Have you or someone you know recently retired? Are you spending your days at home alone? Are you looking for a new purpose and routine?
For many adults, retiring is an exciting time, with long relaxing days ahead, and a chance to replace early mornings and late meetings, with lie-ins and your favourite activities. However sometimes retirement, isn’t all that it seems. It can be a lonely and isolating time, where there is a loss of routine, social interaction, and purpose.
If you are feeling this way, then volunteering at Aspire may be able to help you!
Volunteering promotes physical and mental stimulation, whilst giving you a sense of purpose and meaning. As humans, we rely a lot on routine and structure, this is what helps to keep us motivated and active.
“I enjoy getting up every morning and coming to Humphrey Booth because I know the activities I host and plan, make a difference to someone’s day. It gives me a purpose and a reason to wake up every morning.” – Betty, Activities Volunteer at Humphrey Booth Resource Centre.
We have asked one of our volunteers, what they think the benefits of volunteering are:
- Meet new people with similar interests.
- Try something new! Volunteering is a great opportunity to try something you may have always wanted to try, but didn’t have the time whilst you was working full time. Maybe it is hosting your own arts and crafts sessions, being a gardener, working in a café or even just spending time with others.
- Helping in your local community, can be both beneficial to others but also very rewarding for yourself knowing that you are giving your time to help others and make a difference.
- Keeps you active. Whether you are out walking, cleaning pots, gardening, cleaning a bookshelf or helping out in our community kitchen, to you it may not feel like exercise, but it is improving your mental and physical health by being out and moving, rather than staying indoors on your own.
- Provides you with social connections and friendships.
- Offers mental stimulation.
- Share your experience and knowledge with others.
- Volunteering is flexible enough for you to choose what you would like to do and your hours.
“At Aspire our volunteers are passionate about what they do, they are reliable and bring so many qualities, including their life skills and experience from their previous professional careers. Our volunteers help bridge the generation gap between older and younger people. It is great to have such a diverse range of people in our organisation. It is lovely hearing discussions between our volunteers and staff, they tell stories and life lessons which is beneficial for everyone involved.”
If you are thinking about volunteering at Aspire it is important to:
- Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies, talents and interests and we will try to match you to the perfect volunteer role.
- Find something you enjoy, that fulfils your life and makes you feel passionate.
- Know that you can say no.
- You are part of our Aspire team, we value your thoughts and opinions.
- Take time out to relax and recharge.
- Have fun!
To find out more about volunteering at Aspire please contact our Activity and Volunteer Team Leader, Heather Yates – heather.yates@iamaspire.org.uk
