Useful information for volunteers
About the Age UK Network
In 2010, Age Concern and Help the Aged merged to form Age UK.
Age UK Hertfordshire is part of a national network using the Age UK name.For more than 60 years Age UKs throughout the country have been helping make later life enjoyable, fulfilling and productive for older people. Today, we are second only to the government in providing high quality help and care for older people. Sometimes this is all they need to continue to live independently.
Every day we touch the lives of thousands of older people by:
- providing essential services such as day care
- giving information and advice
- campaigning on issues such as age discrimination and pensions
- working to influence public opinion and government policy
Every local Age UK organisation is unique and has developed to support the needs of its local community. All are separate, independent registered charities, run by a board of trustees or committee and much of our work is only possible because of volunteers like you.
Larger Age UKs, like Age UK Hertfordshire, offer a wider range of services, with paid staff working alongside volunteers. Smaller Age UKs often rely completely upon volunteers with few, if any, paid staff.
At the heart of our work is the belief that an older person has the same rights as everyone else, to the very end of their lives. We respect their individuality, independence, privacy and dignity whatever their background or state of health. Age UK Hertfordshire promotes the role of older people as active citizens, helping them to influence decisions that affect them.
Information and Advice Line
Age UK Hertfordshire’s Information and Advice Line Tel: 0300 345 3446
This can be a really useful resource for you, as a volunteer.The service is run by staff trained to provide up to date and accurate information and advice on a wide range of subjects so that clients can be more aware of all their options and entitlements.
What to do if you have an enquiry from a client
Give them Age UK Hertfordshire’s Information and Advice Line telephone number which is 0300 345 3446 or contact the number on their behalf, with their consent.
If your client has issues they wish to discuss, and/or problems they need support with, please discuss this with your Age UK Hertfordshire contact as another Age UK Hertfordshire service may be able to help.
It is important that information and advice is only given by staff and volunteers who have been properly trained. For legal reasons, please do not attempt to offer advice or information if you have not been trained to do so.