About us

September 2008 Update: Opportunities For Volunteering Transitional Programme are now closed to NEW APPLICATIONS. Assessments will take place over the next few months. ALL applicants will be notified before the end of December 2008.

We are one of 16 National Agents inviting applicants to apply to the Transitional Round of funding under the Department of Health’s Opportunities for Volunteering Scheme to commence in April 2009.  

We are inviting applications from third sector organisations which provide services for older people.  The maximum amount of grant available is £35‚000 per year for up to 3 years grant funding with proposals that improve the profile and diversity of volunteers as well as improving the range and quality of volunteering opportunities in health and social care.  

Successful projects will be able to demonstrate how they contribute to the Department of Health’s Strategic Objectives and Age Concern England's priorities of:

• Better health and well-being for all
  Helping people to stay healthy and well‚ empowering them to live independently‚ and tackling health inequalities
• Better care for all
  The best possible health and social care‚ offering safe and effective care‚ when and where people need help‚ and empowering people in their choices
• Better value for all
  Delivering affordable‚ efficient and sustainable services‚ contributing to the wider economy and the nation.

When assessing applications‚ National Agents will check that funding proposals for projects address two or more of the following:

• Demonstrate how the project will address health inequalities
• Improve the profile and diversity of volunteers
• Improve the range and quality of volunteering opportunities in health‚ well-being and social care service provision
• Develops advocacy support in the improvement of health‚ well-being and social care services that enables individuals to exercise control and choice

Applicants will also need to liaise with relevant local authorities and PCTs to look at how their proposed project fits local strategic priorities for example‚ agreed LAA targets‚ for supporting volunteering in health & social care.

Projects will need to show how they:

• are developing working with partnerships at a local level; for example through either actual or planned engagement with‚ local third sector organisations and relevant public bodies
• intend to address future sustainability plans after DH Opportunities for Volunteering funding ceases.

If your project does not fit Age Concern England’s priorities‚ you may be able to apply to one of the other National Agents.  For further information and additional criteria for the individual National Agents please see the information on the Volunteering England website.

For further information and an Application Pack from Age Concern England please contact The Grants Unit on grants.unit@ace.org.uk or these may be downloaded from the Grants Unit webpage on acknowledge in the near future.  Please keep watching as details will be made available shortly.  

The Closing Date for the return of completed Application Forms is Friday 29 August 2008‚ 5 pm. Eligible Applications will be assessed during September and October and decisions made at the November Allocation Committee and Finance Committee Meetings.  Applicants will be informed of the outcomes in mid December 2008‚ with projects to commence on 1st April 2009.

Contact us

Email: Grants Unit