Working with older volunteers

This guide outlines key considerations for Volunteering Involving Organisations when working with older volunteers. It highlights factors that can support positive, safe and inclusive volunteer experiences for older people.

The resource is designed to help organisations recognise the strengths and needs of older volunteers and adapt roles, recruitment and support practices to promote participation, wellbeing and retention.

Benefits for volunteer managers

• supports inclusive involvement of older volunteers.
• helps organisations adapt roles and tasks appropriately.
• supports safer volunteering through awareness of risk and insurance considerations.
• encourages retention by responding to the needs of older volunteers.

How to apply this resource

This guide is most useful when designing volunteer roles, recruiting older volunteers, reviewing support practices, or managing risk and insurance considerations related to older volunteer involvement.