The number of people applying to volunteer at one of the largest housing groups in the West Midlands has tripled over the past few months with nearly 250 submitting applications.

Since January this year, 246 people have applied to work as volunteers within the Accord Group, which manages 11,000 affordable homes and provides services to 40,000 people across the region.

Over the same period last year – from January to July 2010 - just 85 people applied to volunteer with Accord.

The Group attributed the increase to the turbulent job market and its own recent appointment of a dedicated volunteer services manager.

Irene Casserley, volunteer services manager for the Accord Group, said: “The number of enquiries that we have received since the beginning of the year has been staggering, certainly more than we have ever had before over a similar period.

“And it’s not just young people looking for experience to add to their CVs, we have spoken to people who have worked in industry all of their lives and want a career change or people that have retired but still feel like they have so much more to give.

She added: “Although unemployment has fallen very recently in the Midlands, the jobs market is still turbulent and many of the enquiries we have are from people interested in road-testing a different career or are facing the threat of redundancy.”

Of the 246 enquiries, 106 are now working as volunteers, or are set to start roles within Accord’s care homes, support schemes or offices.  Others have been signposted to volunteering opportunities at local hospitals, charities, hospices and other voluntary organisations.   

The Accord Group is made up of seven different organisations which provide homes and services within the West Midlands region, employing almost 1,770 people and operating with an annual turnover of £55m.