New deal needed on older volunteers

Voluntary organisations are creating barriers
to the recruitment of older volunteers, according to research
released this week by the Home Office.

An
evaluation of the Home Office Volunteer Initiative, a programme of
26 projects designed to improve the quality of volunteering for
those aged 50 and over, found that more could be done to recruit
older volunteers.

It
found that imposing upper age limits on volunteers, failing to
reimburse expenses, or help with transport and access to venues
were among the barriers faced by many older volunteers. They were
also often offered the least demanding and interesting
tasks.

Speaking at a fair to recruit
older volunteers, Home Office minister Lord Filkin said: “I hope
this will help shift attitudes and practice. Society needs the
contribution that older volunteers can provide.”