This seminar was the third in a series of seminars focusing on volunteering in a fair society organised by IVR in partnership with the ESRC and Northumbria University. This event explored how individuals and communities can most effectively make their voices heard. John Ramsey, Head of Volunteering at Age UK discussed the role of older citizens in community building. Past presentations from the Institute of Volunteering Research website can be found at the following location - http://www.ivr.org.uk/ivr-events/ivr-past-events

1. The role of older citizens in
community building
John Ramsey,
Head of Volunteering
Age UK
8th December 2011

2. About older people
• More people aged 60+ than there are under 18
• 1 in 5 of the population is of state pension age
• People aged 60+ projected to rise by over 50% in the next 25 years
The ageing society is a very present, national reality.

3. About older people
Majority of older people believe that:
• age discrimination exists in the daily lives of older people
• those who plan services do not pay enough attention to the needs of
older people
• politicians see older people as a low priority
• the country fails to make good use of the skills and talents of older
people
3.7 million older people live alone.
60% of people aged 65+ have never used the internet.

4. About older people
• A growing group of people with a lifetime of skills, knowledge and
experience.
• A growing group of people who feel under-valued, under-used and
discriminated against.

5. Five challenges
• Recognising the value of older people as contributors
• Making localism effective
• Making co-design work
• Breaking down the barriers to volunteering
• Linking volunteering to wider engagement

6. Recognising the value of older people
as contributors
Evidence Review of Older people as Volunteers – Age UK
Pulls together existing research that demonstrates the value of older
volunteers:
• Benefit for service-users
• Benefit for older volunteers themselves
• Benefit for organisations
Together we need to challenge the stereotype of older people as just
recipients. That in fact they are:
• Major providers of services; and
• Provide enormous benefits

7. Making localism effective
A localist approach should ensure there are no barriers for older people
to have a greater say in their neighbourhood and shape the services
they need.
But there is currently no guarantee this will happen.
VCOs need to move away from the traditional service-delivery model to
having a key role in empowering service-users to speak up.
Volunteering can a play a part in enabling this. For example:
• Volunteering builds confidence and self-esteem
• Volunteers can act as a trusted conduit to enable vulnerable older
people to have their say and get more involved.

8. Making co-design work
Co-design and co-production - the current buzz-words.
Widely-used but not necessarily undertaken properly.
Often insufficient understanding of the quality and depth of activity
needed to underpin them if they are to be successful.
Case Study: Designing Better Services Together –
Partnership between Age UK Newcastle, Northumbria University and
Quality of Life Partnership

9. Breaking down the barriers to
volunteering
Key reasons:
• Not enough spare time
• Put off by paper-work and bureaucracy
• Don’t know how to find out about getting involved
Not changed much in the last 15 years. Only real success
disappearance of the ‘volunteer retirement age’.
But this has been replaced by a lack of volunteering opportunities that
meet the needs of volunteers.

10. Linking volunteering to wider
engagement
People engage with organisations in many different ways.
Engagement is not a linear process.
Volunteering does not sit alone. Organisations need to understand:
• the relationship between volunteering and other forms of pro-social
behaviour; and
• how to engage with individuals in these different relationships