Volunteer with your local Age UK

The Age UK network includes Age UK Scotland, Age Cymru and Age UK NI and more than 120 local Age UKs throughout England providing information, advice, support and a range of services to help older people.

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What do local Age UKs offer?

All local Age UKs provide a level of information, advice and support. They also offer services that may include:

• home help
• transport
• shopping – delivery and assisted shopping
• IT/digital help and support
• handyperson services helping with jobs inside and outside the home
• footcare
• exercise classes and physical activity
• social activities
• transition from hospital to home.

What might I do as a local Age UK volunteer?

Local Age UKs need support with different services they may offer, and these are some of the ways you could help:

• Befriending an older person.
• Encouraging participation in wellbeing activities.
• Leading a fitness group.
• Driving older people to a local activity they look forward to all week.
• Cooking lunch at an activity centre.
• Helping older people master the basics of IT.
• Supporting someone home from hospital.
• Helping an older person regain confidence after a bereavement or fall.

The difference volunteering can make

By volunteering for your local Age UK, you will be using your skills to make a difference to older people’s lives. You might help with community lunches or gardening, or help organise activities that bring people together - such as the Age UK Walking Football Programme. 

This initiative, backed by the Football Association and Sport England, aims to create social interaction and increase fitness levels as well as overall wellbeing. 

What’s great about being a local Age UK volunteer

You will learn new skills, meet new people and forge amazing friendships.  You'll be supporting older people in your local area, but the best way we can explain what’s great about volunteering is by using another example. 

Face-to-face befriending is a popular volunteering role. It can help both volunteer and the person being befriended strike up a wonderful friendship.  Befriending services are available at many local Age UKs. They will often involve a volunteer befriender visiting an older person in their home, perhaps for a cup of tea and a chat, or accompanying them to an activity (such as a trip to a cafe or the theatre). In some cases, a volunteer may accompany the older person to occasional hospital or doctor's appointments.

Steps to becoming a volunteer

If you would particularly like to support your local Age UK delivering services for older people, please fill out the form below and we'll put you in touch with relevant opportunities. 

If you have any issues when signing up or need any questions answered, please email us on volunteer@ageuk.org.uk.