Volunteer
Age UK Solihull relies on volunteers to help us offer vital services in the local community. Would you like to lend a hand?
For more information, contact our Volunteer Manager:
Email volunteering@ageuksolihull.org.uk
Telephone:0121 704 7843
Volunteering update
We are currently only recruiting for the following roles:
Face-to-face Befriender - visit a lonely older person in their home once a week. Particularly needed in North Solihull.
Telephone Befriender - call a lonely older person for a chat once a week.
Volunteer Driver - help an older person get to their weekly activity.
Clubs Volunteer - help at our weekly lunch club at the Marston Green Tavern.
Community Advice Hub Welcome Desk Volunteer - Chelmsley Wood Library - welcome people and direct them to our Advisers.
Digital Champion - help older people improve their digital skills. Particularly needed in North Solihull.
Fundraising Volunteer - join our Fundraising Committee to help organise events and activities
Volunteering Opportunities
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Befriending
Visiting an older person isolated in their home or calling them on the phone for a friendly chat, once a week, for an hour or so (preferably in the daytime).
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Charity Shop Volunteer
Help out our charity shop in Hobs Moat, Solihull.
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Social Clubs
Help run one of our clubs located in Olton, Marston Green, Shirley and Knowle.
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Fundraising
Help at an event, street collection or distribute our collecting cans to local shops.
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Office Administration
Help out at our office in The Core, Solihull.
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Community Advice Hub Welcome Desk - Solihull Library
Welcome visitors and direct them to advisors at one our Hub at Solihull Library.
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Community Advice Hub Welcome Desk - Chelmsley Wood Library
Welcome visitors and direct them to advisors at our Hub at Chelmsley Wood Library.
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Community Advice Hub IT Volunteer
Help visitors complete online forms and do internet searches at our two Community Advice Hubs.
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Gentle Exercise Classes
Assist in our gentle exercise, chair-based classes, called Postural Stability Instruction (PSI).
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Winter Warmth Advice
Visit older people in their homes to give advice on keeping warm.
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Help with Attendance Allowance forms
Visit older people in their homes and complete a claim form on their behalf to apply for Attendance Allowance.
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Driver
Volunteer drivers are allocated one or two older people who they collect from their homes and take to our gentle exercise classes or one of our social clubs.
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Trustees
Join our Board of Trustees to help make sure we are always doing the very best we can for older Solihull residents.
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Why volunteer?
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, and support the work we do in the community. Whether you have retired or want to try something new, want to give back to the community or have just begun your career and want the experience of working with older people, volunteering could be a very rewarding and enjoyable experience.
Whether you have retired or want to try something new, want to give back to the community or have just begun your career and want the experience of working with older people, volunteering could be a very rewarding and enjoyable experience.
How much time will it take?
The timing of the work is a matter to be negotiated between you and your client for your mutual convenience. Some services allow you to dip in and out, others require a regular commitment. We hope there will be something to suit everyone's availability.
Will I be properly supported?
You will be joining a large and growing team of volunteers delivering services directly to older people throughout the borough. In return for your valuable time and commitment, you can expect good quality support from staff, training opportunities and a chance to meet other volunteers and give feedback to staff.
How do I apply?
When you start, you will be supported through an induction programme, where all volunteers receive information on best practice in confidentiality and communication. You will also have a chance to go through travel expenses claims, ID badges etc.
Depending on which service you join, you may have a further induction period during which training is more intensive, or regular updates as often as necessary, and you may go on visits with an established volunteer.
You will also receive a Volunteers Handbook which contains the rules and guidelines you need to ensure the clients you help receive the maximum care and benefit from your efforts. It is vital that everyone involved with Age UK Solihull acts in a professional manner and understands the requirement for firm policies about such things as confidentiality and safety, and the procedures to follow that ensure smooth-running services, with the minimum of complications. I'd like to find out more.
If you would like more information and a chat about the services that particularly interest you, please email or telephone us for more information or complete our Expression of Interest form and we will contact you to discuss making a full application.
Alternatively, you can complete and return our full Volunteer Application Form below:
You will then have a chance to meet the Service Co-ordinator for the service that interests you for an informal interview to make sure both sides are happy to go forward.
The Difference Our Volunteers Make
We have received many grateful comments from our clients, telling us what a difference our volunteers have made to their lives.
We are so grateful to our volunteers for their hard work and dedication to supporting older people.
We put together this heartwarming video of quotes we'd received for Volunteers' Week 2021.