This seminar critically explored the constraints and facilitators of volunteering amongst older people.

In recent years the political, economic and social climate in which volunteering by older adults occurs has changed significantly, with the onset of an economic downturn, concern about pensions, a change in the public policy context for volunteering following a change of government, and the abolition of default retirement age. The notion of ‘unretirement’ is being used to capture the new reality of older people. In this seminar we to critically explored the constraints and facilitators of volunteering amongst older people. Specifically:

  • What constrains/enables older people to volunteer?
  • How does this impact on organisations that rely on older volunteers?
  • How does this impact on the social isolation of older people?
  • Are organisations ready for what could be a considerable change in the supply and availability of older volunteers?