Volunteer
Age UK York relies on volunteers to help us offer vital services in the local community. Would you like to lend a hand?
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
Thank you very much for offering your support to us at this time. We have been overwhelmed by the amazing response from the people of York.
Our regular volunteering opportunities are on hold as we are currently focussed on supporting our older clients with existing volunteers and staff. There will be a time when we restart our volunteer recruitment process and volunteers will have the opportunity to apply to us again. If you would like to be considered for that, please refer to our website where there are details of the positions we offer and details of the volunteer recruitment process, including an application form.
If you would like to volunteer in the short term to support the response to coronavirus in the city, we would ask you to contact the City of York Council, who are now coordinating the response.
volunteering@york.gov.uk or call the Customer Centre on 01904 551 550 and register your interest with the volunteer scheme.
You may also like to consider supporting a local group. Many are being set up in local communities, through exiting community groups, churches or individuals setting up a new system. These are being widely publicised on social media.
If you are involved in setting up a group, the City of York Council may be able to provide advice and support, for example, around safeguarding issues.
If you are an existing volunteer for another organisation and your role cannot be undertaken in the current circumstances, there may be a process going forward to coordinate such volunteers to do other roles. Your organisation would contact you in those circumstances.
Our website will be updated regularly with any relevant information. The website also explains how people can support us by making a donation. This will help us to continue to support the older people of York in these challenging times.
Thank you again for your offer of support.
You can download a Neighbourly volunteering form here.
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Age UK York has over 400 volunteers who provide invaluable services for the older people of York. We could not provide our services without your support. We provide a wide range of volunteering opportunities which can involve either directly helping older people, working in our shops or providing support in our offices.
Our recruitment process takes between six to eight weeks and comprises an application form, interview, references and criminal records check, followed by two induction courses. We have a general induction session for Age UK York and a session specific to the area you are volunteering in.In addition to this process, for most volunteer opportunities, we ask our volunteers to be in a position to commit to regular and long term volunteering of at least a year. This is to allow us to provide ongoing support to the older people of York. We are only able to accept volunteering applications from people aged 18 or above.
If you would like to progress your application, please download the application form.
You will be joining a team of committed volunteers who provide invaluable support as we deliver services within York.
To find out more about these opportunities or volunteering generally, please contact our Volunteer Recruitment Organiser.
t 01904 627995
e volunteering@ageukyork.org.uk
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Age UK York.
Befriending
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.
Check Visiting
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.
Respite Care - In Safe Hands
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?
Shopping
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 45p per mile.
- Do the shopping for an older person?
- Chat and take a shopping list over the telephone?
- Chat and take a shopping list over the telephone and order via the internet? IT skills and accuracy are essential for this role.
Shops
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 have an urgent need for volunteers in our Walmgate shop, particularly Wednesday and Friday, and in our Burtonstone Lane shop, any day Monday to Friday.
Role Description Shop Volunteer
Help with transport
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.
We have an immediate need for a volunteer to drive the minibus, providing holiday cover and cover for additional trips, with ad hoc hours across the week. MIDAS training offered.
Day Clubs
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 one to five hours a week to support older people, then why not join our friendly team? If you have an interest in dementia we have a number of specific clubs.
Keep Your Pet
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.
Administration
Do you have any administration or office skills? We occasionally have opportunities in our Walmgate or Priory Street offices.
Reception
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.
Day Trip Volunteers
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.
Fundraising
We always welcome enthusiastic volunteers to support in this key area.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Age UK York.