- 22 million adults in the UK do volunteer work
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- Surprisingly, a government study revealed that the volunteering rate
among people aged 50-65 is low, and people in younger age groups are more likely to do
voluntary work
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- 6 out 10 volunteers say that volunteering gives them the opportunity
to learn new skills
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- Volunteering has been rated by many as the second greatest source of
personal enjoyment after dancing
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- Half of all volunteers get involved because someone has asked them to
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- 8 out 10 people think that volunteers offer something that cannot be
provided by the State
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- 80% of people reject the idea that volunteers are less efficient than
paid workers
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- The economic value of formal volunteering has been estimated at over
£40 billion per year
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 Information from Victim Support London Newsletter
HEALTH AND VOLUNTEERING
OVER 50s HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR
LIVES - SURVEY REVEALS
Many
older volunteers have as much fun now as they did when they were younger (22%) and the
majority (70%) are content with their lives, a BUPA survey of over 450 older volunteers
has found.
The
results of BUPA's survey also indicate a link between good health, physical exercise and
the social contact that comes with volunteering. Seventy per cent of older volunteers
rated their health as either good or excellent while 14% said their health had actually
improved since they began volunteering. The results indicate an active and healthy group
of people, dispelling the myth that getting older inevitably means slowing down.
"Volunteering
may make us happier and healthier," says BUPA's Assistant Medical Director, Dr Paula
Franklin. "So, if you want to have fun and help yourself to stay healthy over 50 you
should get out, keep active and help others."
Keeping active
The BUPA survey suggests that older volunteers are more active and significantly less
stressed than the general adult population. The
majority of them exercise regularly and only 22% said they suffered from anxiety, stress,
insomnia or depression.
Nearly
three quarters (73%) spend upwards of three hours per week on voluntary work and 32%
commit more than seven hours per week.
Studies
have shown that loneliness can contribute to poor health and illness. Age Concern say that
an estimated 29% of men and 59% of women aged over 75 live alone. “The key is to stay
connected, stay involved and to live a full life," says BUPA Professor of Health and
Organisational Psychology at UMIST, Professor Cary Cooper.
Many of
the older volunteers polled chose to begin voluntary work because of the social benefits.
Over half said they began volunteering because of the regular social contact and 31% said
they wanted to meet new people. When asked about their social life, over three-quarters
described their social lives as busy, moderately busy or very busy. A third said their
social lives had improved since they began doing voluntary work.
If you want to volunteer through
Community Service Volunteers or receive information on volunteering events in your area
contact 0845 601 3417.
..............................................................................
BUPA
the personal health service
BUPA House, 15-19 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2BA
Visit: http://www.bupa.com
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