Connect and Support Service Volunteer

The role in a nutshell:

In this volunteer role, you will be based at home and helping older people via the telephone to access and connect with services locally or nationally. Through research and making telephone calls on the older person’s behalf, your input and support will help empower them to become more confident and less isolated.

What will you be doing?

The role of a Connect and Support Service Volunteer is incredibly varied and always person-centred. On one day you may be supporting an older person to feel less lonely, encouraging them to meet other people by finding out about social activities, making connections, and checking with them that all's gone well. The next you may be organising transport for someone with mobility problems to ensure they can benefit from their local day centre or lunch club. Someone else might benefit from your support in helping them to find a trusted gardener or handyperson so they can maintain their home. Or, you might make a call on someone’s behalf if they don’t feel confident to do so themselves. For others, you might highlight the support that their local Age UK, or similar organisation can offer may be all they need. No day is the same in this vital role!

How would you be supported in this role?

As part of the Connect and Support Service Team, you will receive full training and undertake an induction to ensure you feel confident in your new role as a Connect and Support Service Volunteer. We will provide access to regular check-in and support sessions with the team as well as a peer support network with other volunteers. Age UK will also reimburse you for agreed expenses you incur related to the role.

Why do we need volunteers in this role?

Volunteers enable the Connect and Support Service to reach a greater number of older people in need of support and to provide additional time and focus using their range of experience and skills.

Additional information:

Volunteering in this role must take place between Monday and Friday, 9am – 5pm.

What skills, interests or experience might be helpful in this role?

Older people are at the heart of everything we do at Age UK. While full training and ongoing support are provided to enable you to excel in this role, having a pre-existing understanding of some of the challenges people in later life may face, along with an awareness of the services and support that may be available to them will be particularly useful. In addition, effective verbal and written communication and IT literacy are important in this role.

To find out more please contact: