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Older People’s Involvement Network Volunteer (OPIN)

Time requirement: Weekdays (Monday- Friday) Flexible Hours (Minimum 2 hours each week)

Location: North Tyneside in community venues

Required training: General Volunteer Induction, Age UK North Tyneside mandatory training

DBS (prev. CRB): Yes

What is The Oler People’s Involvement Network Service

We are looking for people aged 50+ to become Age-Friendly Network Volunteers as part of our Older People’s Involvement Network (OPIN).

This is a flexible volunteer opportunity supporting Age UK North Tyneside’s work to make North Tyneside a place where people can age well, stay connected, and feel valued.

OPIN is a community network that ensures the voices, experiences and ideas of older people are heard and reflected in the development of local services, communities and decision-making.

The network supports people aged 50+ to play an active role in shaping a more inclusive and age-friendly borough. This includes helping to reduce loneliness, improve wellbeing, influence local services and promote positive ageing.

OPIN members may work alongside local authorities, health services, community organisations and charities to help create meaningful change for older residents.

Purpose of the Role

The purpose of this role is to ensure that older people’s voices are heard and valued in the planning and development of services, activities and communities across North Tyneside. OPIN Members use their lived experience, knowledge and ideas to help shape decisions that affect people in later life.

Members play an important role in promoting age-friendly communities where people feel connected, respected and able to participate fully. Through involvement opportunities, consultation and community engagement, volunteers help improve wellbeing, reduce loneliness and strengthen local support networks.

This role also helps Age UK North Tyneside and partner organisations better understand the needs, priorities and aspirations of older residents, ensuring services are more responsive, inclusive and effective.

Main Duties

  • Attend meetings, events and involvement sessions as able.
  • Share views, ideas and lived experiences to help shape local services and policies.
  • Provide feedback on projects, consultations and new initiatives.
  • Represent the voice of older people within the local community.
  • Help identify issues affecting older residents and suggest solutions.
  • Support campaigns and activities that promote positive ageing.
  • Encourage wider participation from older people in the community.
  • Work alongside Age UK North Tyneside staff and partner organisations.
  • Promote inclusion, respect and age-friendly communities.

Behaviours and Values

We are looking for volunteers who are:

  • Friendly, respectful and approachable
  • Passionate about improving later life in North Tyneside
  • Open-minded and willing to listen to others
  • Honest and dependable
  • Supportive of equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Interested in making a positive difference locally
  • Comfortable sharing ideas and experiences

Skills that are required/desirable:

  • Good communication and listening skills
  • Confidence sharing views in groups or discussions
  • Ability to work positively with others
  • Interest in community issues and local services
  • Respect for confidentiality where appropriate
  • Reliable and able to attend agreed sessions

Additional Information

  Must be aged 50 years or over

  No formal qualifications required

  Full training and ongoing support provided

  Flexible involvement to suit availability

  A rewarding opportunity to help shape an age-friendly North Tyneside

To apply, please email Paula.Bennett@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk or call 0191 280 8484.

Why Volunteer

Age UK North Tyneside works solely for the benefit of older people and their carers living in the Borough of North Tyneside. Through volunteering, you are helping to make a positive difference to the lives of older people in your local community. Age UK North Tyneside recognises the benefit and value of volunteering and believes volunteering is an activity that should be open to all members of the community.

Volunteers often create a friendly and caring community, they bring skills and qualities adding value and experience, and many of our services could not happen without them.

Volunteers are people who give freely their time, abilities, skills and enthusiasm, without payment, in order to contribute something to their community. 

DWP has published new guidance on volunteering and claiming benefits:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/volunteering-and-claiming-benefits

The guidance aims to help claimants make informed decisions on volunteering and explains:

  • How many hours you can volunteer
  • What happens if you get a health or disability benefit
  • What expense you can claim

Benefits of Volunteering

There are many benefits to being a volunteer:

  • Learning new skills
  • Gaining work experience
  • Building your confidence and self esteem
  • Meeting new people and making new friends
  • Trying something new
  • Developing a skill, hobby or interest
  • Working as part of a team
  • Making a difference to your own life and the lives of others
  • As a way of saying thank-you to our volunteers we arrange regular social events and presentations for them

We will provide you with travel expenses and training opportunities. Your time, skills and enthusiasm make a very big difference to the lives of older people. Without your help, most of our work would not be possible. We will help you get the most out of your voluntary work by giving you support and training.

Volunteers may also qualify for a huge range of money saving deals and vouchers, from mouth watering restaurant vouchers, discount holidays, money off fashion fixes through to deals on gym membership, mobile phones, and utilities. Find out more on the Charity Workers Discount website.

How To Get Involved

It’s easy to become a volunteer and we welcome people of all ages and from all backgrounds, who bring with them their much needed experience and support. Have a look at the roles we have on offer in the Current Volunteering Opportunities section. If you would like to volunteer, please request a registration form from our HR Team by emailing HRTeam1@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk

If you would like a registration form sent to you in the post, please call 0191 287 7011. You can return completed paper forms to the address below:

Volunteering Team
Age UK North Tyneside
Bradbury Centre
13 Saville Street West,
North Shields
NE29 6QP
Telephone: 0191 287 7011

Email: Volunteer@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk

Next Steps

On receiving your completed form we will then invite you in for an interview to discuss your form further, and talk about the current volunteer opportunities we have available which may suit you. Please be aware that the volunteer process can take up to 4-6 weeks due to the reference checks, DBS checks, and processes we have to follow before a volunteer can begin their placement.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the volunteering team on 0191 287 7011 or email HRTeam1@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk 

We hope that you will find your involvement with Age UK North Tyneside rewarding and interesting and look forward to working with you in the near future.