Islington Council

You may be looking for a change in direction for your final years of working. Many older people chose to help others by giving up some of their free time to volunteer.

You have a lifetime's worth of skills, knowledge and abilities that are of tremendous benefit to people in your local community. Whether you chose to work in a charity shop, or perhaps help out a local hospital, church or school, many organisations rely on the generosity of older people to keep their organisations afloat.

Our Starting a Business section in Life Events has information that can help.

• Starting a Business

Voluntary Work

We also have a section on voluntary work, including a page that lists the various voluntary organisations in the borough.

• Volunteering

Eyes for Islington

Eyes for Islington is a council initiative, getting people to help improve their local environment. They do this by reporting problems, such as abandoned vehicles, as soon as they happen.

• Eyes for Islington

Age Concern Islington

Age Concern Islington has a 50+ Volunteering Project. If you are interested in volunteering in your local community, contact:

Alison Herron
Email: alison.herron@ACIslington.org.uk
Tel: 0207 281 6018

 

Trans-Age Projects

Trans-age projects bring together older volunteers and children, to exchange skills, talents, life experiences, knowledge and friendship.

For more information on the project contact:

Jessica Rimmington
Email: jessica.rimmington@ACIslington.org.uk
Tel:020 7281 6018

For more information on where projects are based in and around Islington, see the Age Concern website.

• Age Concern

The Dorcas Project

The Dorcas Project is an Islington-based befriending project for older people and disabled adults, covering the N1 area of Islington. The project co-ordinators are keen to recruit some mature volunteers over the age of 50.

The project currently has several volunteers in this age range. Many of these are retired people, and the oldest is 87!

If you are interested in donating your time, click the link below to view an information leaflet, or contact the project co-ordinator.

Email: dorcasbefriendingproject@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 020 7226 1700

Information Sheet About the Dorcas Project (pdf - 14.32 kb)

Working with Children

If you are interested in working with children, see our page on this topic.

• Work and Training with Children and Young People

Grandparents and Children of Prisoners

For grandparents looking after children whose parents are in prison, Islington PCT and Islington Council have worked with a number of agencies to produce an advice leaflet.

A Guide for Grandparents Bringing Up the Children of Prisoners (pdf - 83 KB)

Useful Websites on Working and Volunteering

Volunteers can do almost anything! From helping an elderly neighbour with their shopping, to providing legal advice for a local charity, volunteers make a vital contribution to all aspects of community life.

The Volunteering England website offers a range of resources for anyone who works with or manages volunteers as well as to those who want to volunteer.

• Volunteering England

New Deal 50-Plus

New Deal 50-Plus was launched by the Prime Minister in April 2000. It is a national initiative to try and meet the needs of older people who are looking for practical help to find work.