Volunteering in Retirement
Retirement gives us something many of us haven’t had for years—time. The question is: what do we choose to do with it? For many people, volunteering becomes one of the most rewarding answers.
Volunteering has been a feature on my life since the age of 16 – when ‘dinosaurs roamed the Earth’. The types of voluntary work I’ve been involved with have varied widely—from fundraising, playing Santa and conducting charity auctions to organising events and supporting young people.
I’ve always felt the need to give back to the community. I love the challenge of helping voluntary organisations work more effectively, seeing the positive results and meeting, and having the chance to meet new people.
Some people never found the time to volunteer during their working lives, while others have always been involved—but often for very different reasons.
In this edition of ‘Giving Back’, I’ve been fortunate enough to interview two people who give back in some really interesting ways.
Photo: Stephanie, with her new Guide Dog puppy Trudi
GIVING BACK IS A TWO WAY EXPERIENCE: JOY’S STORY
Meet Joy…
Joy – a retired Project Manager – has chosen to pursue her love of nature in her voluntary work. One of her roles is working with Glaslyn Wildlife – an osprey charity, where she gets to share her passion with both volunteers and the visitors alike.
1. What is your volunteer role, and what does it involve week to week?
I volunteer with Glaslyn Wildlife at Pont Croesor on the Afon Glaslyn in North Wales.
My main role is staffing the bird hide. This involves setting up the telescopes, operating the live-stream screen and laptop that monitor the two local osprey nests, recording the birds and other wildlife seen during the day, and providing information to visitors who come from all over the world.
I also have a particular interest in butterflies and moths, so over the past two years I’ve helped record moth species trapped at the site. These records are then submitted to the North Wales environmental records centre.
2. How did you first hear about this voluntary role?
I first visited Porthmadog because it was the nearest place to my home in the West Midlands where I could see ospreys.
I fell in love with the area, became a member of Glaslyn Wildlife and eventually a volunteer. It took me a little while to get actively involved, but everyone made me feel very welcome and encouraged volunteers to join in.
3. What made you decide to apply or say ‘yes’?
I’m a nature lover, so volunteering with Glaslyn Wildlife felt like a natural way to combine my passion for nature with giving something back.
4. Before you started, what did you expect the role to be like — and how does this compare to reality?
I’m not sure I had any particular expectations. I simply wanted to help nature and feel I was giving something back.
The reality has been incredibly fulfilling. I’ve met lots of like-minded people and, although the work can sometimes be physically demanding, volunteer safety is always a priority.
5. What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?
Knowing that the work we do really makes a difference.
Sharing our love of ospreys, experiencing the highs and lows of each nesting season together, and having such an intimate view of these magnificent birds is a real privilege.
6. What has surprised you most about the role?
Being able to witness the amazing life cycles of so many different creatures.
I’ve also been amazed by the knowledge of both the staff and our visitors—many know far more than I ever will about birds. It’s wonderful meeting people who’ve travelled hundreds or even thousands of miles because they share the same love of ospreys and nature.
7. How does this role fit into your retirement life — does it give you structure, purpose, social contact, something else?
It gives me all three—structure, purpose and social contact.
It makes me feel valued and that I’m making a difference. I’m also fortunate to have a very understanding husband who knows how important both volunteering and nature are to me.
8. If you stopped tomorrow, what would you miss most?
The friendships, the shared experiences and my interaction with nature.
9. Would you recommend volunteering to other retirees — and why?
Definitely.
Retirement gives you the opportunity to pursue your interests and contribute to society in whatever way matters most to you.
10. What would you say to someone who thinks they have nothing to offer as a volunteer?
Give it a try.
The breadth of knowledge and experience within volunteer groups is staggering, and everyone has something they can contribute.
About JOY
After spending 40 years in engineering – and having many a tale to tell of managing projects in some colourful parts of the world – Joy dedicates most of her time to following her passion; nature and wildlife. Not only does she make time to help with ospreys in North Wales, she is also heavily involved in helping to protect the heathland habitat, on Highgate Common (South Staffs) for the benefit of the specialist flora and fauna on site.
Joy’s story shows how volunteering can grow from a lifelong passion. Norman’s demonstrates something slightly different—how the skills you’ve built over a career can find a whole new purpose in retirement.
Same Skills, New Setting: Norman’s Story
Meet NORMAN
Norman – a retired Outdoor Activity Centre Manager – shares his experience of taking the helm of a community group canal boat. In his own words, he discusses how sharing his existing skills, and learning new ones, has helped him find camaraderie and the satisfaction of helping others to enjoy a special day.
1. What is your volunteer role, and what does it involve week to week?
I’ve been a volunteer with Safe Anchor Trust since 2022. The Trust takes community groups on trips along the Hebble and Calder Navigation using a fleet of three canal barges.
My role is as a helm. I’ve been trained to steer the barges, navigate locks and manoeuvre them safely in and out of their marina berths. Like all crew members, I also help prepare the barge for each trip, operate the locks, support passengers throughout the journey and deal with any onboard emergencies should they arise.
2. How did you first hear about this voluntary role?
A trustee from Safe Anchor Trust attends the same church as me and thought I’d be interested because of my boating background. I looked up the Trust online and decided to go along for one of their “come and see us” trips as a guest crew member.
3. What made you decide to apply or say ‘yes’?
After the trial day I felt I had something to offer, while also having plenty to learn from the team.
I could clearly see how much the community groups enjoyed their time on the canal and the difference it made to their wellbeing. Knowing I could help provide that experience was a big factor in deciding to volunteer regularly.
Although I was already familiar with operating boats, the wide-beam barges used by Safe Anchor Trust require precise helming, particularly when negotiating bridges, locks and stretches of moving river water. Learning new skills and becoming proficient at them was a challenge I was keen to take on.
4. Before you started, what did you expect the role to be like — and how does this compare to reality?
The trial day gave me a good idea of what to expect, but every trip is different. Each group has its own needs, and every crew brings different experience.
One day you might be supporting passengers with visual impairments; the next you’re dealing with strong winds that make steering far more challenging. There’s always something new to learn, which keeps the role interesting.
5. What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?
The most rewarding part is being part of a team that makes a positive difference to other people’s day.
We give people the chance to enjoy a different environment, have a go at steering the barge if they’d like to, or simply watch a heron or kingfisher along the river. Seeing people smile and enjoy the experience is immensely satisfying.
It’s a real team effort, and being part of that team is rewarding in itself.
6. What has surprised you most about the role?
When you’ve done something for years, it’s easy to forget what attracted you to it in the first place.
Seeing the difference a trip on the canal makes to our passengers constantly reminds me just how special it is to spend time on the water.
7. How does this role fit into your retirement life — does it give you structure, purpose, social contact, something else?
I normally volunteer for one trip a week. We have an online booking system, which makes it easy to fit volunteering around family commitments and my other hobbies.
It’s given me new friends and new skills, both of which are enriching and help keep my mind and body active. I could volunteer more often if I wanted to, but one day a week fits my retirement life well.
8. If you stopped tomorrow, what would you miss most?
I’d miss the camaraderie of being part of a team and the shared sense of purpose that comes from helping other people enjoy a special day.
9. Would you recommend volunteering to other retirees — and why?
Definitely.
It allows you to use the skills you’ve built up over a lifetime while also learning new ones. It gives each volunteering day a clear purpose and, by making a worthwhile difference to other people’s lives, reminds you of your own value too.
10. What would you say to someone who thinks they have nothing to offer as a volunteer?
Everyone has life skills that can benefit other people.
It’s easy to underestimate your own abilities because they’re simply part of who you are. Other people don’t see it that way and genuinely value what you bring to the team.
About norman
Norman is a retired physical and outdoor activity professional who manages to find time to volunteer for both Safe Anchor Trust as well as a local foodbank within his busy retirement schedule.
MY REFLECTIONS
Joy and Norman got involved for totally different reasons – one for a passion for nature, the other for a desire to put existing skills to good use. Although they came to volunteering for completely different reasons, they both single out camaraderie and seeing the positive outcomes of their involvement as being an important part of this element of their retired lives.
getting involved
These two opportunities are based in particular parts of the UK, but similar volunteering roles exist almost everywhere.
If either of these roles has sparked your interest, here’s where to find out more:
Glaslyn Wildlife Volunteer (Osprey Project)
Glaslyn Wildlife would be happy to hear from anyone who may wish to volunteer. If you are interested in finding out more, please follow the link below:
If Glaslyn (North Wales) is outside of your area, then you may also be interested in looking at voluntary roles with these national bird charities around the world:
🔗 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) – UK
🔗 National Audubon Society – USA
🔗 Birds Canada (Oiseaux Canada) – Canada
🔗 BirdLife Australia – Australia
Safe Anchor Trust (Social Inclusion Charity)
Safe Anchor Trust would be happy to hear from anyone who may wish to volunteer. If you are interested in finding out more, please follow the link below:
If Safe Anchor Trust (Yorkshire, England) is outside of your area, then you may also be interested in looking at voluntary roles with these social inclusion charities around the world:
🔗 Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating OR Footloose Sailing Association – USA
🔗 Adaptive Sailing Association of British Columbia OR Project Canoe – CANADA
🔗 Sailability Australia OR Sail 4 Life – AUSTRALIA
📝 CLOSING AUTHOR NOTE
My thanks to Joy and Norman for taking the time to share their volunteering experiences so openly. Their stories are a reminder that retirement isn’t simply about leaving work behind – it’s about discovering new ways to use our time, skills and experience in ways that benefit both ourselves and maybe others.
You never know where saying ‘Yes’ will lead to.
Share Your Story
- What’s the most rewarding voluntary role you’ve ever had
- Has retirement given you the opportunity to try something you never had time for before?
- If you’d like to volunteer, but haven’t done so far, what is preventing you from getting involved?
rookieretiree@btinternet.com
OUT OF TIME
Unfortunately, there’s no time left for the other features this month, but please keep sending in your questions and I’ll answer them in a future edition.
next Blog
In next month’s blog we’re going on an adventure of a lifetime, visiting magical Madagascar!
Every chapter of the Rookie Retiree Journal explores a different side of life after full-time work — from personal stories to health, purpose and travel.
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Regards
Phil Marsh is the creator of Rookie Retiree, exploring life after work — the choices, challenges and possibilities that come with the luxury of choice.
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