Volunteering for Us
Voluntary work gives people the opportunity to try something new and everyone gets something different from it. It might be gaining experience, learning different ways of working, building confidence, making new friends or the pleasure that comes from doing something worthwhile.
Age Concern Southampton is a small local charity and we are looking for Volunteers to support the many services that we provide for older people in
Receptionist – Welcoming telephone callers and visitors to our offices in Saxon Gate. This is a really important role within our organisation. First impressions count and our reception volunteers are there to make our visitors comfortable, make appointments or, if an advisor is not immediately available, to take details so that an advisor may call them back.
Information and Advice Advisor – Providing older people, their families and carers with information on a wide range of issues. We have an extensive ‘library‘ of information and are able to signpost to the right place if we are not able to help. Support and Training will be given to all our Volunteers.
Visitors – Many older people are housebound, live alone and have no family nearby. Life can get very lonely. Volunteer Visitors, who are able to commit to a little regular time, are always wanted to visit isolated older people to chat. We try hard to match interests and we are always delighted when our ‘Visitors’ become real friends. In fact many of our Visitors refer to our service as the 'Befriending Service'.
Telephone Club – If you would like to volunteer but are unable to get around easily, Age Concern Southampton would be delighted to welcome you as a ‘telephone friend.’ We will link you up with an isolated older person that you can ‘visit’ by telephone without leaving your home. We are also looking for a volunteer Co-ordinator for this service. This would require working in the office one morning or afternoon a week, contacting the telephone volunteers to check that they are happy and also getting involved in recruiting new volunteers for the Service.
Computer training – We run free computer classes for older people in Shirley. Sitting with a ‘student’ our volunteers are there to offer one-to-one support and guidance, ensuring that nobody becomes stuck. We aim to build the confidence that might enable an older person to join a formal class, buy their own computer or to just come in and have some fun ‘surfing.’ All we ask of our volunteers is that they are comfortable and confident themselves with a computer and are willing to share their knowledge.
Charity Shops – Age Concern has Charity Shops in Shirley, Portswood and Woolston. Volunteers are always needed and if you could give us a little of your time to work in our shops we would really appreciate it.
Fundraising – If you could only give Age Concern one day of your time this year then come and help us in our mammoth street collection in June.
Our office is at 1 Saxon Gate, Back of the Walls, Southampton SO14 3HA
and is close to East Street and the main bus routes.
Click here for a link to a map and more details.
The office is fully accessible, anyone who would like to find out more can call Age Concern Southampton :
Tel: (023) 8036 8636.
And if you have a good idea for volunteering –
well tell us about it!