Older People

More than 10,000 people over the age of 50 volunteer with us across the UK, in many different ways.

We develop, support and run brilliant volunteering projects for and with people over the age of 50.  Like Grandmentors which matches 50+ year olds as mentors for  young care leavers, or Sporting Chance, which gets male volunteers out and active, and Help at Hand, which matches volunteer befrienders to some of the most isolated individuals in the community.

We also support many people to start and lead their own projects through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP). Celebrating its 30th birthday this year, RSVP responds to local community needs, enabling people aged over 50 to take a lead role in both setting up and participating in volunteering activities that improve the health and wellbeing of others in their community – running sports clubs, employability skills workshops, patient driving schemes, knitting groups and much more.

We currently have more than 240 volunteer-led RSVP groups running across the country, and are always keen to help people start their own in response to local community needs. Nearly 500 of our RSVP volunteers are Volunteer Organisers (VOs), acting as team leaders to the RSVP volunteers in their areas, responsible for managing a team of up to 40 volunteers. Please get in touch if you’re interested in starting your own RSVP programme.

Take a look at all our projects, programmes, and RSVP coordinated activities below.

(Photo courtesy of Ageing Better Middlesbrough)

Active & Connected Communities

Active & Connected Communities improves quality of life for older people by supporting them via one to one befriending and encouraging them to become more socially active within their community.

Assisted Gardening Scheme

The Assisted Gardening Scheme offered affordable help to tenants struggling to manage their gardens, creating manageable spaces for people to enjoy and feel safe in.
cars4carers driving scheme

Cars4Carers

Cars4Carers is a Pembrokeshire based social car scheme that provides transport for unpaid carers via volunteer drivers, whether it is a food shopping trip, or just going out to socialise.

Get Out Get Active

Get Out Get Active (GOGA) is a UK wide programme, funded by Spirit of 2012 that aims to encourage disabled and non-disabled people to take part in and enjoy activity together.

Give More Get More

Give More Get More was a project that aimed to support young disabled people transition from full time education to the next stage in their life through support from an older volunteer and a person-centred plan.
filmon grandmentors intergenerational mentoring

Grandmentors

Grandmentors is an innovative mentoring project pairing volunteers aged 50 and over with young care leavers to empower them to achieve their full potential.

Handyperson Project

Our handyperson service runs in Stirling and Clackmannanshire and involves older volunteers who complete small and minor maintenance jobs that some older people cannot do by themselves.

Heather’s Hair

Heather’s Hair is an RSVP project that creates hairpieces and weaves for people experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy or other reasons.

Learn Together Scotland

Learn Together Scotland hopes to close the attainment gap by involving older volunteers from the local community in Primary and Secondary schools in Edinburgh and Midlothian.
learning for life together bristol

Learning for Life Together

Learning for Life Together is an intergenerational oral history and social action project, linking older people (aged 50+) with a class of young people at a school near Dundry Slopes in Bristol.

LifeLines

Lifelines project in Brighton brings together people aged 50+ both as volunteers running activities and as participants in the wide range of volunteer-run activities.

Newport Support Partnership

Volunteering Matters is working with other experienced organisations as part of the Newport Support Partnership to provide help for isolated people and carers living in the Newport area.

Norfolk Knitters & Stitchers

Norfolk Knitters and Stitchers provide support to charities at home and abroad with hand knitted items as well as creating a community & friendship for isolated individuals.

One Small Step Befriending Project

One Small Step Befriending Project ran from 2016 - 2018, and with the power of volunteers, aimed to tackle isolation suffered by hundreds of isolated adults over 50 in the Stockton area.
Patient Driving Schemes volunteer RSVP

RSVP Driving Schemes

Driving schemes are a lifeline to some older and more vulnerable people living in the UK who may not be able to get around easily.

RSVP Forth Valley

RSVP in Forth Valley encourages and assists older people to use their skills and experience to volunteer and keep active in retirement.

RSVP Knitting

Our knitting groups, are growing increasingly popular with over 5,000 social action knitters across the UK producing in excess of 50 big bin-bags worth of knitted goods per month
reading in schools volunteering

RSVP Reading in Schools

Our Retired and Senior Volunteer Programmes (RSVP) offer volunteering in local schools across the UK, for people aged 50+, where they can support pupils with with reading, maths or specialized subjects.

RSVP West

RSVP West is a key region for our RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme) and covers Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath & North East Somerset.

Sporting Chance

Sporting Chance invites older men in the North East to join in activities and exercise groups from walking football to arm chair exercise, Aquasize to reminiscence sessions.

The Loop

The Loop gives beneficiaries the opportunity to become volunteers. It enables participants to access the social group as and when they need support, progress onto the Goals Group when ready and take their learning further within the Projects Group.

Volunteer Centre Newcastle

Volunteer Centre Newcastle acts as a connector between people and communities with a database of opportunities across the city.

Welcome Friends

Welcome Friends improves quality of life for older people by supporting them via one to one befriending and encouraging them to become more socially active within their community.

Welcome Friends – Befriender (Merthyr Tydfil)

Volunteers support and befriend people who may be isolated or lonely in the local area by making home visits and helping to organise and run social activities in community settings such as sheltered accommodation, day centres or libraries.

GRANDMENTORS – VOLUNTEER (Wiltshire)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support vulnerable young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Wiltshire.

GRANDMENTORS – VOLUNTEER (Stockton)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support vulnerable young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Stockton.

Handyperson Project – Volunteer (Stirling)

Our handyperson service runs in Stirling and Clackmannanshire, involving volunteers who complete small and minor maintenance jobs for older people. Some older people struggle to do small jobs at home by themselves. It can be expensive or challenging hiring a professional to do such a small job. Our service means older people stay independent and … Continued

RSVP West – School Volunteer (Bath)

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) in the South West provides opportunities to older people or those in or approaching retirement to volunteer in a primary or secondary school.

RSVP West – School Volunteer (Bristol)

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) in the South West provides opportunities to older people or those in or approaching retirement to volunteer in a primary or secondary school.

RSVP – Volunteer Knitter (Glasgow)

RSVP knitting groups provide an opportunity for older people to be social and is also a opportunity for older people to still feel useful in retirement and give back to their community.

RSVP – Volunteer Knitter (Pontyclun)

RSVP knitting groups provide an opportunity for older people to be social and is also a opportunity for older people to still feel useful in retirement and give back to their community.

RSVP – Volunteer Knitter (Barry)

RSVP knitting groups provide an opportunity for older people to be social and is also a opportunity for older people to still feel useful in retirement and give back to their community.

RSVP – Volunteer Knitter (Pontypool)

RSVP knitting groups provide an opportunity for older people to be social and is also a opportunity for older people to still feel useful in retirement and give back to their community.

Grandmentors – Volunteer (Ipswich)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support vulnerable young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Ipswich.

Grandmentors – Volunteer (East Kent)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support vulnerable young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Folkestone.

RSVP – School Volunteer (Clackmannanshire)

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) in Clackmannanshire provides opportunities to older people or those in or approaching retirement to volunteer in a primary or secondary school.

RSVP – Help to Health Volunteer Driver (County Durham)

Our volunteer drivers help anyone who needs assistance with getting to hospital & health care appointments. Together we can assist with helping older or vulnerable people maintain their health, independence and reduce social isolation.

Newport Support Partnership – Volunteer Driver

Volunteering Matters is working in collaboration with other experienced organisations to provide help for isolated people and carers living in the Newport area - specifically in this role supporting carers with their travel needs.

RSVP – Recruitment Organiser

RSVP volunteers are all aged over 50 and draw upon on their experiences to lead and develop projects targeting needs in their local community. We have 10,000 volunteers, of which over 450 are Organisers.

RSVP – Schools Coordinator

RSVP currently have volunteers in more 350 schools around the UK. Our aim is to help more older volunteers take part in this popular programme.

Newport Support Partnership – Volunteer Befriender

Newport Support Partnership is working with local partners to provide help for isolated people and carers living in the Newport area - specifically in this role, to befriend isolated members of the community.

Grandmentors – Volunteer (Islington)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support vulnerable young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Islington.

Grandmentors – Volunteer (Hounslow)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support vulnerable young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Hounslow.

RSVP – Volunteer Project Organiser (Bath)

Volunteer Project Organisers are needed in all parts of the RSVP West Region which consists of placing volunteers in schools; helping develop our GP surgery-based schemes or helping to co-ordinate volunteers at local surgeries.

RSVP – Schools Placement Organiser (South Gloucestershire)

The volunteer Schools Placement Organiser's role is to liaise with current schools volunteers and programmes within South Gloucestershire to recruit and place new volunteers, and find schools willing to offer placements and provide ongoing support.

RSVP – Volunteer Project Organiser (Bristol)

Volunteer Project Organisers are needed in all parts of the RSVP West Region which consists of placing volunteers in schools; helping develop our GP surgery-based schemes or helping to co-ordinate volunteers at local surgeries.

RSVP – Volunteer Gardening Organiser (Poole)

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY Twigs Garden Club is all about providing a ‘laid back gardening for all’ approach to gardening. This project is open for all ages, whether you have a large or small garden or just a window box, do come along and discuss your interest, socialise and make new friends. The club is now … Continued

RSVP Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre Volunteers (Clackmannanshire)

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) works with NHS Forth Valley to develop volunteering in local hospitals.  We are looking for older volunteers to carry out support roles in Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre, with the aim of making a visit to the hospital a better experience for patients and visitors. Volunteers … Continued

RSVP – Volunteer Driver (Rawcliffe/Snaith)

Our volunteer drivers help anyone who needs assistance with getting to hospital & health care appointments. Together we can assist with helping older or vulnerable people maintain their health, independence and reduce social isolation.

RSVP – Volunteer Driver (Bath)

Our volunteer drivers help anyone who needs assistance with getting to hospital & health care appointments. Together we can assist with helping older or vulnerable people maintain their health, independence and reduce social isolation.

RSVP – Volunteer Driver (North & North East Somerset)

Our volunteer drivers help anyone who needs assistance with getting to hospital & health care appointments. Together we can assist with helping older or vulnerable people maintain their health, independence and reduce social isolation.

RSVP – Volunteer Driver (South Gloucestershire)

Our volunteer drivers help anyone who needs assistance with getting to hospital & health care appointments. Together we can assist with helping older or vulnerable people maintain their health, independence and reduce social isolation.

RSVP – Volunteer Driver (Bristol)

Our volunteer drivers help anyone who needs assistance with getting to hospital & health care appointments. Together we can assist with helping older or vulnerable people maintain their health, independence and reduce social isolation.

RSVP – Walk Organiser (Stirling)

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme encourages those aged 50+ to volunteer and stay active. We are looking for an older person to volunteer as a Walk Organiser for our popular weekly walks in Stirling and the surrounding area.

RSVP – Volunteer Knitter (Clackmannanshire)

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme encourages those aged 50+ to volunteer and stay active. We are looking for older people in Clackmannanshire who would like to knit items for charity and good causes.

RSVP – Volunteer Knitter (Stirling)

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme encourages those aged 50+ to volunteer and stay active. We are looking for older people in Stirling who would like to knit items for charity and good causes.

RSVP – Volunteer Knitter (Dunblane)

RSVP knitting groups provide an opportunity for older people to be social and is also a opportunity for older people to still feel useful in retirement and give back to their community.

RSVP – Schools Volunteer (Falkirk)

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) in Falkirk provides opportunities to older people or those in or approaching retirement to volunteer in a primary or secondary schools.

Cars4Carers – Volunteer Driver (Pembrokeshire)

Many people rely on our volunteer drivers to help them do everyday things that most of us take for granted. A simple trip to the shops can be complicated, if not impossible, for some people without the support of a volunteer driver.

RSVP – Volunteer Knitter (County Durham)

RSVP knitting groups provide an opportunity for older people to be social and is also a opportunity for older people to still feel useful in retirement and give back to their community.

RSVP – Schools Volunteer (Stirling)

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) in Stirling provides opportunities to older people or those in or approaching retirement to volunteer in a primary or secondary schools.

Welcome Friends – Befriender (Blaenau Gwent)

Volunteers support isloated, lonely older people in the local area by making home visits and helping to organise and run social activities in community settings such as sheltered accommodation, day centres or libraries.

Welcome Friends – Befriender (Rhondda Cynon Taf)

Volunteers support and befriend people who may be isolated or lonely in the local area by making home visits and helping to organise and run social activities in community settings such as sheltered accommodation, day centres or libraries.

Welcome Friends – Group Organisers (Carmarthenshire)

Volunteers support isloated, lonely older people in the local area by making home visits and helping to organise and run social activities in community settings such as sheltered accommodation, day centres or libraries.

Welcome Friends – Group Organisers (Pembrokeshire)

Volunteers support isloated, lonely older people in the local area by making home visits and helping to organise and run social activities in community settings such as sheltered accommodation, day centres or libraries.

RSVP – Volunteer Driver (Ryedale)

Many people rely on our volunteer drivers to help them do everyday things that most of us take for granted. A simple trip to the shops can be complicated, if not impossible, for some people without the support of a volunteer driver.

Welcome Friends – Befriender (Pembrokeshire)

Volunteers support isloated, lonely older people in the local area by making home visits and helping to organise and run social activities in community settings such as sheltered accommodation, day centres or libraries.

RSVP – Volunteer Knitter (Cardiff)

RSVP knitting groups provide an opportunity for older people to be social and is also a opportunity for older people to still feel useful in retirement and give back to their community.

Learn Together Cymru: David’s Story

David is 79 and has been volunteering as a schools reading volunteer with Volunteering Matters since 2000. He told us about his favourite parts of the role, and shared some stories from his time in primary schools in Wales.

Grandmentors: Karen’s Story

Karen heard about Grandmentors through the local business community, and is already seeing a great difference in her mentee, only a few weeks into supporting her as a volunteer.

One Small Step Winter Update 2017

Over the past few months the One Small Step Project has had no shortage of updates, and we thought there would be no better time to share them with you than to round up 2017!
Rose

Learning for Life Together: Rose’s Story

When 90 year old Hartcliffe resident Rose was approached to take part in a Bristol Ageing Better intergenerational learning project, she wasn’t keen on speaking directly with the children, so Volunteering Matters found a way for her to get involved on her terms.

Sporting Chance: Jeff’s Story

Jeff has suffered from mobility issues for years, and found his health issues made him feel quite low. But through volunteering with Sporting Chance he has felt more confident and outgoing.
Darina

Lifelines: Darina’s Story

Even though Darina works 3 days a week as a property lawyer, she makes time to volunteer when she can with LifeLines in Brighton.

Handyperson Project: Sandy’s Story

Sandy, 70, from Stirling has been volunteering with our Handyperson Project for the past 10 years and he told us what a day in his volunteer role looks like.

HealthLink: Nora’s Story

As part of our Older People Focus week, Nora told us about her experience of being part of HealthLink, which supports older people to get to their healthcare appointments.

Befriending Matters: Winifred’s Story

As part of our older people's focus week, we chatted to one of our long-serving volunteers about her experience as a telephone befriender, and found out what motivates her in her role.

Welcome Friends: Mary’s Story

Mary just celebrated her 90th Birthday with the volunteers at Welcome Friends in Wales. Our Senior Development Coordinator in Cardiff told us about it!
Help at Hand

Help At Hand Befriending: Audrey and Mouyra’s story

Audrey, 53, from Alloa, is a volunteer befriender with Help at Hand Befriending. She was matched with Mouyra, 87 also from Alloa, earlier this year and the pair quickly bonded over their shared love of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Learn Together Cymru: Tim’s Story

"If you’re not sure whether you’re the right person to be a reading volunteer, then think again.   Some aspect of your life will contribute something to the school and I believe personality and an interest in education matters as much as personal circumstances. Once you give it a go, stay with it – you’ll get more confident and the rewards will come!”

One Small Step: Jacqui’s Story

"I really enjoy my visits just as much as Shirley does. I know that I am helping Shirley and feel privileged to be able to do so."

Grandmentors: Ed’s Story

"Mentoring gives us an opportunity to continue to deploy our skills and knowledge, but in a very different environment."

RSVP Knitting: Natalie’s Story

"I love volunteering - it boosts my mood and helps me feel I am doing something worthwhile with my free time. For me, volunteering was a lifeline."

Learn Together Cymru: Nesta’s Story

"Two hours of my time each week doesn’t seem much, but for me it means that on two days there is a purpose to my day – a reason to get up, shower, change and get ‘out there’."
cars4carers paul wales volunteer driver organiser

Cars4Carers: Paul’s Story

"I have found volunteering to be an excellent way of giving something back to people and helping to make their lives a little easier."

Citywise: Lisa’s story

"My mental health has improved as a result of being able to talk through my problems with another person in the community."

Employee Volunteering: Kosar’s Story

City wise recruits unemployed volunteers aged 50+ who want to make a difference in their communities through offering their skills and experience to help others.

Help at Hand : Katie’s Story

"Loneliness is something that can affect anyone at any time, and it is projects like this that are so important in helping to stop it."

RSVP West: Joan’s Story

"I've met all sorts of people. It's great to share all our stories and experience the pleasure in volunteering"
Roger- Lifelines

Lifelines project : Roger’s Story

"I had never lived alone before my wife passed away. Living alone was a big shock initially, but volunteering has helped my well-being a lot."

Grandmentors Programme Review

An external review of the Grandmentors programme, conducted between June and September 2017. The review looks at what Grandmentors offers in the current policy and commissioning environment, and how the model could be evolved for the future.

Engaging Older People of Asian Origin

Our Retired and Senior Volunteering Programme (RSVP) in Coventry has been delivering a project tackling isolation and improving wellbeing amongst older people in Coventry through volunteer-led activity.

Volunteering in retirement

Retirement is an opportunity for you to use and develop your skills and talents further than you thought possible. Read how volunteering in retirement is becoming more prevalent.

Our Volunteer Awards 2018

At this year's AGM we wanted to recognise the incredible individual efforts made by our volunteers, and the impact they make every day up and down the UK. We developed a new set of Volunteer Awards, to cover the full range of our work

Volunteers attend Queen’s Garden Party 2018

For the second year, volunteers from our North Lanarkshire Befriending Project, Help at Hand, and the Employee Volunteering team from the Co-Op were honoured at the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace!

Volunteering for all – all year round!

As thousands of volunteers are being celebrated up and down the country as part of Volunteers’ Week, we of course couldn’t let the moment pass without three cheers for our incredible volunteers!

We’re challenging young people to start their revolution!

This month sees the launch of our brand new campaign to change young people’s perceptions of volunteering. Titled ' Revolution You ', our campaign aims to challenge preconceived notions of volunteering and encourage more young people to consider a gap year in the UK. 
Karen and Sarah

Taking Grandmentors to new places!

Both Stockton Council and Wiltshire Council will be teaming up with Volunteering Matters to launch Grandmentors in their area, providing new inter-generational mentoring to young people leaving care. 

RSVP takes centre stage in South Korea

KBNe UK, a partner of Korean Broadcasting Network in Europe, are producing a TV documentary about life and opportunities for senior citizens and the importance of the third sector, and sought to highlight our work in the UK. Our RSVP conference provided the perfect backdrop for the production team to meet some of our amazing volunteers.

Brighton Over 50s Showcase Artistic Flair!

Margaret is a retired secondary school Head of Art, and has has been teaching an art class as part of LifeLines for local people over 50 for almost 5 years. She shared some of the work and explained the theme of the most recent project!

Ipswich Through the Looking Glass

Volunteering Matters took over Christchurch mansion in October 2017 to showcase our volunteering projects running across Suffolk.
Help to Health

Happy Grandparents Day!

To celebrate Grandparents Day we caught up with some of our amazing volunteers and staff, grandparents and grandchildren alike, to find out how they’ll be marking the occasion.
AGM Awards

Volunteers take centre stage at our AGM

We have launched many amazing new projects in the past year, all made possible by talented and dedicated volunteers across the UK. We were delighted to shine a spotlight on some of them at the Volunteering Matters 2017 Annual General Meeting which took place on the 28th of September.

Sheffield over 50s given a Sporting Chance

Sheffield over 50s were joined by special guests including Anne Murphy, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield at Longley Four Greens Community Centre this week to celebrate the launch of Sporting Chance.

Sporting Chance group star in video to combat loneliness

Middlesbrough’s Sporting Chance group star in a film that forms part of a national campaign to expose the growing crisis of loneliness and encourage people to take action to overcome the problem as part of the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness.
#givingtuesday

Volunteering Matters mobilises people power on #GivingTuesday

In 2015, #GivingTuesday broke the world record for the highest amount of money donated online in a 24 hour period. We think this is brilliant – but #GivingTuesday shouldn’t just be about giving money so we are asking our supporters to donate the gift of time by volunteering in their communities.
Sporting Chance stockton-on-tees new project

Sporting Chance arrives in Stockton-on-Tees

Sporting Chance, our innovative project that addresses social isolation and poor physical and mental health amongst men aged 50+ in Middlesbrough, has been replicated in Stockton-on-Tees.

Lifelines goes from strength to strength!

Lifelines, a flagship project from the national charity Volunteering Matters, will be expanding across the city thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme.

Sporting Chance hit the big screen

Sporting Chance, a project for men over 50 in the Middlesbrough area became film stars for the day when Leanne from Button Media Management came down to create a great new promotional video for them

Norfolk Knitters celebrate 2,000th member

On Friday 1st May a special celebration was held at the North Norfolk Wool Loft Open Day, at Sheringham Community Centre, to mark the 2000th member joining Norfolk Knitters and Stitchers.

Continued austerity a threat to communities

Worries of continued austerity, calling for the next government to acknowledge the value of the volunteering sector given its critical role in helping to promote and sustain the well-being of individuals and communities.

The power of a relationship

Could our innovative intergenerational mentoring programme for care leavers become a new national norm? Our Head of National Programmes Gethyn Williams and Will Bibby, Programme Manager at Nesta gave their take.

What would a week without volunteers be like?

Volunteers are invaluable. For older and isolated members of the community, young people leaving care, for disabled volunteers, for the NHS, and many more. Out Chief Executive Oonagh considers what a world without volunteers might look like.

Volunteering runs in the family!

This Mother’s Day we celebrated a member of our own staff and her daughter – who together show how a passion for volunteering can clearly run in the family!

New Year, Volunteer!

Our Head of Communications Alison Harvie on how to get that New Year’s resolution off the page and into action.

Introducing Older People’s Focus Week

This week we are focusing on our life changing work with retired and older people. Instead of simply listing all the amazing work we do in this area, we thought we'd introduce the week by asking one of our younger members of staff to sum up why this pillar of work is so important to him, and us.
Man wearing a jumper

A day in the life of a Volunteer Organiser

Being a Volunteer Organiser can be incredibly fulfilling but sometimes people have misgivings about taking on the role, feeling the responsibility might be too daunting. RSVP Publicity Volunteer, Colin Mason, caught up with two Volunteer Organisers to find out more about their experience of the role.