Elderly people who would gain the most from volunteering are not doing so, while those who do already enjoy the benefits it can provide

People who are likely to benefit most from volunteering are the least likely to actually get involved, according to a new study.

The Centre for Ageing Better (CFAB) found that people aged 50 and over with fewer social connections, lower levels of income and education and poorer health may have the most to gain from helping others.

However, researchers found people in these situations were the least likely to volunteer.

Instead, most who undertake unpaid work are those who are already relatively wealthy, in good physical and mental health, and with high levels of wellbeing and social connections.

People aged 50 and over were found to be responsible for approximately 40% of all the volunteering, charitable giving and civic participation in the UK.

But a large proportion of people in this age group were said to be completely disengaged with voluntary activity.

This means those who could benefit most from meeting new friends and increasing their sense of purpose and satisfaction in later life are losing out, the study found.

CFAB said the report was evidence of a volunteering divide and called for organisations working with volunteers to make it easier for people to get involved.

Dan Jones, one of the report’s authors, said: “Organisations that support volunteering should be confident that participation does make a difference in terms of wellbeing and increased social connections in later life, especially for people who are less well connected and active now.

“Funders should put more resources into volunteering schemes that would benefit those people most and meet the costs of supporting them to participate.”