Elderly volunteer roles

Every Christmas, hundreds of older people in Birmingham spend the holidays alone. We receive donations at our head office on a large scale from local business which we then organise into gift hampers for our most vulnerable citizens. This quickly fills up the office space so we must ensure a quick turnaround.

The service manager will call you to invite you in either the same day or with 1-2 days notice to come along to our head office and get involved with packing hampers.

Tasks include:

· Assist in sorting gifts into types or genders

· Packing Christmas hampers or gift bags

· Adhering to an instructional list

· Hand-write Christmas cards or notes to include in hampers.

· Support Age UK staff with other similar tasks relating to packing and sorting of gifts

Additionally, we need some support with making telephone calls to citizens inviting them to a special lunch. We would be grateful for additional support with this where possible. 

***Please note that this is an opportunity based in Nottingham (shire) in the United Kingdom and we don’t offer sponsorship or accept overseas applicants***

Age UK Notts are seeking individuals who would like to be considered as a volunteer for our Companion Service.

Volunteers will be supporting people in their own homes and in the community within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and ideally, we ask all applicants to provide a minimum of 1 hour volunteering a week.

The companion service volunteer can choose to be:                                                           

• A companion within the person’s home

• A companion outside the person’s home

Examples of the type of support the service offers include:

• Supporting an older person/s hobbies and interests or simply chatting with them in their own home on a regular basis.

• Supporting with digital access & building confidence skills & motivation to access the opportunities of the internet.

• Supporting the person outside of their home e.g., by accompanying them on a walk, to the shops, to a café, garden centre, theatre or cinema or other social activities / community groups. 

• Where appropriate, supporting the older person to access other services through information and signposting or referring to the Companion Service Coordinator for support.

We are looking for the following skills/interests:

• Individuals with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of older people who are committed to volunteering on a regular basis.

• Commitment to complete our Volunteer Report Form accurately and regularly. 

• Ability to travel for visits in the local community either by car or public transport for those volunteers who choose to participate in this type of activity.

• Digital literacy for those volunteers who choose to participate in this type of activity.

We are looking for volunteers with good daytime availability in specific areas of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Please contact the volunteering team for further information on where specifically in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Volunteer Role: Dementia Support Group and/or Activity Sessions

We were set up to transform the former Edward Hain hospital, in St Ives, Cornwall, into a community centre for health and wellbeing. The hospital was founded in 1920, with funds from the Cornish Hain Steamship Company. When it closed n 2021, our community, led by the hospital’s League of Friends, came together to save the building for the town. Now it brings together much needed health and wellbeing services, along with social, community and welfare support, all under one roof. About the role Can you commit between 2 and 4 hours a week to help those suffering from Dementia? We are looking for volunteers to spend a short time each week working with our Community Hub Officer (CHO) to create a welcoming and supportive environment for our Dementia Support Group (Forget-Me-Not Café) and help to provide specially designed crafts activity sessions such as leaf printing, making seasonal decorations etc. All our visitors are accompanied by their carers and as a volunteer you will receive specific awareness training to give you the confidence to provide conversation and a smile for those with dementia at the Edward Hain Centre.

What’s involved?

Our dementia activities and group sessions are attended by all kinds of people experiencing dementia. We work with specific care homes whose elderly residents are brought along by their carers and we run a Forget-Me-Not Café, set up for individual carers or relatives to bring along those they care for with dementia.

Specific tasks include:

• Greet attendees warmly as they arrive.

• Support the CHO with setup and organisation.

• Prepare and serve teas and coffees.

• Welcome session attendees, ensuring they feel comfortable.

• Help attendees take part in table activities (if they want to). The role will suit you if you:

• Have a friendly and approachable personality.

• Are reliable and willing to support others.

• Have good communication and enjoy being part of a team.

• Enthusiasm for creating a positive community space.

Why Volunteer with Us?

• Make a meaningful impact in your community.

• Meet new people and build connections with others.

• Gain experience in group facilitation and support and working with the elderly.

• Be part of the Edward Hain Centre Team!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING FOR THIS ROLE PLEASE CONTACT OUR COMMUNITY HUB OFFICER CLAIRE JEFFERIES: 

Board positions at Claremont Project (Islington)

Roles available: 1) Chair of the Board; 2) Trustee positions

Are you passionate about improving health and wellbeing outcomes, especially for older people? Do you value the “magic dust” of real human relationship? 

Claremont Project is a mental health, arts and wellbeing charity based in Angel, Islington. We are seeking Trustees and also a Chair of the Board, to strengthen our charity as we step into our next chapter.

About us 

Claremont has been around since 1907 and serves mostly older people through a powerful blend of social prescribing, low-cost psychotherapy and a programme of arts and wellbeing activities. 

Claremont is a place of innovation and creativity, underpinned by a Relational Approach which emphasises real listening, self-awareness and an awareness of how we are being in relation to other people. We were the UK’s first Wellbeing Centre long before the term was ubiquitous; and in 1920s and 30s we ran programmes that became models for the Welfare State. At our beautiful and well-loved building at 24-27 White Lion Street, we nurture a vibrant, inclusive community, underpinned by our conviction that everybody matters.

About the roles

The Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for Claremont and ensures the charity is doing what it was set up to do. As set out by the Charity Commission, Trustees at Claremont are responsible for:

·Advancing the charitable purposes of Claremont and ensuring we carry out its purposes for public benefit.

·Ensuring Claremont complies with its governing document and the law.

·Acting in Claremont’s best interests.

·Managing Claremont’s resources responsibly.

·Acting with reasonable care and skill.

·Ensuring that Claremont is accountable as a charity. 

We are seeking to appoint two or three trustees, and also a Chair of the Board. We are seeking board members are passionate about our mission, vision and values; who have governance experience within charities; and who can think strategically as part of a team.

Between them, our Board of Trustees has knowledge, expertise and skills that cover a range of areas. Alongside a broad competence in charity governance, it would be desirable if candidates had skills that could help us fill the following gaps:

·Fundraising

·Psychotherapy (with understanding of an existentialist approach if possible)

·Buildings maintenance and retrofit

·Maximising income from office lettings and halls/room hire

·Public donations and legacies

·Dementia risk reduction and brain health

·Environmental sustainability and climate readiness

Strong candidates will have experience and competence in one or several of these areas, as well as having a certain “Claremontiness” – aspirational and personal qualities which embody a genuine relational approach to life.

Time commitment (Trustee roles):Quarterly Board meetings (held in the evenings), plus emails and optional committee work.

Time commitment (Chair role): In addition to the Trustee duties above, a fortnightly meeting with the CEO during office hours, plus ad hoc phone calls and emails (including during office hours).

Claremont is a community where people from all backgrounds are loved and wanted, and which is diverse in terms of characteristics like race and ethnicity, gender, disability and socioeconomic status. We warmly welcome applications from people coming from all walks of life, particularly those from backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented on charity boards.

Please note:

·You must be 18 or over and must not be disqualified from acting or as a Trustee and declare any conflict of interest while carrying out the duties of a Trustee.

·This is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses are reimbursed

Unremunerated

We are seeking a new Chair to join Age International and help us drive towards our vision of a world where every older person is included and valued. 

Our world is ageing rapidly, and yet ageism means older people’s needs and contributions are too often overlooked. Age International supports and promotes the rights of older people in low- and middle-income countries, through long-term programmes, humanitarian responses and advocacy.

We are the international arm of the Age UK Group, the UK member of the HelpAge International global network, and a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) – the only member focussed on supporting older people through crises, from Ukraine to Gaza, Afghanistan to Myanmar.

We drive change in UK policy through influencing and campaigning focused on older people’s health, income security, humanitarian inclusion and rights. For example, we are calling for the UK Government to support a new United Nations Convention on the rights of older persons. Our turnover in the last financial year was £21m.

We are looking for a strategically focused leader with experience as a Chair, or Trustee, and an understanding of the UK international development / humanitarian sector, who will work with the CEO on direction setting, income generation and profile raising. The Chair will also play a key role in fostering collaboration between Age International, Age UK and HelpAge International.

This is a unique opportunity, so if you are excited about creating change for, and with, older people around the world – we would love to hear from you.

Closing date: 11:59pm Sunday 2 November 2025

With an ageing population, more and more older people are at risk of isolation and loneliness as partners and friends pass away, children and grandchildren move away and the community around them changes at a fast pace.  As a Befriender you will become part of the solution to tackling the issues of isolation and loneliness by developing strong relationships with clients and encouraging them to engage in a variety of ways.

Main activities/tasks:

• Visit an older person in their home once a week for up to 2h
• Spend time getting to know them and to understand what things they may like to do at home (e.g. chess, knitting, reading)
• Offer healthy and fun conversation and encourage them to talk
• Give support to enable them to get out in the community and encourage participation in activities.
• Promote healthy living and wellbeing.
• Accompany on hospital visits or to the GP. Go for a walk, or shopping
• Support older person to find information as requested.
• Make monthly reports on visits carried out

Our Friends Ageing Better (FAB) project is looking for volunteer hosts for our weekly FAB Phone Cafe. In this role you'll be helping to create a friendly, welcoming space and community connections with a group of older people facing isolation.

At Age UK Bristol, we want to change the way we age. We aim to keep people aged 55+ well and active, encouraging Bristol to be an Age Friendly city. We do this in 3 ways - through providing practical help and supporting people’s emotional and physical wellbeing in a range of ways depending on their needs.  In addition, we want to prevent people from needing our help wherever possible.  We do this in our strategic work, where we aim to create the conditions for older adults to remain healthy and independent.

We are currently looking for volunteers for our Phone Cafes on

Tuesdays 11:00-12:00 and 2:00-3:00pm

This role involves

• Welcoming older people who are new to the telephone group.
• Facilitating conversation in the group
• Keeping attendance sheets for group participants.
• Providing information about events and activities happening in the local area with the support of the FAB team

The qualities and skills required for this role are

• A friendly disposition, with the ability to create a welcoming atmosphere and include people so as to encourage an enjoyable experience.
• Ability to be assertive and intervene if necessary, for instance manage group members who may dominate the conversation
• Reliability and punctuality – calls need to run on time.
• Access to a reliable internet connection and a computer or tablet.
• Confidence in using new software so that calls run on time and everyone connects with the group (training provided; the platform we use is quite straightforward and easy to learn).
• Good verbal communication skills to make everyone feel as comfortable as possible and encourage shyer callers.
• An understanding of the needs of older people.
• Ability to respond to any Safeguarding concerns and keep the environment safe.
• Willingness to follow Age UK Bristol’s policies, such as Confidentiality, Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Equal Opportunities, and to complete any training and admin needed to perform the role.

Our Friends Ageing Better (FAB) project is looking for volunteer hosts for our FAB cafés around Bristol. In this volunteer role, you’ll be part of creating vibrant, welcoming community spaces that build relationships and connect people with activities in their local community.

At Age UK Bristol, we want to change the way we age. We aim to keep people aged 55+ well and active, encouraging Bristol to be an Age Friendly city. We do this in 3 ways - through providing practical help and supporting people’s emotional and physical wellbeing in a range of ways depending on their needs.  In addition, we want to prevent people from needing our help wherever possible.  We do this in our strategic work, where we aim to create the conditions for older adults to remain healthy and independent.

We are looking for FAB Cafe Host Volunteers for the following cafes

• Avonmouth - Mondays, 2:30-4:30
• Southville - Tuesdays 10:00-2:30
• Withywood - Tuesdays 11:00-1:00
• St Werburghs LGBT+ - Thursdays, 10:00-12:00
• Fishponds - Fridays 2:00-4:00

The role involves

• Welcoming older people who are new to the FAB café
• Facilitating conversation and activities in the group
• Promoting your local FAB café and the FAB membership card scheme
• Keeping sign-up sheets for attendees at cafes
• Providing information about events and activities happening in the local area with the support of the FAB team

The qualities and skills required for this role are

• Welcoming and friendly disposition, with the ability to include people.
• Reliability.
• Ability to communicate well with a diverse range of people.
• Ability to respond to people’s varied access needs (such as hearing loss) to make sure each individual can participate well.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a busy community setting.
• An understanding of the needs of older people.

Background to the role:

Keep Active is a volunteer-delivered project at The Creighton Centre, which aims to provide support to older people (60+) who have had a fall, stroke or other illness.  We work in partnership with the NHS Community Rehabilitation Service across Hammersmith & Fulham. As a Keep Active Volunteer you would visit an older person (the average age is 84) once a week for up to nine weeks to help them with improving mobility indoors with exercises, or outdoors with walks in their community. This project aims to empower people to get back to independence, access community once more and reduce risks of future falls and hospital re-admittance.

Availability/commitment:

· To live in or near Hammersmith and Fulham, or travel regularly through

· To be able to spare 1-2 hours a week, preferably during working hours

Role of the Keep Active Volunteer:

· To attend an initial one-off training session [with Volunteer Coordinator and therapists from NHS rehabilitation teams].

· To visit an older person’s home once a week for up to 9 weeks to supervise and motivate them to continue practicing their exercise and walking goals, as prescribed by NHS rehabilitation teams.

· Support might include:

- A walk around their local community possibly going to the park or visiting shops.

- Encouraging them to complete a prescribed gentle exercise program.

- Keeping an older and sometimes isolated person company.

- Visiting someone in their homes to help them reach their exercise goals.

NB: Please note that this is a volunteer role and you will not be expected to provide any physical support. This is a motivational role only.

We will provide:

· Induction training and NHS Community Rehabilitation led training (weekday training).

· Regular contact and support from the project staff.

· Occasional social events for volunteers

· Occasional training opportunities for volunteers

· A reference after 3-6 months of volunteering with us

· An enhanced DBS check

· Reimbursement of travel expenses incurred during your volunteering

Skills needed:

· Good listening and communication skills and a good level of spoken English.

· Empathy and a kind and patience approach.

· Enthusiasm and commitment.

· A friendly personality.

· The desire to make a positive difference to someone’s health and wellbeing

· Ability to cope with clients who are unwell.

· A positive attitude towards empowering and improving the lives of older people

· An understanding of and commitment to our policies (including: Confidentiality, Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities)

Accountable to:

Keep Active Coordinator

We are looking for new volunteers to join the Meet Me team to support Meet Me at the Albany in person and remote activities.

What is Meet Me at the Albany?

In 2013 Entelechy Arts and the Albany, in partnership with Lewisham Council, established Meet Me at the Albany – an arts and social club for over 65s. Meet Me… is led by a vibrant and diverse community of previously isolated older people, who come together weekly to run a cross-art form social and creative programme to make friends, be creative, advocate for themselves, and contribute to the vibrant cultural life of Lewisham.

On Tuesdays we get together at the Albany theatre in Deptford, and get involved with everything from singing to painting, from crafting to gardening. During the COVID pandemic we took our groups onto the telephone, and seeing the massive benefits these groups brought we have continued with our Meet Me on the Telephone programme. Find more detailed information further down this page!

Who we are looking for?

Our volunteers play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of our weekly and monthly sessions. These roles are perfect for people who enjoy meeting new people, engaging in conversations, and trying new things. They’re also ideal for those who like to listen and provide support based on individual needs and interests.

Skills and experience:

Personable and Friendly: We need volunteers who are approachable and easy to talk to.

Strong Listening Skills: Essential for connecting with our members and ensuring their safety.

Experience with Older Adults: While prior experience working with older people or supporting their creativity is beneficial, it’s not required—just an interest in doing so.

Adaptable and Flexible: Activities may change, so volunteers should be open to adjusting their approach as needed.

Creative Sharing (Optional): Some volunteers enjoy sharing their creativity with our members, but this is not a requirement.

We’re also looking for volunteers who are interested in helping out with marketing and social media, so if that sounds like your cup of tea, get in touch! It would be great if you also have experience of working with people living with dementia.

What’s next?

Get in touch for an initial chat. We will then invite you to complete a registration form and book you on to our next available training session. Training will cover safeguarding, setting boundaries and explore the programme. It is a chance to work through possible scenarios and ensure you feel confident to join us for one of the in person or over the phone sessions.

Trustee (Volunteer)

Age UK East Sussex is a dynamic local charity and social enterprise, providing information, advice and services to older people across the county, and influencing to improve later life. We celebrate the fact that the proportion of the county's population over pensionable age is 26% of the total population. Moreover, the relative size of the population aged over 75 years is higher than in any other county in England and Wales.

As part of our ongoing programme of Board development, we are seeking new Trustees to join us to shape our future strategy and direction, overseeing and supporting those that run the organisation on a day-to-day basis.

We want people that share our passion for making our county a great place to grow older. We would also particularly welcome applicants from one or more of the following experiences:

• Lived experience of using or accessing older people’s services in East Sussex
• Finance
• Change and Transformation

Age UK East Sussex’s trustees make decisions about the charity together, working as a team. Our trustees have overall control of the charity and are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do. Whether you are an experienced Trustee or this is your first Board role, we will provide you with a flexible and comprehensive induction programme to support your needs and interests as well as undertake your duties as a Trustee.

The successful candidates will join a warm and welcoming Board which is highly-regarded within the national Age UK network. It has overseen the development of a charity which is a leading voice in the East Sussex volunteer sector with a strong financial position.

You can see more about our charity and our services by visiting Age UK East Sussex.

Person Specification:

What you will be doing:

• Ensuring Age UK East Sussex is carrying out its activities for the public benefit
• Complying with Age UK East Sussex's governing document and the law
• Continuously act in the best interests of Age UK East Sussex
• Managing our charitable resources responsibly
• Acting with reasonable care and skill at all times
• Ensuring your charity is accountable and complies with the law

The Skills you need:

• Passion to drive the charities objectives
• Able to work as a member of a team of trustees
• Able to make sound decisions based on the law and the charities objectives
• Willingness to share your professional and life skills
• Be able to identify irrelevant factors

Whats in it for you:

• An induction and initial training
• Ongoing training if required
• Continuous support
• Opportunities to meet other volunteers
• Reimbursement of out of pocket expenses
• Appreciation of your time and commitment to Age UK East Sussex

Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham is seeking a dynamic person as our next Chair. Building on recent success you will ensure our Board delivers its strategy for local people working closely with our Chief Executive. 

What will you be doing?

In addition to the general responsibilities of a Trustee, the duties of the Chair include the following.

• Providing leadership to the organisation and the board by ensuring that everyone remains focused on the delivery of the organisation’s charitable purposes in order to provide greater public benefit
• Chairing and facilitating board meetings
• Giving direction to board policy-making
• Checking that decisions taken at meetings are implemented
• Representing the organisation at functions and meetings, and acting as a spokesperson as appropriate
• Bringing impartiality and objectivity to decision-making

With the Chief Executive:

• Planning the annual cycle of board meetings and other general meetings where required, for example annual general meeting
• Setting agendas for board and other general meetings
• Developing the board of trustees including induction, training, appraisal and succession planning
• Addressing conflict within the board and within the organisation, and liaising with the chief executive (if staff are employed) to achieve this
• Where staff are employed:
• Liaising with the chief executive to keep an overview of the organisation’s affairs and to provide support as appropriate
• Leading the process of supporting and appraising the performance of the chief executive
• Sitting on appointment and disciplinary panels

What are we looking for?

• Able to think strategically and creatively to enhance the development and prosperity of Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham
• Have independent judgement combined with the ability to challenge appropriately.
• They will have to read and analyze documents and should be able to provide constructive feedback.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team to ensure constructive decision making, including speaking openly on controversial subjects to enhance discussion and to enable the views of others to be explored.
• Good interpersonal skills including oral and written communication.
• Know the third sector, have been a Trustee for another charity, and have a real interest in older people.
• Strong leadership, people management skills and the ability to chair meetings effectively.
• An understanding of legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship, together with an understanding of the financial aspects of running a charity.
• An understanding of the way in which the Third Sector works.
• Possess integrity, objectivity, accountability, honesty

What difference will you make?

They will have a leading role in helping to shape the organisation for the future and ensure that older people in Hammersmith and Fulham are getting the support to live longer and better. 

If you'd like to have a chat abvout this role, please email derec(at)ageukhf(dot)org(dot)uk

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

From elderly moggies to energic kittens, every day across the UK cats and kittens are in need of a temporary place to stay, and lots of love and TLC! We need more fosterers like you to provide a safe, temporary haven for cats and kittens and provide them with everything they need before they get their chance to land on their four paws and make a house a home.

You can expect us to 

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Ensure you have all you need in place to foster the cat(s) in your care, for example equipment and food
• Cover all your foster cats’ expenses and agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

Honorary Secretary for Age Concern Twyford & District

Are you organised? Can you take notes for our charity Board meetings? 

Do you have an interest in supporting a charity which supports older people in our community?

About us

You could be the Honorary Secretary for Age Concern Twyford & District, a local charity whose aim is to promote and maintain independent living for older residents in and around our local area.

Initially set up in 1988, we are an independent incorporated charity. We are not affiliated with any similar organisations, but work closely with other Wokingham Borough-based charities, support organisations and local businesses.

We provide a Day Centre with options for lunches and take-home meals, many activities including arts, singing, dancing and exercise, plus a range of support services including assistance with form-filling, handypersons and a listening ear to support families.

In 2023/24 our income rose (again) to £206k, and our services and facilities remain well-used and very well-appreciated.

The role and what we are looking for in a new Honorary Secretary

Our Board includes people with experience and skills in supporting older people, and we’d expect our new Honorary Secretary to have empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries. 

You will need good organising skills and the ability to take notes to turn into Minutes of our meetings, but those aren’t complex or too formal. You’ll be asked to assist with our Charity Regulation and reporting to the Charity Commission, but again those are easy things to implement. In all these things, you’ll be assisted and advised by our Centre Manager and other trustees, including our new Chair of the Board.

You don’t necessarily need prior experience of charity trusteeship, although that would be welcome. Full induction to our organisation will be provided, plus specialist support as a new trustee, including access to external training if needed.

We are a charity not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We are looking for fresh expertise and experience from a variety of backgrounds to our charity: we want to expand the diversity of our board, in all meanings of the word, and strongly welcome applications from people from less-represented groups. 

The focus of a trustee role is strategic, and trustees will not be expected to get involved in the organisation’s operations on a day-to-day basis; however, contact and liaison with other trustees and employees is expected.   

We ask for up to five hours of your time per month, which includes our monthly meetings, and other discussions.  You will need good access to digital communications, as much of our charity’s business is run that way.

How to apply  

This appointment is being managed for us by inVOLve Community Services, a charity-support organisation, who offer a no-obligation discussion by phone or video. A detailed Role Description and Person Specification can be made available to you upon request.

Trustee appointments are subject to satisfactory references, to completion of an online Safeguarding course and an Enhanced DBS check. 

Your CV or similar will be read by our existing trustees, and an interview offered as soon as mutually convenient.

I need to know more 

Contact Mike Allen via Quick Apply below for more information and arrange to have a no-obligation initial informal discussion (Teams or Zoom).