Sixty Plus
1 Thorpe Close, London W10 5XL
Tel: 0208 969 9105 Fax: 0208 969 5936
E-mail: info@sixtyplus.org.uk
Registered Charity no: 1035607

Winner of the Lady Goodman Award for Volunteering Excellence 2006 and 2007

Why volunteer?

People volunteer for different reasons, whether it is to develop new skills , to meet people or because they want to give something back. Whatever the reason, volunteers make a huge difference to the lives of our members. At Sixty Plus, we never underestimate the importance of the time that our volunteers give.

One of our volunteers explained the reason she volunteers:

"I volunteer to give my time and my skills and therefore, hope to make a difference. In volunteering I benefit from learning new skills, enjoying the contact with people of different age groups and being part of an organisation that cares"

Who can volunteer?

Sixty Plus volunteers are as diverse as the community we serve, ranging in age from 16 to 84. A number of our volunteers have been with us for several years whereas others come for a short time during holidays.

All volunteers occupy a position of trust and, since much of our work is with people who may be deemed ‘vulnerable adults’, we use the Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure Service to help us to ensure their safety and well-being. This means that as well as providing references, you will be asked to show some forms of identification to verify the details you give.Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from volunteering with us.

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What do volunteers do?

Here is a brief description of the volunteer opportunities that we have available - but remember, we’re open to suggestions so if you feel you could make a difference, please let us know.

Volunteer visiting – visit an older person for around an hour a week to talk.

Practical help – one-off jobs such as packing and sorting, taking down curtains or picture hanging.

Community Safety – fit free doorchains and spyholes to make older people feel more secure in their homes.

Escorts – accompany an older person to a hospital appointment, to the local shops or out and about.

Shopping trip escorts – join a team of three to take a group of older people on a half day outing to a supermarket.

Garden Guardians – help older people to maintain tidy and secure gardens – everything from seeding to pruning.

Telephone Links – for older volunteers, keep in regular touch by phone with an older person who has lost social contacts.

Well-being Supporters – also for older volunteers, help to support and encourage an older person who has undergone a change of circumstances and needs help to regain fitness and confidence.

Intergenerational Projects – for volunteers aged 16 to 24 years, providing help to older people with reading, computer and language coaching.

Office work – help out with our reception, general clerical work or even keeping our website up-to-date.

Events – work with staff at special events and outings throughout the year.

You tell us what you want to do and when you want to do it and we will do our best to make your volunteering experience happy and rewarding.

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How to volunteer

By donating your time, you can supply the most important resource we have. If you think you can help, either on a regular basis or just occasionally, please download the application form, fill it in and send it back as an attachment to volunteer@sixtyplus.org.uk. When we receive your application we will get in touch to invite you for an informal chat to talk more about what you can do as a volunteer. Alternatively, ring us and we will send an application pack by post or e-mail.

Download volunteer application form
Volunteer recruitment and equal opportunities policy
Monitoring form
Cover letter

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When you become a volunteer you can expect

• a clear introduction to Sixty Plus.
• access to our rolling programme of volunteer training.
• support from our experienced volunteer co-ordinators.
• insurance cover for any task you undertake on our behalf.
• reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses you may incur.
• references for future employers or colleges.
• an annual volunteers party and many thanks from members and staff.

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In return, we expect

• commitment to the principles of confidentiality, equal opportunities and health and safety.
• reliability and trustworthiness.
• respect for the older people you help.

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