Volunteering for Age Concern

Marion Telephone volunteer

Marion Wilde, Telephone Buddy Volunteer

Becoming an Age Concern Volunteer

Age Concern exists to help older people make more of life. We do this in two main ways: by campaigning on behalf of older people and by providing services ourselves.

All sorts of older people need our help, some with problems and difficulties, whilst others want anything from leisure classes to insurance. The services we provide could not run without our dedicated team of volunteers. They are the life blood of our charity. Throughout the county we have over 700 volunteers.

By volunteering to help Age Concern you will be helping older people, but you will also have fun, make friends and learn new things. We provide support and training and pay appropriate expenses. We ask all volunteers to complete an application form and to provide two referees. Those volunteers who have contact with vulnerable older people will need to apply for a criminal records bureau disclosure.

There are a wide range of different opportunities for volunteers. This includes Day Centres, Home Visiting, Driving, Parish Links, Benefits, Advocacy, Insurance, Computer Classes, Office Work and Fundraising.

For more information on what is currently available contact Keith Gallop, Volunteer Recruitment Officer, (01743 233123 extension 226, or look at our current Volunteer Vacancy List.

Volunteer Vacancy List - August 2010

Remember, just a few hours of your time really does make a difference.

Day Centre helpers - to serve refreshments, wash up, help with a range of social activities, and chat to members in one of our 43 day centres.

Albrighton needs a helper every Thursday
Cleobury Mortimer has a vacancy for a helper at the centre every Monday
Craven Arms, which meets every Thursday, urgently needs an organiser to co-ordinate the other helpers at this centre who can work as part of a team. Also required is a cook once a month to prepare the lunch for about 30 people, with the help of other volunteers.
Dawley, which meets on a Tuesday, needs a new organiser as the current one is planning to retire.
Donnington urgently needs organisers for both the Monday and Wednesday groups. Could you help by taking on the role on one of the days?
Ellesmere has a vacancy for a helper at the centre every Thursday
Ketley, which meets every Friday, has a vacancy for a treasurer
Madeley has vacancies for helpers every Wednesday
Oswestry, which meets every Thursday, urgently needs an organiser to co-ordinate the other helpers at this centre who can work as part of a team
Shawbury needs a helper on a Wednesday for a few hours a week
St Georges, which meets on a Monday, needs an organiser
St Martins, which meets every Tuesday, urgently needs a helper for a few hours or all day to replace one of their leading volunteers who they have lost
Wellington (Christchurch), which meets every Monday, has a vacancy for a treasurer
Whitchurch is looking for a helper for a few hours a day on a Thursday

Befriending - to reduce the loneliness and isolation felt by many older people

Neighbourhood Visiting volunteers go into older people's homes in the area covered by Telford & Wrekin Council, providing friendship and that all important bit of support for the lonely and less mobile. Volunteers are needed throughout the area for an hour or two a week. You need to be reliable, a good listener and respect the need for confidentiality.
Home from Hospital volunteers provide short term non-medical support to older people in South Shropshire, for up to 6 weeks after returning home following a stay in hospital. More voluntary visitors are needed in South Shropshire to help people with practical support, such as shopping, collecting prescriptions, companionship and accompanying to doctor's surgery. This would be for about 2 to 2½ hours a week.
Telephone Buddy volunteers come into the Shrewsbury office on a Monday morning or afternoon to ring older people living within the Shropshire Council area and offer a friendly weekly chat. Most volunteers do one or two duties a month.

Parish Link - to be contact point for older people in your community, to act as signpost, and pass on concerns of local people to Age Concern

Volunteers are needed in parishes throughout the area covered by Shropshire Council; it will take only a small amount of your time.

Mentoring - using older people to inspire younger people who might be experiencing difficult times in school

We are looking for older people over 50 years who are willing to give up a few hours each week to work as a one to one mentor with primary school children in the Telford area, including Ironbridge. A six week training programme consisting of one morning a week is provided.

IT tutor - to lead a small absolute beginners class for older people

We are running very successful IT classes in Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Telford and need some more volunteers in these areas to facilitate classes. If you think you have the relevant skills to inspire beginners to use computers then please get in touch.

Administrative Work -a number of different roles are available

A treasurer is needed for Market Drayton day centre. You need to have an ability to work with figures and about an hour a week available. The day centre meets on a Thursday but much of the work can be done from home.
A trustee is required in Shrewsbury to look after the management of the Gains Park day centre; you will need to attend two or three meetings a year
There is a vacancy available at the Shrewsbury office to assist with basic administrative tasks such as filing for a few hours a week; times are flexible

Driving - to collect older people by car from their home, take them to one of our day centres, and return them later in the day

Volunteers needed for up to two hours on one day a week for day centres in Oswestry (Thursday), Shawbury (Wednesday), Shrewsbury (Thursday), St Martins (Tuesday) and Whitchurch (Tuesday and Thursday); own car required

Fundraising - volunteers needed for a variety of work, such as assisting in the organisation of fundraising events, sending out material to supporters and street collecting

To mark our 60^th anniversary we have launched the diamond appeal to fund drop-in centres for people with dementia and their carers. Would you volunteer to hold a coffee morning, a bring & buy, a pub quiz, or any other fundraising venture for the appeal. Talk to Lyn Briggs, Project Development Officer, or email diamond.appeal@ageconcernshrops.org.uk for a fundraising pack.

If you would like more information about any of the volunteering opportunities above, contact Keith Gallop, Volunteer Recruitment Officer on 01743 233123 extention 226 or email: keith.gallop@ageconcernshrops.org.uk

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Age Concern please complete this pdf age-concern-volunteer-application-form.pdf (125KB) and post it to the address at the bottom of the form.