The Centre for Ageing Better and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will carry out a review with the intent of enabling more people aged over 50 to volunteer.
It will focus on increasing participation from unrepresentative groups, such as people on low incomes and people with long term health conditions.
Community Life Survey data shows that 44 per cent of over 75s feel they are not the right age to volunteer and 33 per cent have an illness or disablity.
Some 57 per cent of people between 50 and 64 said that work was a barrier to volunteering and 40 per cent said they do other things with their spare time. For those aged 65 to 74 46 per cent said they do other things and 20 per cent said they have an illness.
The Community Life Survey data did not break the data down into different socio-economic groups.
The review will involve calls for evidence from people with experience of volunteers, practitioners and researchers. The Centre for Ageing Better will also hold round tables.
It expects to come up with a set of practical recommendations for government, funders, charities and the private sector next summer.
'Create more opportunities'
The review has been announced ahead of the UN’s International Day of Older Persons on Sunday 1 October.
Tracey Crouch, minister for civil society, said: “Volunteering has a huge impact on people’s lives. This review is creating a conversation that will hopefully result in even more opportunities for a greater number of over 50s to share their skills with others, and bring communities together.”
Dan Jones, director of innovation and change, at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “We know that volunteering and helping others benefits us as well as the people we help. While many people in later life are already making a significant contribution, others are missing out. We want to understand more about how to help people on low incomes and those with long-term health conditions to contribute their time and talents in later life, including how we can help them to stay involved.
“This review will draw on the knowledge and expertise of people, organisations and sectors that are already successfully involving people aged 50 and over and help to boost participation rates amongst people who might face particular barriers and challenges. Often these individuals and the communities they live in have the most to gain."
People interested in getting involved should contact [email protected]
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