How to volunteer to help elderly people near you: a UK guide

You can volunteer to help older people by offering friendship by phone, visiting, running errands, or helping at lunch clubs and activities, usually through a charity or local group. There is no upper age limit on volunteering, and standard or enhanced DBS checks, where needed, are free for eligible volunteers. Start by choosing the time you can give regularly, then apply through an official site or your local charity.

At a glance

• Common roles include telephone friend, befriender, community companion, lunch club helper and care home volunteer.
• GOV.UK lists official places to find roles, including NAVCA, NCVO, NHS Volunteering and Volunteering Matters.
• You might need a DBS check to volunteer with vulnerable adults, and standard or enhanced checks are free for eligible volunteers.
• You can volunteer and claim benefits if you only receive expenses and still meet the benefit’s conditions.
• Follow the organisation’s safeguarding rules and never take control of someone’s money or bank cards.

Why does volunteering with older people matter?

NICE recommends befriending, peer home-visiting and volunteering as part of the support available to older people, and says volunteering gives volunteers a chance to socialise, enjoy themselves and share their skills. The NHS also lists helping others, including volunteering, among its five steps to mental wellbeing. For older people, a regular friendly contact can make a difference, because loneliness is not the same as being alone; it is a feeling of missing companionship, as the Campaign to End Loneliness explains. Our guides on loneliness in older people and companionship care look at the problem from the family side.

What kinds of volunteering roles are there?

Availability depends on your area. Not every local charity runs every service, so use the links below to see what is near you.

How do you get started?

1. Decide what you can give. Be realistic. Reliable weekly time beats an enthusiastic start that fades.
2. Pick the type of help you enjoy. Conversation, practical help, organising activities or driving all matter.
3. Search an official source. GOV.UK lists NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action), NCVO, NHS Volunteering, Reach Volunteering for specific skills, Volunteering Matters, Volunteering Wales and Volunteer Scotland. Age UK and Royal Voluntary Service also advertise roles directly, and Royal Voluntary Service uses the GoVo platform to match volunteers.
4. Apply and expect a conversation. Organisations usually ask about your interests, availability and references, and provide induction.
5. Ask for a volunteer agreement. GOV.UK says you will usually get one, explaining supervision, training, insurance, health and safety and expenses. It is not compulsory and is not a contract.
6. Start small and review. Try a few sessions before committing.

Links to the organisations: Age UK volunteering, Royal Voluntary Service supporting people and GOV.UK volunteering.

Will you need a DBS check, and what about safeguarding?

GOV.UK says that you might need a Disclosure and Barring Service check if you want to volunteer with children or vulnerable adults. It also states that standard and enhanced DBS checks are free for eligible volunteers. The organisation you volunteer with arranges the check: you complete a form and provide identity documents. If you have a criminal record you can still volunteer in most roles, depending on the offence. The DBS applies in England and Wales, with Disclosure Scotland and AccessNI used elsewhere.

A DBS check is not a substitute for good practice. Whatever the role, you should:

• follow the organisation’s safeguarding policy and know who to tell if you are worried
• never take bank cards, PINs or cash for safekeeping, and keep receipts for any shopping
• keep to the tasks agreed, and avoid giving medical or legal advice
• respect privacy and do not share personal details on social media
• tell the organisation about gifts or any request for a loan

If you suspect abuse or neglect, GOV.UK says to call 999 if someone is in immediate danger, contact the police if you think a crime has been committed, and contact the local council if you think someone is at risk or being abused. The Hourglass (Safer Ageing) helpline, 0808 808 8141, offers advice. See raising a concern about self-neglect and scams targeting older people.

What about expenses, benefits, age and insurance?

GOV.UK explains that volunteers are not paid for their time but may receive expenses, usually limited to food, drink, travel and necessary equipment. If you receive any other payment, reward or benefit in kind, including a promise of future paid work, you could be classed as an employee or worker. You can volunteer and claim benefits if the only money you get covers expenses and you keep meeting the conditions of your benefit. There is no upper age limit, though some organisations’ insurance policies stop covering you above a certain age, so ask. Volunteers do not have the same rights as employees.

If you are an unpaid carer for a relative, ask the council about a carer’s assessment and check Carer’s Allowance rules before adding extra commitments that could affect your benefits.

How can you help an older neighbour informally?

You do not have to join a charity to be useful. Small, regular actions help: knocking to say hello, offering a lift, picking up shopping, helping with a phone or tablet, or inviting someone to a local group. Ask what they want, not what you assume. Keep to practical and social help, and do not take on personal care, medicines or money matters. If they need more, point them to the free Age UK Advice Line on 0800 678 1602, open 8am to 7pm every day, or read helping elderly people stay independent and transport support. If you want to bring people together, social groups for over-50s shows what already exists locally.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need experience to volunteer with older people?

Usually not. Most charities provide induction and training, and value reliability, kindness and good listening. Some roles, such as hands-on support, may ask for more. Ask what training is provided before you commit.

Do I need a DBS check to volunteer?

You might, for roles working with vulnerable adults. GOV.UK says standard and enhanced checks are free for eligible volunteers and the organisation arranges them. Informal neighbourly help does not involve an organisation, so no check is requested.

Can I volunteer while claiming benefits?

Yes, if the only money you receive is to cover expenses like travel and you continue to meet the conditions of the benefit. If unsure, check with the organisation and the office that pays your benefit.

Is there an age limit for volunteering?

GOV.UK says there is no upper age limit. Some organisations’ insurance policies do not cover you above a certain age, so ask the organisation about their cover before you start.

How much time do I need to give?

It varies. Age UK describes telephone friendship as around 30 minutes a week, and Royal Voluntary Service says one weekly 30-minute call can be enough. Befriending, lunch clubs and activities usually need set sessions.

Where to get help next

If you are volunteering because a family member needs help, start with signs an elderly parent needs care, the care needs checklist and how to make elderly people happy. To find paid care alongside volunteer support, search home care on The Care Panel.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Volunteer opportunities, rights and expenses
• GOV.UK: Get a standard or enhanced DBS check for an employee or volunteer
• GOV.UK: Report abuse of an older person
• Age UK: Volunteer with older people
• Royal Voluntary Service: Supporting people
• NICE NG32: Older people, independence and mental wellbeing

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.