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Volunteer

Age UK Manchester relies on volunteers to help us offer vital support in the local community at this time. Would you like to lend a hand?

Apply to volunteer

Why volunteer?

Do you love listening and talking? Would you like to support someone learning a new skill? Can you help give a vulnerable person a voice? If so, we want you to join our volunteering team.

There are many reasons why it's great to volunteer. It's an ideal way to give something back to your community and make a difference in people's lives. It can provide an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. It's also a great way to meet others and spend time with people.

We could not function without our dedicated team of volunteers who help us deliver vital services to older people in Manchester. Whatever your talents and interests, we're bound to have a voluntary opportunity where you can you share your knowledge, make new friends and have fun! You'll also get the chance to learn new skills and gain important experience to add to your CV.

All our volunteers are offered full training and will get ongoing support and advice from our volunteer management team.

So if you have the time, no matter how little, there are many ways in which you can get involved.

Who can volunteer?

Almost anyone can be a volunteer. We have a wide range of roles which suit different people and different skills.

How much time do I need to give?

It depends on the volunteer role you are interested in. Some people give an hour a week, other people do more.

Current volunteering opportunities

  • Become a shop volunteer

    We are looking for volunteers at our Manchester shops, and if that is you and you have spare time, then apply and become a shop volunteer.

  • Information and advice volunteers

    We are currently looking for volunteers to work within our Advice Team helping older people to overcome a range of problems, particularly relating to welfare benefit entitlements.

  • Day Centre volunteers

    Our Day Centre's are looking for volunteers to assist our Support Workers, who provide Day Care for older ladies and gentlemen with Dementia.

  • Volunteer Counsellor

    Our Counselling Service is looking for volunteer counsellors, either fully qualified or those currently training to be a counsellor. Find out more information in the below link.

  • Become an upcycling volunteer

    We are looking for volunteers who want to help our makers upcycle furniture, clothes and jewellery. This is a great opportunity to learn from our experienced makers, gain good experience and help a local charity. 

Volunteering roles

Volunteer Counsellors

What you can expect from volunteering for our service:

  •  Become part of a dynamic team
  •  Gain placement hours and/or experience
  •  Support, mentoring (across all training agencies) and training
  •  A diverse range of appropriate clients
  •  Great networking opportunities
  •  The satisfaction of giving back to the local community
  •  We will cover your travel expenses (subject to area boundaries)

What we expect from you:

  •  Our biggest expectation is that you are ready and willing to commit, not just to us as a team but also to your client base.
  •  That you will be a member of a professional association and work to their ethical framework
  •  That you will have your own professional indemnity insurance
  •  That you will have your own supervisor in place
  •  That, as a trainee you will have a fitness to practise document or be fully qualified.

To apply for a placement with us please email counselling@ageukmanchester.org.uk or phone to speak to a member of the counselling team on 0161 527 4374. 

Shop volunteers

  • Help the manager run the shop
  • Serve customers
  • Process and merchandise stock
  • Assist in developing activities and services to support the needs and wishes of older people

Information and advice volunteers

  • Generalist Advisor
  • Form filling
  • A minimum commitment of 6 hours per week for 6 months is required
  • Computer literacy is essential

Day centre volunteers

Varied roles, but could include:

  • Making tea and toast
  • Serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea
  • Clearing tables
  • Washing up
  • Joining in with the activities

Upcyling volunteers (Didsbury-based)

  • Upcycling furniture and clothes to be sold in our shops 
  • Taking videos and photographs of the upcycled items

Additional information

  • Travel expenses are paid
  • We can contribute towards lunch for volunteering 4 hours or more, including over the lunch period
  • Free DBS check, if required
  • Training will be provided and the role offers an opportunity to develop excellent transferable skills as well as to make a real difference to the lives of older people in the City.
  • Please do not ask to volunteer for a Befriending Service as we do not offer this service.

Apply to volunteer