Engaging with older volunteers better
People aged 65 and above constitute the largest group of volunteers in the UK and make huge contributions to their communities and good causes.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport confirmed this in its Community Life Survey 2021/22 which showed that the 65 to 70 age group made up the highest proportion of the population (32%) who participated in formal volunteering at least once a year compared to respondents in every other age group. And Saga revealed that over 50s are contributing 807 million days a year to unpaid caring and volunteering roles, worth more than £66bn to the economy.
But there are still many misconceptions around the sector that older volunteers are not digitally savvy, and struggle to keep up with changing technology. Despite their huge collective voluntary contributions, some charities still believe them to be a tricky age group as the charities increasingly rely on phone apps, tablets or software for their daily activities and communications with teams. I would argue this is not true at all.
This is a broad and varied demographic who have experienced the advancements in technology and are much more resilient than they are often given credit for. While many will remember how things were done manually for so long, they also recognise how much easier and quicker tech makes things and are very accustomed to adapting.
Many of them will have worked in industries where computers and laptops were used more than 20 years ago, so we shouldn’t assume that they wouldn’t be able to pick up using an app or software to log their activities or complete training as volunteers.
Charities just need to rethink and reimagine how they approach older volunteers, instead of assuming they won’t be able to adapt to new technology, and ensure the solutions which the charities implement are simple to use and easy to learn.
Strong skills set
The vast majority of people nearing retirement age or above have tablets or smartphones, and access to the internet at home. In fact, Ofcom said in 2021 that 82% of over-64s now have personal devices or the internet available in their homes.
Older volunteers can bring huge value to a charity’s fundraising efforts and operations. They have often developed many transferable skills during their careers and contribute life experiences and wisdom they can share with their younger colleagues, and can bring a different perspective to volunteer roles.
Current trends suggest that charities may need to work harder to engage with this demographic in the future. Government campaigns to keep over 65s in the workforce, or persuade those who have retired to return to the labour force, are ongoing and there are a number of other responsibilities which inhibit the time people have to volunteer.
This suggests that, more than a simple reluctance to embrace tech which is holding back older volunteers, charities need to do more to engage and manage them effectively to reap the benefits of their contributions.
Research has shown that charities using a volunteer management system to streamline the application process have found this made it a lot easier for volunteers. It’s clear to them what charities are looking for and keeps them updated throughout the whole process. It shows them they are joining a well-structured organisation, and creates a much more rewarding and positive experience for them.
The Centre for Ageing Better further identified five action points for charities to take in its report Engaging older volunteers to ensure an age-friendly and inclusive approach on recruiting and retaining volunteers over 50. It said charities need to:
- Connect and listen.
- Focus on what matters to people.
- Play to people’s strengths.
- Remove barriers.
- Be flexible.
Each of these pointers outlines how charities can engage more effectively with volunteers - whatever their demographic - but also ensures that older volunteers feel included and appreciated. It helps them to know that their contribution is not going to be in vain and they will be supported when they need it.
Offering extra support
Volunteers at all levels are busy and usually don’t have a lot of time for training. They don’t have hours to spend learning and picking up new technology or systems, often because they have full or part-time jobs or other commitments. They also don’t use it every day depending on how many hours they volunteer, so anything a charity can implement which is uncomplicated and easy to use is a bonus.
Having simple software can help charities make the onboarding process easier and manage volunteers much better. In turn, it can engage volunteers for longer because once they get stuck into the roles they signed up for, they don’t want to spend all their time figuring out the software and devices they need to use.
Offering a little extra digital support to people when they need it or regularly checking in to see if they need any refresher sessions is useful. Sometimes older volunteers might not reach out for extra help, especially if they don’t fully understand an app or functions of a tablet. Trying to understand what their barriers might be if they’re not connecting with the tech or software could prove beneficial to charities in the long run.
Better engagement
Over 65s may be the UK’s largest and most dedicated group of volunteers but where they might lack in tech skills, they instead bring a wealth of experience from years in the workplace and specialist expertise in a field that they can put to good use in a charity. This should never be ignored.
Volunteer managers who find ways to develop the processes around their older volunteers, and put in a little extra support for them, could see them feeling more included, better engaged and having an increased pride in what they do. Over time this means your volunteers could stay with you for longer.
