While London-based charities are using Volunteers' Week to boost recruitment, regional organisations say they are are struggling to bring in new people.
Jewish Care Scotland's volunteer services manager Margaret Lothian said the charity was experiencing "real difficulties" in supplementing its 110 volunteers, a number down by more than 20 per cent from 2013.
"Many existing volunteers are getting older and some of them just aren't fit to take people to hospital appointments," she explained.
"We're looking for younger people, particularly men - and by younger, I mean like in their 60s.
"The place couldn't run without our volunteers. It saves a fortune. In particular, we have outreach workers who go out and befriend clients. I have a waiting list for befrienders, as there are more people who need one than there are to go around."
‘By younger people, I mean in their 60s’
Manchester's major welfare charity, The Fed, is also reporting a volunteer shortage. Chief executive Karen Phillips said that, although 500 people give 40,000 hours of unpaid support every year, it needs significantly more help.
"It would take double that number for us to address the dreadful loneliness and social isolation which afflicts so many people, both in the community and in care settings such as our own Heathlands Village. Families are scattered. You are fortunate if your children and grandchildren live in the same country, let alone town, and that leaves many, especially older people without regular human contact. There is nothing that can replace one-on-one care and companionship."
In London, the volunteer co-ordinator at educational charity Kisharon, Lara Domjan, said that volunteer numbers had doubled. "We have 80-to-90 throughout the year. About three years ago we had 40." Many were attracted through advertising on the Jewish Volunteer Network website.
Special needs charity Langdon is also reporting an increased volunteer force. "We have 105 volunteers, up from about 80-odd last year," its head of communications, Dan Bacall, said. "That kind of increase can be attributed to the greater profile of the charity, gained through word of mouth and working with partners like JVN."
JVN hopes to bring in up to 300 new volunteers from promotional activities during the week.