Volunteers In the Early Years of Charity Organisation Society

"“The Charity Organisation Society was a pioneer in requiring its voluntary workers to have supervision and training”

There are many mentions in Annual Reports of long-standing volunteers who served for decades:

Most secretaries could rely upon a local businessman, a bank manager, an accountant, or sometimes “a leisured woman skilled in accounts” to act as Honorary Treasurer. This was an important role in a Society dependant upon charitable funds; so was the work of a volunteer “who had an unfailing skill in securing new subscribers”. Others were adept at publicity, writing to the Press or preparing appeals.’

Volunteers took on all kinds of roles to assist the COS, including:

Secretary
Honorary Medical Officer – this was often a local doctor who would give advice before/after convalescent treatment organised by the COS. ‘Long years of service given by distinguished specialists and others to the Medical and Convalescent Committee were amongst the most valuable contributions made by volunteers.’
Legal advice
Treasurer
Fundraising
- special efforts (jumble sales, concerts)
- organising clothing stores (collecting, storing and distributing goods)

“In the 1890s and other crisis years, the clothing store was a stand-by in times of severe unemployment. In the years between the two world wars, and later, when rationing was in force, the ‘shop’ was a boon to mothers trying to clothe their growing boys and girls.”

Organising savings schemes and thrift clubs, to help people manage their finances
Public relations (travelling around the country, and holding ‘drawing rooms’ to lecture on the aims and methods of COS)
Representing the COS ‘wherever relief, statutory or voluntary, was being administered’
Serving on committees of other voluntary bodies or as Poor Law Guardians

Among the most welcome volunteers were “those who found joy in friendly visiting”. The kinds of support which they provided could include:

acting as almoners to the elderly (pensions would be raised by the COS)
accompanying nervous patients to hospital
seeing children off to convalescent homes
visiting families to engage their co-operation

Some volunteers would subsidise ‘enquiries and experiments’, and the extra costs of running the COS, such as furnishing offices.

In 1875 Mr Peek, a member of the London School Board, provided a substantial sum for a three-year test of COS methods of enquiry into the needs of schoolchildren.
The 1884 Annual Report makes reference to the Honorary and Lady Secretary visiting all 70 plus convalescent homes to which patients were sent
In 1886 Mr Allen D. Graham financed the scheme he and Colonel Montefiore proposed for helping sick children, which led to the foundation of the Invalid Children’s Aid Association.

“In 1908 a member of the Islington Committee opened a Cottage Convalescent Home to take six patients at a time. A widow, with her delicate child, was installed as housekeeper.”

Some volunteers would also sit on committees to discuss casework. Read more about who volunteered.