Home Office Minister Fiona MacTaggart is launching a new video today (Tuesday 1 March) highlighting the value of the UK’s ageing population and recognising the contribution older volunteers make to society.
‘Retire into Action’ is produced by CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) and is being launched at a Whitehall reception hosted by CSV President Lord Levy and attended by over 30 supportive MPs to mark the start of Older People Month for the Year of the Volunteer. The video, which will be shown throughout March on the Community Channel, features inspirational volunteer interviews and highlights the varied volunteering opportunities available for the over-50s in the UK.
An incredible 5 million over-50s take part in unpaid work each year. (1) Volunteers assisting patients in GP surgeries are cutting patient prescriptions by 30% (2) and volunteers in primary schools are helping to raise the reading age of children.
Research also shows that volunteering can benefit older volunteers in many ways, including making new friends, gaining self confidence and living healthier lives. More than half (51%) of over 65s say volunteering has improved their health and fitness and 62% of over 65s say volunteering helps reduce stress. (3)
Bill Ibbotson, RSVP volunteer from Barnet, who is interviewed on the video says: “Volunteering has given me a new purpose in life, I’m working harder now than when I was working, and I’m a hell of a lot happier! It’s a wonderful sensation knowing that I’m doing something that I enjoy and making other people’s lives better.”
Denise Murphy, Director of CSV’s RSVP says: “Throughout the UK the contribution made by older volunteers to their communities is enormous. Older volunteers bring a wealth of experience, expertise and skills to community activity whether they have been the chief executive of a business or a homemaker caring for children. As the number of over 50s rises we should not see this as a demographic time bomb, but as an amazing potential asset for our communities.”
Other events taking place as part of ‘Older People’ Month include a national knitting initiative, giving older volunteers the chance to donate knitted garments and toys to children’s hospitals and premature baby units, and a photographic exhibition of older volunteers in action.
The Year of the Volunteer is led by a partnership between CSV and the Volunteering England Consortium with backing from the Home Office. For more information visit www.yearofthevolunteer.org
For press enquiries: Paul Donohoe 020 7812 0037 pdonohoe@csv.org.uk or
Martin Walford 020 7812 0033/07791 987 778 mwalford@csv.org.uk
Notes for Editors
1. ‘The economic contribution of older people’ - Report for Age Concern England by Pamela Meadows (January 2004)
2. Dr Pietroni: The Impact of a Volunteer Community Care Project in a Primary Health Care Setting (1991)
3. CSV Make a Day Difference Research 2004
4. Year of the Volunteer 2005 is owned by volunteers, led by a partnership between Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and the Volunteering England Consortium, and supported by the Home Office.
5. The Volunteering England Consortium consists of Volunteering England, TimeBank, do-it, The Media Trust, Bitc and Youth Action Network.
6. To find out more about events and activities during the Year of the Volunteer 2005, please visit the official website at www.yearofthevolunteer.org or watch The Community Channel 24 hours a day on Sky 585 and Telewest 233. It’s also on ntl 14 and from 6-9am on Freeview 46. Information is also available on BBC2 Ceefax page 650.