Older People's Strategy - Newcastle City Council

107Outcome 5bOlder people have the opportunity to workIssues and prioritiesPerceptions of retirement are changing. Older people areseeking more flexible opportunities to work, set up their ownbusiness or volunteer.Recent research by The Age and Employment Network for theDepartment of Education and Skills (see Annex 7, Note 24)identified that the main barriers for older workers include: actualor perceived age discrimination; lack of retraining opportunities;the cost of retraining; and difficulties in finding support agencieswith the experience and expertise to assist older age-groups.It is important for employers to recognise the value of olderworkers and the experience they bring. Many people would bewilling to continue working, if they were offered more flexibleoptions and given the appropriate status and recognition.The Age and Employment Network research highlights thatpeople are not just looking for ‘a job’; they are seeking workwhich provides purpose, status, scope to use skills andabilities, and the opportunity to contribute to the community.Some people are seeking the same purpose and quality ofactivity from volunteering. Research by Age Concern Newcastleand Newcastle University (see Annex 7, Note 25) highlights thegreat value of volunteering to individuals’ self-worth and selfdevelopmentas well as the enormous contribution volunteersmake to organisations and family. The research provides keyinformation on ways of attracting and retaining volunteers.