Why older people should volunteer

Volunteering can give an older person a real sense of purpose and achievement

Getting older can dramatically change someone’s lifestyle

They are likely to have a lot more time on their hands and far less structure to their day

Their sense of purpose may have been affected by retirement, or by a partner dying

Remember, they have a wealth of expertise and experience and it will benefit others, as well as themselves, to volunteer in an area which interests them

They can do something they are interested in, work flexibly to suit them and really make a difference to the lives of others at the same time

There is no age limit to volunteering and some organisations have an average age of volunteers of over 76

Reasons to volunteer

If your parent has become isolated through bereavement,  ill-health or geography, it can help to connect them with like-minded people

Your parent will have the opportunity to gain new skills and be trained in new areas of expertise

Your parent can use  the skills and wisdom they have acquired during a lifetime for the benefit of others

It is a great way to meet new people and gain new friends

It provides a structure for their day and a reason to get out and about

It gives your parent with a sense of purpose and worth

There will be new things to talk about

Research has shown that people who volunteer tend to enjoy better health

How to volunteer

There are many organisations in the UK which are always on the lookout for volunteers.

A good place to start is with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme at www.csv-rsvp.org.uk,which assists people to find volunteer posts right across the UK

www.do-it.org.uk    Do-it is the national database of volunteering opportunities. It matches your interest, type of activity you want to do and your  location to find volunteer opportunities

www.volunteering.org.uk   Volunteering England is an independent charity and membership organisation, committed to supporting, enabling and celebrating volunteering in all its diversity. It will give you tips on volunteering in general

www.wvrs.org.uk  WRVS delivers personal and practical support to help older people to volunteer

Many other organisations taking on volunteers include:

The National Trust www.nationaltrust.org/volunteering

English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk

City Farms and Community Gardens www.farmgarden.org.uk

All major charities