Launched on 25 September 2007
‘Give it a Go’, a new volunteer scheme was launched yesterday at
Endeavour House. This new scheme will provide a very positive step
in improving the promotion of volunteering, especially for older
members of our community in Suffolk. The value it will contribute
to everyday life will be immense! Older members of the community
have a huge wealth of experience, knowledge and skills to share
which often are not fully appreciated and this is one way of
promoting more opportunities for people to engage in meaningful and
practical everyday life activities where they will feel both valued
and be valued!
The new scheme, managed by Age Concern Suffolk working in
partnership with Suffolk County Council’s
Partnership
with Older People project (POP), will have a telephone hotline
service available. It will offer information on opportunities for
older volunteers, as well as helping to introduce volunteers to
their new role, and offering support should they need it.
The project team will be made up of paid staff and volunteers,
who can talk through a list of current opportunities that the
person is looking for, find out about their skills and help them
take the step into volunteering, offering “brokerage” with the
organisation or person benefiting and continuing support to the
volunteer in their new role.
‘Give it a Go’ will aim to raise awareness and promote the value
and worth of the volunteering experience that older people
contribute in Suffolk. It will also celebrate the success and
diversity of volunteering opportunities for older people in
Suffolk.
For further details, contact the ‘Give it a Go’
hotline on 01473 288047.