Supporting older volunteers through change: Your insights needed

Volunteers play a vital role in the heritage sector, and for many people, volunteering becomes a deeply meaningful part of their life. But what happens when a volunteer decides, or needs, to step back from their role?

For older volunteers, reaching the end of their volunteering journey can be a sensitive and emotional process. Many find it difficult to let go of valued connections, whilst volunteer managers can face challenges in supporting this transition.

Researchers at Newcastle University, Bruce Davenport and Yang Wang, are exploring this important but often overlooked moment in the volunteering lifecycle. Their project, Cessation of Volunteering, seeks to understand how volunteers and volunteer managers experience the process of “stepping back”, and how organisations can manage it well. Ultimately, the study aims to gather evidence to support the development of good practices around this important stage in the volunteering journey.

How you can get involved

The project began by studying specific heritage organisations and now the research team would like to hear from all volunteer-involving sectors across the UK. The research team are inviting contributions from:

• Volunteer managers (paid or voluntary)
• Staff members who supervise volunteers as part of their role
• Volunteers who manage or coordinate other volunteers

Your insights could make a real difference. Take part in the Cessation of Volunteering survey today! The deadline to fill out the survey is 14 November 2025.