Volunteer roles

Home Visit Befrienders

Home Visit Befrienders offer companionship and friendship to an isolated older person living in their own home by providing regular weekly visits – for this role we ask volunteers to commit to visiting once a week for around an hour per visit. The role is
flexible and can be carried out through the day or on an evening or weekend, the day and time of the visit does not always have to be the same and can be changed to suit the volunteers schedule. Home Visit Befrienders must be aged 18 or over.

Telephone Befrienders

Volunteer from your own home as a Telephone Befriender offering friendship and conversation by telephoning an isolated older person living alone. Volunteers in this role spend around 30 - 60 minutes each week chatting with their client listening and
providing stimulating conversation. Telephone Befrienders must be aged 18 or over.

Group Support Volunteers

We hold a number of weekly groups across the district where volunteers can help and support group leaders by setting up before sessions and clearing down afterwards, making attendees feel welcome and amongst friends, supporting with activities,
listening and chatting with people and helping with refreshments. Group Support volunteers must be aged 18 or over.

Administration Volunteers

Volunteers with administration experience can currently offer their skills in a "work from home" environment, or at our office based on Bank Street in Castleford. We have a number of roles to fill for people who have experience talking on the telephone, working with a computer database system, and who have office and administration skills. Volunteers should be committed to offering at least six months to the role due to the amount of training that will be offered. Volunteers in this role must be aged 18 or over.

Time For Tea Volunteers

Time for Tea events run throughout the district in shared public spaces such as supermarkets and shopping centres. They provide an opportunity for older people to gather informally and enjoy refreshments in open areas they already visit, making it a
regular drop-in event and providing passers-by with an easy opportunity to engage, feeling comfortable and safe. Volunteers provide a warm and welcome smile to attendees joining the event, sit and have a chat, socialise with participants and help serve refreshments. Events run for 2 hours. Volunteers in this role must be aged 16 or over.

Retail Assistants

Volunteers can assist in our shops in Horbury or Wakefield - greeting and serving customers, preparing goods for sale, assisting with shop displays and handling cash transactions on the till. Retail Assistant volunteers must be aged 16 or
over. Our shops are open Monday,Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Reading Friends

The role of a Volunteer Reading Friend is to encourage Primary school children who need support with reading and who are often not aware of the interests and pleasures they can derive from books. In relaxed 1-1 sessions talking and reading together the
volunteer gradually builds up the child's confidence and encourages him/her to enjoy reading. Volunteers are matched with local schools that are involved with our Schools Project. Volunteers in this role must be literate and able to relate easily to children as well as been both a clear communicator and good listener, and must be aged over 18.

Feedback Call Volunteers

Volunteers with administration experience can offer their skills in a "work from home" environment. We have a number of roles to fill for people who have experience talking on the telephone, working with a computer database system, and/or have office and
administration skills or are looking to expand these skills. This role is flexible and can be carried out at a time to suit the volunteer. Volunteers in this role need to be confident speaking on the telephone as well as being both a clear communicator and good
listener, and must have access to a telephone and laptop/computer/tablet device and must be aged 18 or over.

Volunteer Driver 

If you have access to a van and find yourself with some spare time, we are looking for a helpful driver who could travel across the district to collect charity shop donations for us and to deliver them to one of our shops.  Volunteer drivers must be aged 21 or over and have a full clean driving licence.  

Fundraising

If you have a passion for raising money, and are full of creative ideas to get people donating, then help us to raise money for the services which we provide throughout the Wakefield District.  You may have an idea for a one off event, or maybe you have time to raise money on a more regular basis.  We are on the lookout for a team of Fundraising Volunteers; it doesn’t matter if you only have 1 hour to spare or 1 day a week.  We can offer support throughout your efforts and provide materials such as sponsorship forms and social media attention.  Volunteers in this role must be 16 or over (unless based in a school with adult support).

Other ways to Volunteer with Age UK Wakefield District 

We always welcome people that are happy to help us on a less regular basis. Activities like Fundraising, Knitting Campaigns, Participating and helping at event days (Armed Forces Day/Park Runs etc) are a great way to get involved without a regular commitment. If you have specific skills that you think may be useful, please get in touch for a friendly chat and together we can Be The Difference.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees provide the overall management and financial scrutiny of the Organisation. 

Peter Box - Chair
I became involved in Age UK Wakefield District because of my keen interest in the role of older people in society and of trying to help find solutions to some of the particular problems they face particularly post Covid.  Being born and still living in Castleford, meant I had a particular interest in supporting Age UK Wakefield District and the work they do for local, older people.

Bill Barker - Treasurer

I was born in Birmingham, a long time ago! Educated and trained at BirminghamUniversity until graduating in 1976 as a Doctor.  I am married with three grown children.  I have been a trustee with Age UK Wakefield District since 2008.

I am an enthusiastic cook and shopper and an interesting fact is that  I was the first member of the public through the doors of The Hepworth when the doors opened!

Richard Forster - Trustee

Since 2013 I have represented the people of Castleford on Wakefield Council. Prior to this I had a career in social Housing as a professional Housing Manager where I worked for both the Local Authority and a Housing Association.

I am married with 2 grown up children both working in different areas of health provision.
I am committed to ensuring that as people grow older they have easy access to services that promote and provide opportunities for a healthy and active life.