Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, and support the work we do in the community.

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

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

Our befriending service provides companionship and support to housebound older people living alone in the community. Would you like to visit an older person regularly for a chat and to develop a friendship?  One hour a week can make a huge difference to someone’s life.

Our Check Visiting volunteers conduct regular visits to older members of the community who live alone, highlighting any areas of need.  Check Visitors are allocated a number of visits on a monthly basis and these can be organised according to your availability.

Our In Safe Hands service offers short breaks to relatives and friends who look after an older person.  Could you give a carer a break by caring for an older person in their home on an occasional or regular basis?  

Could you provide overnight support to an older person coming out of hospital or intermediate care? (An allowance to the volunteer is sometimes paid.)

We are currently looking to expand our shopping services and recruit friendly, flexible volunteers who have an understanding of older people and their needs. Could you:

• Take an older person shopping? Driving licence and car required, with mileage paid at 41p per mile.
• Do the shopping for an older person?
• Take a shopping list over the telephone and order via the internet? IT skills and accuracy is essential in this role.

Our shops in Walmgate, Bishopthorpe Road, Burtonstone Lane and Haxby are looking for shop floor volunteers.  Tasks are varied and include greeting customers, advising and helping with sizes, operating tills (training provided), putting out stock, reducing stock and displays.  If you are welcoming and friendly and can spare anything from a couple of hours to half a day a week, please contact us. 

We are in urgent need of volunteer drivers to transport clients to and from our day clubs in York.  Hours are approximately 8.45am to 10.30am and 2pm to 3.30pm.  We require:

• Mini bus drivers: MIDAS trained or training will be provided.
• Car drivers using own cars with business insurance.  Expenses covered.  
• Drivers for wheelchair adapted car.

We are looking for volunteers to work in our day clubs which run every weekday in different venues throughout the city. The clubs offer local older people an attractive social meeting place, hot lunch, refreshments and interesting activities. If you can spare up to five hours a week to support older people why not join our friendly team? If you have an interest in Dementia we have a number of specific clubs.

We are currently looking for a volunteer with British Sign Language to support a client in our Acomb day club, Mondays between 10am and 2pm.  Any slot within these times would be of benefit.  The role would involve supporting an individual whose main language is BSL, as well as other clients.   

Keep Your Pet is a short term support service for domestic pet owners.  Volunteers offer short term support for older and vulnerable pet owners by providing fostering, dog walking, taking the pet to the vet, animal feeding etc.  We have an urgent need for cat and dog fosterers.  

Do you have any administration or office skills?  We are looking for help in our Walmgate office, supporting our volunteer recruitment process and information service.

Would you be interested in volunteering for half a day at our Walmgate Office?  We are looking to train a number of receptionists to cover absences.  Receptionists meet and greet visitors to the Age UK offices, transfer telephone calls, take messages and undertake basic administration tasks.  This is an essential role for Age UK York and full training will be given.   

Age UK York run minibus outings for elderly people who would normally find it difficult to leave their own home. The outings usually take place every Tuesday from May to September and we would be delighted if you could help out possibly two or three times during this period. We are looking for volunteers who enjoy the company of older people and are happy to escort them to different attractions and venues. You should have a good sense of humour and be reasonably fit and active as you will on some outings be required to push a wheelchair.  Training is given and you will be expected to attend a relevant First Aid course.

We always welcome enthusiastic volunteers to support in this key area.
 

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Age UK York.