Volunteers' Week blog: Volunteering with the older ex-Armed Forces community

Older people who have served in the Armed Forces are not so different from older people generally. Some love later life, while others live with poor health and/or loneliness. But the opportunities most welcomed by those who need support can be a little different.

Armed Forces camaraderie, banter and reminiscence are not just ‘nice to haves’ – for some ex-service men and women they transform quality of life.

Volunteers who support older ex-service men and women have often served themselves. But a Forces background isn’t a prerequisite for these volunteering roles. What matters most is that you have warmth, and a genuine interest in and appreciation of the Armed Forces community. Many charities that support ex-service men and women also support their spouses, partners, widows, and widowers, with volunteers involved there too.

Unforgotten Forces, Scotland’s charity partnership improving the health and wellbeing for older ex-service men and women, offers a wealth of volunteering opportunities. Legion Scotland volunteers provide one to one friendship and support to those who have become isolated from their communities. Volunteers with Erskine support residents in their care homes, and those with Sight Scotland Veterans support their members how have sight loss. You can find out about these roles, and more, on the Unforgotten Forces website.

Age Scotland’s Comradeship Circles service offers socially isolated member of the ex-Armed Forces Community age 50 plus opportunities for weekly or fortnightly group chat by phone. One of their volunteers is Donald. Age 86, he himself served for 20 years in the Army, before a second career in industry.

“My role is to help Pam (the Circles coordinator) keep the chat going in the group,” he says. “It’s one hour a week on Friday afternoon, with a group of older soldiers who live on their own and enjoy having a chat. We talk about all sorts of things. It’s fun.”