The Office for Civil Society and Nesta have announced £4m in new funds to help charities and public services tap into the skills and experiences of volunteers over 50.

The three new grant funds are the first to be funded by government through the second phase of the Centre for Social Action and will be managed by innovation foundation Nesta.

The Second Half Fund - Sharing Time and Talents for Life will provide grants of up to £250,000 to support the growth of new ways of mobilising the time and talents of people aged over 50.

In particular the grants will support volunteering that meets needs around children and young people, parents and families, ageing well, and creating resourceful and resilient local places.

Join In Stay In will award grants of up to £50,000, and significant non-financial support from behavioural science experts, for organisations to undertake Randomised Controlled Trials to understand how best to encourage volunteers to continue to give their time regularly.

Give More Get More - Exploring Intensive Volunteering will provide grants of up to £100,000 to support organisations to trial intensive volunteering placements for people over 50 - approaching or in retirement - that work alongside public services.

Placements might include ‘gap years’, such as those VSO offers for experienced volunteers to give their time abroad.

Findings from the initiatives will be published in 2017 and 2018, and shared with policymakers and the public sector to help inform future volunteering programmes.

Minister for Civil Society Rob Wilson said the funds represent an excellent opportunity to replicate previous achievements in youth volunteering.

“I urge as many organisations as possible to apply. The funds will encourage more people over the age of 50 to follow the example of their children and grandchildren, get out in their communities and help us build a Britain that works for everyone.”

Nesta innovation lab director Vicki Sellick said many over 50s are already giving their time to help others.

“Given that those that do report far higher levels of wellbeing, and that more local communities could benefit hugely from their skills, we want to see how we can bring to bear the talents and experience that the over 50s possess to benefit even more people.”

For more information and to apply, click here.

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