Older Volunteers
Older people make a significant contribution to the lives of others through volunteering. 30% of people aged 50-59, 26% of those aged 60-74 and 15% of those over 75 give up their time to some kind of voluntary work.
Volunteering can:
- improve health
- improve mental well-being
- provide a way for people to keep active and contribute to communities
- provides opportunities for personal development, and to build and pass on skills and knowledge
An assessment of the Scottish Executive's policies to promote volunteering has been undertaken. This will inform a 5 year strategy for volunteering launched during spring / summer 2004. This will build on achievements of the Active Communities Initiative, and will aim to embed a robust culture of volunteering in Scotland .
The Scottish Executive is encouraging and developing volunteering by the over 50's by providing funding to Community Service Volunteers (CSV) for their Retired and Senior Volunteers Project (RSVP).
This provides resources, branding, public recognition and profile to older volunteering and mobilises older people's involvement in practical volunteering and community decision making. In turn, older people are able to widen their own opportunities for improved health, social inclusion and lifelong learning.
The funding also supports the creation and running of the Older People's Volunteering Forum, which brings together agencies with an interest in this field and promotes good practice.
For more information about volunteering and Scottish Executive policy on volunteering click on the links below.