A perfect role for someone who wants to be, or is already active
in their community and enjoys meeting and talking with others. This
role is ideally suited to a sociable person who will enthuse and
attract others to join the charity and act as an Independent Age
ambassador in their local area.
An organising volunteer may spend their time giving talks at
local groups to recruit volunteers and raise the profile of
Independent Age. Once the organising volunteer has a group of local
volunteers in place they may keep in touch with them on a regular
basis to check all is well with both them and the older people they
visit.
The organising volunteer may also arrange a get together once
every couple of months or so with other volunteers to chat about
any issues relating to the charity or the older people we support
and will feedback regularly to their area manager.
Here's an overview of the role and the skills required:
You can download a description for the role of organising
volunteer here.
If you would like to become an organising volunteer, email our volunteering
team, phone us on 020 7605 4255 or contact your local area
manager.
Meet Penny, organising volunteer
Penny,
from Cambridgeshire, now retired, joined us as a volunteer 10 years
ago. In her time volunteering, Penny has provided friendship to
around 30 older people in her community. More recently, Penny has
become an organising volunteer.
Can you tell us a little more about how you got involved
with Independent Age?
It was through the great help that my father received from the
charity that I really learned about its work. It was absolutely
amazing, Independent Age helped my father with so much. They even
provided him with a mobility scooter. As he got frailer, he needed
more help. And Independent Age provided it.
I originally joined as a volunteer visitor. To begin with, I
wondered how I would fit it in, as I worked, but I realised that I
wanted to give something back as Independent Age had been so good
to my father.
And now you're an organising volunteer. What does that
involve?
My main duties are to find new volunteers, and to offer support
and advice to all the existing local volunteers, and to act as a
link between them and head office. If, for some reason, Independent
Age isn't able to help with certain issues, then I signpost the
volunteers to other organisations who may be able to help in that
instance. I give talks about Independent Age at local clubs. I also
have a background in benefits and concessions, so I can help to see
whether the older people we support locally are getting all the
benefits they are entitled to.
How much time would you say you commit to Independent
Age?
I spend about half a day a week on my volunteering duties. As long
as you're organised, it doesn't have to take that long. During
spells when we are recruiting more volunteers in the area, then I
put more time in.
What do you think you gain from volunteering with
Independent Age?
I suffer with chronic arthritis all over my body. Volunteering
makes me get out and do things. It stops me from sitting down and
dwelling on my own suffering. Although my mobility is very poor, I
am still able to get out and put something back. I get so much out
of volunteering, it's fantastic.
I absolutely love meeting and talking to people. I feel I have
made some real friendships through volunteering with Independent
Age and get a real sense of fulfilment. When you are retired, you
can lose your sense of focus but this gives you a real sense that
you are still useful.
