Joe McElderry lends a hand and his voice to Age UK to volunteer as part of The Big Help Out

Singer Joe McElderry has turned his hand to volunteering as part of The Big Help Out 2024 for Age UK, which encourages people to sign up to volunteer to help their local communities.

The Big Help Out, which is aligned with Volunteer’s Week, runs from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 June and aims to inspire people to help out and experience how rewarding volunteering can be and the power it has to make a change.

To support the initiative, Joe McElderry brought along his Grandma to join his local Age UK North Tyneside’s Singalong Memories group, a singing group for older people with dementia, on 20 May. Using his winning singing skills Joe was able to meet with older people and their families and friends, to singalong with songs including Water of Tyne and Any Dream Will Do, in which he performed a solo.

Joe, who has five albums under his belt and has sold over two million records worldwide, said: “I am extremely close to my own grandma, Grandma Hilda, who has often accompanied me on the road and this is one of the reasons I wanted to support Age UK. The Charity does amazing work supporting older people across the country and it was great to be able to see some of this firsthand in my home region.

“Grandma Hilda and I really enjoyed our time spent at Age UK North Tyneside – I was very impressed with people’s singing skills! It’s clear that groups like this have a massive impact on the lives of older people who may be struggling with health issues or enjoy the social aspect. I know that Age UK wouldn’t be able to run groups like this without the time and help of generous volunteers. That’s why I am encouraging everyone to sign up to help Age UK as part of The Big Help Out and Volunteer’s Week 2024.”

The Singalong Memories Group remains one of Age UK North Tyneside’s most popular groups for people living with dementia. The group is supported by a number of volunteers. This includes Alan, who has been volunteering for over 60 years and recently won Volunteer of the Year 2023 at Age UK North Tyneside’s Employee and Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Of his time volunteering at Age UK North Tyneside, Alan says: "It's the sense of satisfaction I get that's kept me volunteering for so many years. It's very special to see people benefiting from the work done by the organisations I've worked with, including Age UK North Tyneside for the past 13 years. It gives me a focus on life, setting my mind each day on doing what I can, the best I can. Working as part of a team is also enormously rewarding - pulling together and relying on one another to provide services that support older people."

Age UK is reliant on the generous support of volunteers* and without them could not be there for hundreds of thousands of older people across the country. Age UK volunteers help to raise much-needed funds to support the Charity’s work and provide vital support to older people, often at a time in their lives when they need help the most.

To find out more and sign up to volunteering roles at Age UK visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/volunteer

To find out more and sign up for a volunteering role at Age UK, visit www.thebighelpout.org.uk and download The Big Help Out app.

Ends

REF: STSKCOLF

Notes to Editors

* Age UK offers many services, nationally and locally, which means there are countless opportunities available to get involved for The Big Help Out and beyond, some of which include:

Volunteering Opportunities at Age UK

• Support a local Age UK: There is a network of over 120 independent local Age UK, and Age Scotland, Age Northern Ireland and Age Cymru organisations that run a variety of services which volunteers play a key role in delivering. These include social groups and activities such as fitness classes, digital inclusion programmes, home from hospital transport, friendship services and much more.

• Join an Age UK shop team: Age UK’s 250 charity shops help the Charity raise vital funds for its work and services and depend on the support and dedication of volunteers. Offering people the chance to try their hand at being a shop volunteer in their local area, Age UK shops will be open on Wednesday 5 June and offering taster sessions to those interested in helping out. Open to everyone over the age of 18 the taster sessions will give prospective volunteers a flavour of what they can expect, giving them the chance to meet the team and try out different tasks including window dressing, creating displays, managing stock donations and serving customers.

• Volunteering as a Telephone Befriender: Age  UK’s Telephone Friendship Services are there to provide a regular, friendly conversation for those who want it, by matching older people up with a trained volunteer who calls them at the same time for 30 minutes every week.

• Volunteer for The Silver Line Helpline[i]: This free and confidential 24-hour helpline is there for older people who feel lonely and isolated and need a chat, at any time of the day or night. 

• Campaign to make the UK a great place to grow older: Age UK believes it is vital the Government listen to the needs of older people. Campaign volunteers help push for change through small acts such as signing petitions or writing to their MPs.