workshop delivered at SMART event please note this presentation was delivered as speaker support material and is intended for reference by attendees not for use as a stand-alone resource

1. What do we do when all
the old people die?
Planning for
Succession
community activity

2. Why is the population getting
older?
• Baby Boomers – 17million births between 1946 – 1964 – this is
the group that are now retiring
• Fewer children being born (changing work patterns mean that
women are working longer and families are being started later
and smaller families are the norm)
• People live longer and are more healthy
• Technology

3. Quiz
• In 2007 the number of people aged over 65 outnumbered
those under 16 for the time in history ?
• True
• Within 20 years half of all adults in England will be over 50
(40% of the total)
• True
• Urban is aging faster than rural
• False
• By 2034 -23% of the population in the UK will be over 65
• True

4. Quiz
• Which age group is more likely to volunteer?
• 35-49 (47% formally volunteer)
• More males volunteer than females
• False (38% males 42% females)
• There are currently 4 people of working age supporting
each pensioner – How many will there be by 2050?
• 2
• Is this just happening in Britain?
• No – worldwide – China having to reconsider the 1 child
rule as they have fewer workers

5. What are the implications?
• Older people form increasing proportion of the electorate and
are more likely to vote than young people
• Future generations will be healthier and more active but will
work for longer whether they want to or not – leading to
reduction in available volunteers?
• Increased need for long term care and health needs less money
available and more pressure for families to support elderly
• Younger people not available to volunteer as they are needed to
care for elderly family
• More elderly people in poverty
• Older people increasingly dependent on a declining working
population
• Increased immigration needed to meet care needs
• Young people become a Lost generation with no voice as they
are in the minority

6. Think about
Your Community…..
• How ‘old’ is your Parish Council?
• Who volunteers and what for?
• Why do they volunteer?
• How do you recruit at the moment?

7. The Future?
• What is needed?
• Recognise the need to change
• More diverse range of volunteers
• Different ways to recruit
• Valuing the whole community
• More flexible working and volunteering
arrangements to accommodate all ages
• What else?

8. Succession Planning
• We need to be proactive
• Localism means that Parish Councils will be
expected to know more, do more, be more
• Do you want to be doing this at 80?
• Do you want 80 year olds making decisions
on yours and your children’s behalf?

9. Mapping Your Village
Have a think about your village and consider the
following headings;
1) Who have you got?
• Demographic split – bespoke recruitment for your village needed
2) Where are the gaps?
• ICT, missing volunteers, youth groups, age specific issues
3) What have you got?
• schools, surgeries, nurseries, business etc.
4) How can you use them?
• Can you get school children/parents to help?
• Opportunities for experience for unemployed
• Business support/mentoring

10. Exercise – 15 minutes
• Scenario – A new law has been
passed (imaginary) which requires
Parish Councils to have at least one
young person under the age of 25
• Consider 5 steps which you will take
to make this happen

11. Feedback – 5 mins

12. Are you FLEXIVOL?
• In 1997 the Institute for Volunteering Research created a
wish list for volunteering
• This acronym summarises the essential requirements of
16-24 year olds who wish to volunteer, they want their
volunteering experience to offer:
• Flexibility
• Legitimacy
• Ease of Access
• Xperience
• Incentives
• Variety
• Organisation
• Laughs
• Although designed for 16-24 year olds I think you will
agree that this applies to us all