Retiring into civil society

This chapter explores the role played by volunteering in the lifecourse transition from paid work to retirement. As life expectancy rises, the increasing proportion of over-50s in the UK population is challenging the persistent negative stereotypes that signal both older age and retirement as a withdrawal from active life. Many people are now retiring with good levels of health, education and disposable incomes, as well as having outlooks and expectations regarding this phase of life that are different from their predecessors. In this context, volunteering has been promoted in public policy discourse over the last two decades as a desirable pathway into retirement, which can bring wellbeing benefits to the individual as well as allowing them to continue contributing to social and economic life.