materials to make the bricks but I forgot to ask whether they brought in coal or used local heather or bracken for the fuel. Below us we can see the old alum works, another part of Ravenscar's industrial past. |
| Moving the wood chippings in wheel barrows was easy work, compared to moving the shale. I had only one go at that and almost lost the barrow; back to the wood chippings for me. Shovelling, tipping and raking was quiet and peaceful, a good antidote to yesterday's problems. Perhaps everyone who does potentially stressful volunteering should have another quite opposite task to keep them calm and sane. | Moving the wood chippings in wheel barrows was easy work, compared to moving the shale. I had only one go at that and almost lost the barrow; back to the wood chippings for me. Shovelling, tipping and raking was quiet and peaceful, a good antidote to yesterday's problems. Perhaps everyone who does potentially stressful volunteering should have another quite opposite task to keep them calm and sane. |
| As we cleared up, large branches were pulled across the entrance to the site because motor cyclists have been using ii for off-road racing. Their bikes and fuel are expensive, why can't they go to legitimate sites and pay for their noisy and polluting habits? | As we cleared up, large branches were pulled across the entrance to the site because motor cyclists have been using ii for off-road racing. Their bikes and fuel are expensive, why can't they go to legitimate sites and pay for their noisy and polluting habits? |
| Two days and two such different worlds, I am pleased that I can be involved in both, one is payback for the other. | Two days and two such different worlds, I am pleased that I can be involved in both, one is payback for the other. |
| It has been so busy, I missed the fact that it is now over a year since I started blogging. My first post was on 25 May last year. Since then, for all the 'Big Society' the need has grown for more volunteers and yet as the cuts bite on the voluntary sector, there are fewer paid staff to back us up and less money to train newcomers and keep the rest of us going. As for me, I have kept up a life outside the blog, travelling, family and friends and I am delighted by my connection with the Guardian Northerner. I have been a Guardian reader since the News Chronicle folded and my father switched papers, so to be even a small part of it makes me very proud indeed. | It has been so busy, I missed the fact that it is now over a year since I started blogging. My first post was on 25 May last year. Since then, for all the 'Big Society' the need has grown for more volunteers and yet as the cuts bite on the voluntary sector, there are fewer paid staff to back us up and less money to train newcomers and keep the rest of us going. As for me, I have kept up a life outside the blog, travelling, family and friends and I am delighted by my connection with the Guardian Northerner. I have been a Guardian reader since the News Chronicle folded and my father switched papers, so to be even a small part of it makes me very proud indeed. |
| (We feel the same way about you Janice - the Northerner team) | (We feel the same way about you Janice - the Northerner team) |
| My main message remains the same: volunteering is the extra stuff, it is not and should never be a substitute for well funded public services, available to all members of society. | My main message remains the same: volunteering is the extra stuff, it is not and should never be a substitute for well funded public services, available to all members of society. |
| Janice is blogging monthly for the Northerner about her voluntary work in Lincoln Green, Leeds, and on the North York Moors. You can read more about her here; and see her previous posts by scrolling back on the Northerner Home Page here. | Janice is blogging monthly for the Northerner about her voluntary work in Lincoln Green, Leeds, and on the North York Moors. You can read more about her here; and see her previous posts by scrolling back on the Northerner Home Page here. |
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