This project is funded by Atlantic Philanthropies over a five year period. The project has a regional focus but will be delivered at local level. The regional co-ordination and management is provided by the Volunteer Development Agency; local delivery is in association with local Volunteer Centres. Two of the Volunteer Centres provide strategic support including hosting staff (Belfast & Castlereagh Volunteer Centre/VSB and North West Volunteer Centre) and supporting partnerships of local stakeholders.

Initially focus will be in the Belfast & Castlereagh and L'Derry and Strabane areas. As the project develops over the next two years focus will spread out to the rest of Northern Ireland.

Project Objectives

• To challenge attitudes and raise awareness of the contribution and benefits of volunteering.
• To increase the number of older volunteers.
• To improve access to and develop volunteer opportunities for older people that meet their expectations and positively impact on communities.
• To enhance older people's quality of life in relation to equality, social inclusion, support and health issues.

To view the Older Peoples page on the Volunteer Now website please click here.

To view details of the Unlocking Potential Driving campaign please click here.

Would your organisation like to be involved in an exciting new piece of Northern Ireland based research on volunteering?

The Unlocking Potential Project in conjunction with the University of Ulster is embarking on an exciting new study focussed on measuring the impact of volunteering on the health of the 60+ age group.

The research findings will provide local evidence which will be used to influence decision makers, improve organisational practice and promote volunteering to the increasing proportion of older people in our communities.

By agreeing to take part your organisation will:

- Contribute to a major piece of research relevance at a UK and Ireland level.
- Have access to free training on volunteer management practice and research techniques.

What would your organisation be required to do?

- We would ask you to administer a questionnaire to new volunteers aged 60+ recruited between March and September 2010 at the induction or training stage.

The Volunteer Development Agency will then contact the individual volunteer directly on a  further 3 occassions over the next 18 months to ask them to complete a similar questionnaire.  Briefings will be scheduled at the start of 2010 that will provide all the information required by organisations to take part in the study.

We will be holding two briefing sessions to provide individuals with an outline of key aspects of the research i.e. purpose, process, roles and timeframes.  The details are as follows:

- 29th January 10am-12pm, VSB, 34 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast

- 3rd February 10am-12pm, The Junction, L'Derry

Are you interested?

Express your interest by clicking here to download an Expression of Interest Form or simply contact Christine Irvine at christine@volunteering-ni.org or by telephone on 02890 818332.


Please click on the links below to view some research publications associated with the Unlocking Potential campaign:

Older People Literature Review
Organisational Survey Report
Older People Volunteering Research Seminars Presentation
Making the Connection
Older People Volunteering Checklist 2009 (Updated)
Northern Ireland Public Policy for Older People and Volunteering
Unlocking Potential Research Briefing Paper

Unlocking Potential Team Contact Details

Billy Eagleson - Project Manager 
T 028 9081 8320 E billy@volunteering-ni.org

Sarah-Jane Goldring - Development Officer (based in North West Volunteer Centre) 
T 028 7127 1017 E sarahjane@volunteering-ni.org

Helen Connolly - Development Officer (based in VSB)
T 028 9020 0850 E helen@vsb.org.uk

Christine Irvine - Policy & Information Officer 
T 028 9081 8332 E christine@volunteering-ni.org