RSVP (Forth Valley)

  • A range of volunteering projects for older people aged 50+
  • By taking part in volunteering, older people become less socially isolated, and improve their physical and mental health
  • Volunteering activities are based on volunteer’s interests, skills, or helping with community needs

The Retired and Senior Volunteering Programme (RSVP) in Forth Valley covers the Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Council areas, and is delivered by a team of Volunteer Organisers and Volunteers. As a volunteer-led group running our own activities, we benefit from some organisational support from Volunteering Matters.

Over 200 volunteers are already taking part in our 5 popular RSVP Forth Valley projects –

  • Volunteering in local NHS hospitals
  • Volunteering in local primary schools
  • Charitable knitting groups – in Alloa, and Dunblane
  • Walking Group, with trained walk leaders
  • Our voluntary Handyperson Service

RSVP Forth Valley aims to decrease social isolation and loneliness and improve older people’s mental health and wellbeing by engaging them in regular, ongoing volunteering activities suited to their needs and interests.

We know from our experience of delivering this programme since 2002 that older people who take part experience immense health and wellbeing benefits, as well as having the opportunity to use their life experience and skills to benefit their local community.

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A major Public Health challenge in the UK is achieving healthy aging. Age UK estimate that between 6-9 million people across the UK say they feel lonely. This often begins when people lose significant relationships, or opportunities to engage in meaningful activities.  
Retirement can mean a loss of routine, purpose, and a decrease in social contact. By volunteering, older people are provided with a hobby and interest which serves as a catalyst for connection with others.  
 
Like other RSVP projects across the UK, RSVP Forth Valley relies on local fundraising activities and small grants from supermarket prize draws, or the Rotary. 

7 people inside next to a wall posing for the camera

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RSVP volunteers provide invaluable support for patients, visitors and staff in a wide range of departments across NHS Forth Valley. Roles include chatting to people, serving hot drinks, helping people find their way around, interacting with children, repairing hearing aids, and lots more!

RSVP volunteers support pupils with their learning on a 1:1 basis, or in small groups, helping students with confidence and social skills. Having an older role model in the classroom can help children’s progress in school. Volunteers normally support with reading groups, arithmetic, arts and crafts, music, school trips and more.

Trained RSVP walk leaders provide a programme of walks of varying degrees of difficulty, normally 4 days per week across Stirling and Clackmannanshire. A new schedule is published every quarter. You can find the latest Walking Programme here –

Download the Walking Schedule

April – May 2025

RSVP volunteers create knitted items which are then distributed to local NHS hospitals, care home’s, children’s charities or even internationally to people in needKnitters volunteer at home but then come together at our coffee mornings in Alloa and Dunblane (normally every 2-3 months) to compare projects and socialise with othersFree wool and materials are supplied to volunteers. 

RSVP volunteers support older people, or people with disabilities, with small and minor maintenance tasks in their homes. The types of jobs we do normally take less than an hour, and includes tasks that some older people may find hard to complete by themselves such as changing bulbs, hanging mirrors, building furniture, or rewiring a plug.

Current volunteering opportunities

Handyperson (Stirlingshire & Clackmannanshire)

Full details

Schools Volunteer (Forth Valley)

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Knitting Group Volunteer (Forth Valley)

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Walking Group Member (Stirling & Clackmannanshire)

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If you’d like more information about the project, or to support our work, get in touch.

Contact Frankie

This project is funded by

Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
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