Older People Volunteering in London

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• Older People Volunteering in London
• Gordon Deuchars
• Age Concern London
• www.aclondon.org.uk

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Older Volunteers in London

• Estimated 400,000 volunteers over 50 in London
• Estimated monetary value of their work 400
  million
• As well as the human value - inclusion, health,
  wellbeing, fun

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Age Concern and volunteering

• Over 50,000 volunteers nationwide
• Over half of them are 50
• 5 volunteers for every paid staff member
• Agreed quality standards for volunteering

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Age Concern volunteer roles includeAdvocacy,
Information and Advice BefriendingDay centre
helper Fundraising Internet taster assistant
Driver or transport escort Trustee
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Issues Around Older People VolunteeringAttitude
sLegalAccess Funding

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Issues people identified

• Attitudes
• Assumptions about older people
• Not recognising value of volunteering
• Legal
• Not included in age discrimination legislation
• Insurance for older people
• CRB checks

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Issues people identified

• Access
• Physical accessibility
• Diversity
• Language, literacy, numeracy
• Funding
• Full cost recovery
• Commissioning vs. grants
• Changing priorities

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Some action suggestions

• Value of volunteering recognised in local
  authority and NHS commissioning
• Full cost recovery support, training, inclusion
• Campaign for recognition of older peoples
  contribution including as volunteers

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Contact Us

• www.aclondon.org.uk
• Tel. [phone]
• E-mail general_at_aclondon.org.uk
• Chief Executive Samantha Mauger, Chair Asoke
  Dutta