National Council for Voluntary Organisations becomes age-friendly employer

Umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has become an age-friendly employer after signing the pledge.

Established by the Centre for Ageing Better, the pledge helps employers to recognise the importance and value of older workers, resolve skills shortages, record vacancy rates and overcome ageism in the workplace.

By signing the pledge, NCVO has committed to taking at least one action a year to improve the recruitment, retention and development of older workers, reporting back on activities and achievements each year. These can include creating an age-friendly culture, hiring age-positively, being flexible about flexible working, encouraging career development at all ages and ensuring everyone has the health support they need.

Employers who sign the pledge also commit to identifying a senior sponsor for age-inclusion within their workforce and ensuring that age is specifically named within their equality, diversity and inclusion policies.

Woosh Raza, director of people, culture and inclusion at NCVO, said: “We are delighted to be making this pledge to recognise and celebrate the wealth of knowledge and experience older workers bring to the sector. We will be working hard to listen and learn about what it means to be a truly age-friendly employer as we strive to continue building an inclusive organisation for all.”

Dr Emily Andrews, deputy director for work at the Centre for Ageing Better, added: “With an older population that is becoming both larger and more diverse, it has never been more important for organisations in the voluntary and community sector to be age-friendly. Physical, practical and emotional barriers mean that over 50s miss out on the benefits of getting involved with voluntary and community organisations all too often.

“Signing the age-friendly employer pledge is a brilliant way for voluntary and community organisations to kick off their journey towards becoming age-inclusive and show that they recognise the importance of older workers.”