Volunteering

As a Face-to-Face Befriender, you will visit a neighbour who may be lonely or isolated.  Have a chat over a cup of tea or pop out for a walk, it’s up to you and your friend. You can alternatively create meaningful moments through phone calls as a Phone Befriender. These calls provide engagement and enjoyment to people who are experiencing loneliness and isolation. Volunteering as a Befriender can make a huge difference to the happiness and well-being of an older person.

- Minimum time commitment: 30 mins - 1 hour weekly or fortnightly
- Minimum length of commitment: 6 months

This role is to support patients transitioning from hospital to home, ensuring their discharge is safe, smooth, and successful. By providing practical assistance and emotional support, you will play a key role in helping individuals regain independence, prevent readmission, and access community resources.  

If you’re looking to make a difference and help people while gaining valuable experience, we’d love to hear from you!

- Minimum time commitment: 1 - 2 hours a week

- Minimum length of commitment: 4 - 6 weeks

To apply for this role please visit the Care For Me website and apply online. If you are an existing volunteer you won't need to complete all of our security checks.

We’re looking for volunteers to help us with covering our front desk.  Volunteers will support with greeting visitors at the office, taking payments for Age UK Lambeth services, and signposting and referring older people to appropriate support to address their needs. We have a clear Guide setting out clear pathways to be followed when signposting to support available.

- Minimum time commitment: between 2-5 hours per week

 - Minimum length of commitment: 3 months

We’re looking for volunteers to help us with covering our phone line. As a Volunteer Telephone Supporter, you will be the first point of contact for Age UK Lambeth, answering incoming calls on our main office telephone line. Your role is crucial in providing information, support, and signposting to older adults seeking assistance, ensuring they receive timely and appropriate help. We have a clear Guide setting out clear pathways to be followed when signposting to support available.

- Minimum time commitment: between 2-5 hours per week

 - Minimum length of commitment: 3 months

As a Walking Volunteer, you will be leading short, accessible, community-based health walks for people wishing to improve their health through regular physical activity. The walks will be in groups of no more than 12 people and provide social engagement along with weekly psychical activity. 

The programme is in memory of our former Chair Diana Kahn and is used to encourage our members to hit the streets and make the most of our local parks! 

- Minimum time commitment: 1 hour a week
- Minimum length of commitment: 3 months

As an Event Host, you’ll be the friendly face of Age UK Lambeth at our community and fundraising events. Your role will be to welcome guests, create a warm and inclusive atmosphere, and ensure the event runs smoothly. Whether it’s hosting a MYsocial event, helping out at the lunch club or dementia club or helping us at a fundraising event, you’ll help us create memorable experiences for our clients and also raise vital funds and awareness for older people across Lambeth.

- Minimum time commitment: 1 - 4 hours a month

- Minimum length of commitment: 3 months

As a Volunteer Community Fundraiser with a focus on business support, you will play a vital role in expanding Age UK Lambeth's network of corporate partners. Your efforts will help secure financial support, in-kind donations, and collaborative opportunities from local businesses, thereby enhancing our capacity to serve older adults in the community.

- Minimum time commitment: Flexible; 2-4 hours per week

- Minimum length of commitment: 3 months

Why not sign up to be a volunteer and give back to the community at Christmas? We are. all finding it a little harder this year. We all tend to cook a little more than we need to, so why not give someone the gift of a home-cooked meal on Christmas Day

- Minimum time commitment: Once a year on Christmas Day

- Minimum length of commitment: 1 day

If you are interested in any of the volunteering roles or believe you have skills we might find useful, you can apply online by completing our application form:

If you require a hard copy application, you can call us on 0333 360 3700 and we will post a form to you with a stamped and addressed envelope for you to return your application to us. Once your application is received by mail, our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you via telephone to discuss your application and how best to get you started.

We aim to contact you within one week of receipt of your application to arrange for your reference collection, DBS check, and your Volunteer Induction.

DBS checks are used in the voluntary sector to make safer recruitment decisions by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work that involves children or vulnerable adults.

You can find a list of accepted documents on this link to our DBS Submission Form

Yes, we will need to carry out a new DBS check unless you are signed up for the DBS Update Service and have a certificate for an Enhanced Adults check.

Waiting times to start volunteering vary. It depends on how quickly we receive your references and when you complete your induction and DBS checks. 

For Befriending volunteers, once you've fully completed your application, we will find you a befriending match within 10 working days. 

Having the coronavirus vaccination is not compulsory for volunteering with us, however, if you have not been vaccinated it may affect the type of role you can do. Due to the nature of our work with vulnerable adults, we are asking all new volunteers if they are willing to share their vaccination status with us to help with placing you in a volunteer role.

The time needed in each role varies depending on which service you are volunteering with. The frequency of your involvement and the minimum length of commitment for each role can be found on our website here. 

You can also discuss with our Volunteer Coordinator the time you have available and your interests and skills, to explore what possible roles would be suitable, both to fit in with you, and Age UK Lambeth.

Age UK Lambeth asks for enthusiasm and commitment. Though some of our opportunities benefit from certain skill sets:

• Befriending roles require empathy and good listening skills.
• Digital Champions require a moderate understanding of using the internet and email, as well as using a mobile device.
• Walking Volunteers require the ability to encourage, motivate and provide support to participants and others.

Volunteering is free to take part in. You may need to pay for travel expenses however we will try our best to match you with someone local to you.

Volunteers can request reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel costs and, if devoting a full day to the charity, a sandwich lunch or equivalent. Payment of reasonable expenses must be authorised by your staff contact in advance and receipts or tickets will be required.

This Expense Form is to be used to record those expenses you incur whilst volunteering for us and for which you wish to be reimbursed. Please refer to your Volunteer Agreement for a full description of which expenses can be reimbursed.

We support volunteers from the point of initial interest and help you find the right volunteer opportunity and match, ensuring your experience is a positive one. We are an inclusive service and encourage people with all types of abilities to register.

All volunteers receive a training induction when joining Age UK Lambeth. All volunteers receive updated online training and courses around Safeguarding and Health & Wellbeing when available. This is free to attend.

The minimum age to become a volunteer with Age UK Lambeth is 18. There is no upper age limit for volunteers.

It is your responsibility to make sure you can volunteer while in the UK. In general, if you are from the European Union or European Economic Area you will be able to volunteer with us but you should always check your visa conditions to be certain of this. If you have any doubts or questions you should contact UK Visas and Immigration.

Our fundraising team has a range of upcoming events and sponsorship opportunities that our volunteers can get involved in. Upcoming opportunities are listed on our website here. Please email fundraising@ageuklambeth.org if you have something else in mind or are keen to find out more.

If you are interested in staying up to date on how you can get involved you can also sign up for our monthly marketing & fundraising newsletter here.

Email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@ageuklambeth.org