Volunteering

Why volunteer for Age UK Carlisle and Eden?

By joining our friendly team of volunteers at Age UK Carlisle and Eden you will be helping to make a positive difference to older people within Eden District. The time you give and the skills/abilities that you offer make a very important contribution in helping us to provide quality services for people within our community.

Good fun and great company

The rewards of being a volunteer are great and include:

• The fun and satisfaction of being part of a team
• Opportunities to meet people and make new friends
• Learning new skills

At the same time you will know that the time you give is making a positive difference to older people within your community.

Some commonly asked questions

Will I be able to choose what I do?

Together we will do our best to match your skills and abilities to the work we do.

Will I get any support?

Support for our volunteers is as important to us as providing quality services. You will receive the support and training you need to carry out the work you undertake.

Will I be able to give enough time?

Yes - we value any time you give, however little. You need only give the time you have to spare. We can tailor your commitment to suit the time you have available.

What about my expenses?

Although you will not be paid for the work you do, we will pay any necessary expenses and make sure that you are not out of pocket.

What opportunities are there within Age UK Carlisle and Eden?

Opportunities are available in the following areas, where a whole range of jobs are essential to keep these services running effectively. Please click on an area which interests you for more details on how you could be of help within that particular service:

Shopmobility

Day Care

Community Home Day Care

Shops

Lunch Clubs

Information and advice

Bus drivers

Shopmobility

Duties within our Shopmobility scheme may include:

• Reception work
• Assisting Shopmobility clients with use of equipment
• Dealing with customer enquiries
• Assisting with administration
• Basic equipment maintenance
• Visiting equipment sites to check maintenance, admin etc
• Assistance with events
• Assistance with fundraising

Day Care

Duties within our Day Centres may include:

• Welcoming clients on their arrival
• Helping to serve refreshments and lunch
• Chatting and socialising with clients - many often see few people to talk to during the rest of the week
• Joining in and where appropriate, assisting members
• Having fun! If you enjoy yourself you will help create an enjoyable day for all who attend

Community Home Day Care

Becoming a Community Home Day Care host would involve opening up your home once a week or fortnight to three or four older people.

Hosts will:

• Provide a home cooked lunch
• Provide an opportunity for guests to join in activities
• Provide an invaluable opportunity for older people to socialise, and be part of a 'family' for a day

And are provided with full training and support.

Shops

Each shop has its own manager who will arrange your place on the rota, explain the detailed procedures which apply to the shop in which you are working and answer any queries you may have. Duties include:

• Serving customers
• Helping to keep the shop clean and tidy
• Assisting with pricing, sorting and window displays under the direction of the shop manager
• Receiving donated goods
• Ironing
• Replacing stock in the shop under the direction of the shop manager
• Taking telephone messages
• Helping customers find information and passing queries onto relevant Age UK Carlisle and Eden staff

Lunch Clubs

Duties within our lunch clubs may include:

• Providing transport to and from Lunch Club
• Preparing the venue for Lunch Club
• Serving the meal and socialising with guests
• Washing up and cleaning away
• Completing records and collecting Lunch Club payments

Information and advice

Volunteers within our Information, advice and advocacy service could assist in the administrative support of the service, or could undertake the necessary training so that they can give information and advice to clients.

Bus drivers

To drive our minibus on a variety of occasions, our bus drivers will:

• Be fully trained to MIDAS regulations
• Be insured by Age UK Carlisle and Eden
• Have their expenses paid by Age UK Carlisle and Eden

Contact us

For further details of and an application form for any of the above opportunities please contact us on 01768 863 618 or complete our enquiry form.