Volunteering Matters selected to be part of the Second Half Fund

We are delighted to announce that Volunteering Matters is one of 13 organisations selected by the innovation charity Nesta to take part in the Second Half Fund, enabling us to replicate our Grandmentors project in five new areas.

At a time when people are living longer and research shows the benefits of volunteering in later life, the Second Half Fund from Nesta and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will help organisations tap into the time and talents of people over the age of 50. 

The projects funded will be recruiting volunteers into a wide variety of roles to grow their successful models and support more people across the country; from grandparents who act as a primary daytime carer to an under five year old, to teaching older people how to avoid and manage falls through innovative dance classes.

Our project, Grandmentors, will use the power of inter-generational mentoring to support care leavers who may be in challenging life circumstances. These mentors will be volunteers aged 50 and over who use their wisdom, their energy and their life experience to help keep young people leaving care on track.

Find out more about our Grandmentors project