Group Escort 'Interest Trips'
Open Age
The Opportunity
Help OPEN AGE to run their group outings around London.
These are always interesting in their own right but also are of enormous importance in maintaining a sense of participation in London life and preventing feelings of isolation in older people.
You will be involved in all the escort aspects of the trip, from the pick-up point at OPEN AGE's office at Thorpe Close, travelling on public transport, liaising with the tour guide at the venue, helping any users with disability issues and coping with the occasional emergency. This work is very worthwhile and rewarding.
The Organisation
Open Age established in 1993, is a user led charity working across Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster enabling retired older people, from 50 to over 100 years old to sustain their physical and mental fitness, maintain active lifestyles and develop new and stimulating interests.
The organisation provides a wide range of physical, creative and mentally stimulating activities to enable older people to develop new skills and fulfil their potential as well as to encourage and support social interaction and reduce loneliness, isolation and depression. The New Futures 50 Plus programme supports people over 50 into employment and training.
Over 160 weekly activities are provided from more than 50 sites, which include our own Positive Age Centre in North Kensington and the Open Age Hub in Victoria as well as community centres, sheltered housing, church halls and libraries. Open Age also leads on the Consortium running the New Horizons Centre on a Guinness Estate in Chelsea. Activities vary from those that are health and fitness related such as yoga, chair exercise and walking groups to creative and performing arts sessions and weekly groups with speakers.
The organisation provides daily computer classes and drop in computer sessions from a dedicated fully accessible computer room as well as from other venues across the borough of Kensington and Chelsea. A weekly outings group visits attractions in and around London.
Skills / Qualifications
Interest in education and cultural history
Empathy with older people and a positive attitude to ageing
Excellent communication skills
Ability to work on own initiative
Flexible, organised, patient, friendly and supportive
Good timekeeping
Getting There
Train/Tube Stations: Ladbroke Grove Underground
Bus routes:7, 23, 52, 70, 295, 452
Landmarks: Under the Westway fly over
Times you can volunteer
Monday: None
Tuesday: None
Wednesday: None
Thursday: Mornings and Afternoons
Friday: None
Saturday: None
Sunday: None
