The number of older people to take part in formal volunteering for charities, community groups and clubs since the Covid pandemic has slumped by more than 1m, according to latest research.
Analysis by The Centre for Ageing Better found that 1.16m fewer people aged 50 and over were giving up their time for good causes at least once a month in 2024 compared to 2019.
This equates to 110m lost formal volunteering hours since the pandemic, which is costing the economy an estimated £4bn a year, says the Centre.
In addition, 632,000 fewer people in this age group say that are taking part in regular informal volunteering, including helping neighbours with shopping.
The Centre for Ageing Better details a raft of barriers facing older people looking to volunteer.
This includes the cost-of-living crisis, which has forced many older people to alter home and working arrangements giving them less free time.
Other barriers include digital exclusion and “ageism and inequality”, according to Centre for Ageing Better chief executive Carole Easton.
“The scale of the post-pandemic slump in older people volunteering is hugely concerning and should serve as a wake-up call.
“The country is missing out on a huge thrust of people power, to the significant detriment of those who want to volunteer but currently don’t, and the countless communities and individuals who stand to benefit from volunteer work.”
She is calling on all councils to promote an “age-friendly community” to ensure community planning includes provision to support older people so they can “contribute for as long as possible”.
Aideen Young, Centre for Ageing Better’s senior evidence manager for research, impact and voice, is calling for charities to do more to tackle volunteering barriers facing older people.
“Organisations should be taking time to listen to their volunteers to understand what the barriers are, understand how the framing of volunteering opportunities might be encouraging or discouraging involvement, support volunteers to have a greater role in shaping how they volunteer, being flexible with the opportunities to participate and engage with groups who currently don’t volunteer to understand what might help them to,” said Young.
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