What planet are Age UK on....

Anya that is appalling and words fail me. I would be inclined to reply asking her if she does realise we have moved on from Christmas. I may buy cards early to save money but I do not write them quite so early.

Once a year I attend a series of lectures locally and each time (x2) I have signed up with Age UK who have a stall set up offering my services- maybe taking somebody to the local supermarket or the library. I cannot walk far but I can drive and I am quite happy to make a cup of tea and have a chat. Nobody bothered to get back to me so in future they can whistle if looking for volunteers in this area.

Yes, point out that they need to update their stock reply ("just press this button, no need to think . . .") after mentioning things like Christmas which have - surprise surprise - a use-by date. It would only take a minute to swop in one about, say, Easter, that they had prepared earlier. You can quote any of this post that takes your fancy - there's no copyright.

That is dreadful! . Definitely send a reply.

Tell them they need someone to look after their website. If you're good at stuff like that, perhaps that could be your volunteering role.

That's a good idea! You could at least suggest that.

I have emailed a response simply asking 'Is this for real?' (appalling grammar possibly but short and to the point)

Charleygirl I think that you, never being contacted, is appalling too.

Let us know what you get back.

Their reply is staggering No doubt it will be blamed on a computer error .....

I'll keep you informed. Meanwhile off to buy some mincemeat

There was an article in the paper about the salary of the CEOand how they have connections with energy suppliers,insurers etc which are simply not good value for money.

I don't fancy your chances there Anya. Mincemeat is "seasonal"!

That is shockingly poor! I am looking forward to hearing what they have to say for themselves.

I did volunteer with Age uk Information and Advice,and also Benefit Uptake,visiting homes and completing AA forms etc..Unfortunately there are very few paid members of full time staff,and the bulk of the work is left to part time volunteers,and no one to coordinate the work,some one obviously thought it was someone else's job,so no one did it....have a jar of mincemeat in the cupboard anya shall I virtually send it x

You can try DTL - it's got more chance of reaching me than some of the things I've ordered online recently

anya read the saga of the chests

Anya, I can see why you were annoyed, but I hope it doesn't put you off. I also volunteer for AgeUK, and it does great work in local communities, mainly with volunteers, and very few paid staff. Each local Age UK is an independent organisation, affiliated to the national body, but the local groups are very different in the activities they do and the way they work.

Stansgran, I have also read the stuff in the news this week about Age UK and other charities selling services to older people and making a profit. I can't condone selling anything that is a rip-off, but many of the services sold are good value. For example, car insurance for older people used to be very expensive, and the big insurance companies couldn't see beyond peoples' age as a problem, never mind the better than average safety record of older drivers. It wasn't until Age UK and similar organisations came into the market offering lower insurance premiums, that the commercial firms started to drop their prices.

Charities have to raise their funding from somewhere, and I'm glad the aggressive marketing that has been in the press for the last year or so is being clamped down on. Selling services, provided they are good value, seems to me a reasonable alternative when the profits are ploughed back into the charity's work (unlike Saga services which are wholly profit making for shareholders).

Very poor response.

I think they need to get their act together!

At the suggestion of my mother's doctor I contacted Age UK to ask about a volunteer to walk with her once a week to her local supermarket. To be told that they don't have any volunteer helpers in her area (a medium size rural town). We're on our own then!

I agree about local agencies TrishT but that response what a national one from their Head of Volunteers, presumably a paid position.

It's now nearly noon in a working day and no response from my email yet.

Re local agencies of charities. Where we lived before my dog was a PAT (Pets as Therapy) dog. We went to residential homes, elderly people at home, worked with children and hospices. There was a thriving and supportive network of local volunteers.

When I moved here I tried to do the same work, but the local 'coordinator' didn't know her arse from her elbow hasn't a clue about who needed a PAT dog and even when I managed to get a list from her it was so out of date many of the old folks had passed away (I gave up phoning as it was emarassing) the children were nkw grown up and grandmothers themselves (OK bit of an exaggeration) and homes and hospices had new managers who knew nothing about the PAT service.

Why do people take on voluntary roles such as 'co-ordinaters' when they couldn't find their way out of a paper bag? Why?

Anya maybe you should ask if the Head of Volunteering would like an assistant because they are clearly not on top of the job!

I frequently have to tell our doctor's receptionists that the note currently on the outer door is out of date. They don't use the patient's door and forget. We have a laugh about it and I take the note down for them. In every other respect they are very good.

Perhaps your right Nonnie

I'm a terrible stickler for time keeping, efficiency, and so on. It was a standing joke at the LA that my team would have something sorted before you asked for it!

I love lists, spreadsheets, flow charts, mind maps and all those little tick boxes. Even now when I'm retired I write myself a memo every morning of 3 things I have to do, three I should do and three I might get round to doing if I can.

Sad ain't I?

Yes but I admire you.