Charities have been invited to apply to a £250,000 fund for projects to encourage more older people to volunteer.
The Centre for Ageing Better will award funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport of between £40,000 and £60,000 to up to five projects that pilot, develop and share new approaches to age-friendly and inclusive volunteering.
It encouraged charities with experience in incorporating flexible working practices for volunteers, supporting community led action or tackling barriers that prevent people from taking part to apply.
The deadline is midday on 10 December, with the funding being awarded in March 2019 and spent over the following 12 months.
Grantees must be ready to start project work immediately in April 2019.
The fund follows a government-backed report by the charity last month that called on charities and funders to do more to support older volunteers.
Dan Jones, director of innovation and change at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “We know that changes such as the onset of ill-health or the need to care for a loved one can mean we can’t keep volunteering and contributing to our communities in the way we used to.
“This can cause us to lose an important source of meaning and wellbeing and lose connections to our communities.
“By inviting experienced charities and voluntary organisations to pilot innovative ways of supporting people to get and stay involved, we can help share the good practice that exists in some parts of the country and make sure that no-one is locked out of contributing to their communities.”
More information about the fund can be found here.
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