Blog: Small acts of kindness can make a huge difference

Random Acts of Kindness Day hopes to make the world a little brighter by encouraging us to make kindness part of our everyday lives. With that in mind, why not join the Age Scotland team as a volunteer and help make a huge difference to the lives of older people?

Research has shown that volunteering is associated with improved health and wellbeing, including the adoption of healthy lifestyles and a reduction in depression and stress, not to mention the lifechanging impact it can have on those you support.

So whether you’ve found yourself with some extra free time recently, are still looking to make good on those new year’s resolutions, or just want to try your hand at something new to expand your skills, we’d love to welcome you on board.

The breadth of our work means we can offer a wide variety of roles, meaning you are bound to find something to suit your interests and availability.

For example, people can:

Assist the charity’s national helpline

Age Scotland’s free helpline provides information, friendship and advice to older people, their carers and families in Scotland through a confidential freephone number.

As a helpline support volunteer, you’d be helping collect feedback on the effectiveness of the service and where there is any room for improvement.

Become a friendship caller

The charity’s friendship line is open to anyone over 50 in need of a chat or listening ear and we also make weekly calls to those who would benefit from a regular chat. topics ranging from current issues and hobbies to top-tier biscuits and time travel, there’s never a dull moment!

Support the older veterans community

Celebrating their 600th circle this month, Age Scotland’s Comradeship Circles service offers members of the ex-service community the chance to come together and engage in regular camaraderie over the phone.

The service is currently looking for facilitator and technical support volunteers to ensure calls go smoothly.

Connect older people to services in their local area

We estimate that more than 200,000 older people rely on social clubs and groups for company – that’s the equivalent of a fifth of adults aged over 65 in Scotland. It’s vital that older people know what is available in their local area and have access to these vital services.

We aim to tackle loneliness and social isolation on a practical level through the Community Connecting Service – and we need your help!

Community connectors and researchers support older adults across Scotland by researching and linking them up with organisations that offer friendship, social activities, health and fitness groups, events and much more.

Help raise funds

Our fundraising volunteers are the friendly face of Age Scotland in their communities, raising awareness of loneliness and how our work is tackling it. We currently have several planned bucket collections coming up and are looking for volunteers to support, or you can register interest for upcoming fundraising events and challenges by emailing fundraising@agescotland.org.uk.

We are incredibly proud and grateful for the amazing contribution our volunteers make to the lives of older people and would be delighted to welcome even more people to the team. Browse our current roles on our website at www.age.scot/volunteer, give us a call on 0333 32 32 400 or email volunteering@agescotland.org.uk.