Volunteering with the Elderly | Revealing, Recognising and Rewarding Positive Role Models

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Singalong shows made by young for elderly to enjoy

Singalong shows made by young for elderly to enjoy

During the coronavirus pandemic young people volunteering with the charity YOPEY started supporting locked-down care home residents ‘virtually’ by writing letters, making activities, sharing artworks and shooting entertaining videos. The videos were put together into...

First YOPEY Befriender scheme in Cambs since pandemic

First YOPEY Befriender scheme in Cambs since pandemic

Huntingdon teenagers have begun befriending elderly people living with dementia at a care home in the Cambridgeshire town. The 12 16-17 year-olds from Cambridge Regional College's Huntingdon campus and Hinchingbrooke School have met residents at Hunters Down care...

First YOPEY Befriender scheme in Suffolk since pandemic

First YOPEY Befriender scheme in Suffolk since pandemic

Sixth-formers from three Ipswich schools have begun befriending elderly people living with dementia at a care home in the town. The Suffolk charity running the scheme believes it is the first "intergenerational" befriending scheme between old and young in the county...

Age is just a number!

Age is just a number!

YOPEY Befrienders from a Norfolk sixth-form put on a quiz and karaoke for residents at a housing-with-care scheme in their home town. The young people from East Norfolk Sixth Form College in Great Yarmouth met 96-year-old Marjorie Teasdale, who recently moved in to...

‘Everyone overwhelmed with emotion’

‘Everyone overwhelmed with emotion’

More than 20 young people from a sixth-form college have begun befriending elderly residents at a care home in Norfolk following training to be the first 'YOPEY Befrienders' since the pandemic. The 22 16 to 19-year-olds, all girls, from East Norfolk Sixth Form College...

The passing of ‘Our Queen’ by YOPEY’s Patron

The passing of ‘Our Queen’ by YOPEY’s Patron

It is with a very heavy heart that we learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – the world’s greatest queen. As well as being the longest reigning British Monarch, Her Majesty was also the longest reigning female monarch in world history. In 1947 at the...

Tribute to past YOPEY winner who has died aged 30

Tribute to past YOPEY winner who has died aged 30

I received this email from the mother of a past Young Person of the Year last week: Hi Tony – Just a little message to tell you my beautiful daughter Stacey lost her fight this morning and gained her angel wings at 5:37 – Regards Sharon When I started Young People of...

From YOPEY Befriender to care home worker


From YOPEY Befriender to care home worker


By Kasey Challenger, age 20
 When I started sixth form, I was struggling with insecurity about what I wanted to do when I left. I had a rough idea that I wanted to study psychology at university but I was unsure where this would put me in a few years’ time. When I...

Befriending benefits young & old, schools & care homes

Befriending benefits young & old, schools & care homes

Every Sunday afternoon the old man would wait at the window for that first glimpse of his friend coming to visit him. Before she entered the care home, the teenager would always smile and wave at him. This all sounds very ordinary until you learn the old man had...

Activities to Stimulate Body, Mind and Soul for Care Home Residents

Activities to Stimulate Body, Mind and Soul for Care Home Residents

The UK’s care homes are filled with a wide variety of elderly people, many of whom want to continue living an active and vital life. One way to do this is to continue with old friendships or encourage new ones. The charity YOPEY offers care homes the opportunity to...