The programme has strengthened my confidence and provided invaluable skills for my future career.
– Daniella (Graduate)
“To say my experience has been invaluable would, in my opinion, be an understatement.” – Harriet (Graduate)
Kickstart your future with the Research 100 volunteer programme - an opportunity to build experience, gain lifelong skills, and make a real impact.
Open to full time students, this flexible, remote programme involves completing 100 hours of volunteering over 12 months. Research 100 volunteers benefit from 1:1 mentoring, and hands‑on experience - all while helping reduce loneliness for people aged 75+.
Applications for our Summer 2026 intake are now open.
The application deadline is Sunday 26 April 2026.
This 12-month programme is hosted by our Policy, Research and Consultancy team, and you will also have the opportunity to connect and work with a range of Re-engage departments. The Research 100 programme is fully remote and accommodates flexible working. The programme requires you to complete 100 hours of voluntary activities across a 12-month period. These hours can fit around existing commitments and can include evenings and weekends.
The research activities provide you with invaluable insights and the opportunity to develop skills in a supportive environment. You will work on a variety of projects, from conducting user researcher calls to user research input.
What the role involves
Conducting surveys and interviews
Evaluation and wellbeing surveys – in these calls you will ask older people about their experience of Re-engage, as well as their general wellbeing, feelings, and relationships.
Advisory Group calls – Re-engage has an Older People’s Advisory Group with around 50 members, and we consult with them four times a year. We send members information on each consultation topic before contacting them to ask for their opinions and feedback. Previous topics have included the cost of living; climate change; smartphones and ageism, and Re-engage services.
Onboarding calls – you will gain Service Delivery experience through our onboarding calls where you will complete an interview with an older person referred to us, allowing us to match them into a service.
Ad hoc surveys and interviews – we conduct many projects throughout the year - during these calls you could be asking people about a range of topics.
Data entry
We occasionally send our older people surveys to complete on paper. These are sometimes scanned and shared with you in PDF format, for you to enter online ready for analysis.
Written research tasks
You will have the opportunity to complete tasks such as literature reviews, and demand and feasibility studies, which will inform and contribute to our research work at Re-engage.
Work experience
If desired, as part of the programme you may be given the opportunity to complete work experience within the charity. This could be within one of the following teams: Communications and Marketing; Service Delivery; Engagement, and Fundraising.
My top highlight has to be work experience: meeting new people… critical thinking… gaining new insight… impactful tasks, and so much more!
– Sophie (Graduate)
What skills and experiences will you gain on the Research 100 programme?
Taking part in the Research 100 programme with Re-engage has been an incredibly rewarding experience.
– Daniella (Graduate)
Could you be our next Research 100 student?
Anyone aged 18 or over who is in full‑time education is welcome to apply.
Our 12‑month programme has two intakes each year:
- Winter: the application stage is usually open from September to mid‑October.
- Summer: the application stage is usually open from March to mid‑April.
You don’t need any prior experience to apply for this role. We simply ask that you feel comfortable having friendly, supportive phone conversations with older people who may be experiencing loneliness. This is an employability award and while we don’t expect you to have prior experience, your application should reflect an understanding of the impact of loneliness in later life, and enthusiasm for taking on new opportunities.
The programme is fully flexible - there are no set hours. To complete Research 100 and earn the award, you’ll need to complete 100 hours of volunteering within 12 months.
You can contribute to your hours by making calls any time between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Sunday, and complete written work whenever suits you.
Research 100 students will benefit from monthly one-to-one sessions with a member of Re-engage staff. In these meetings, we will reflect on your calls, celebrate successes, and work through challenges. Re-engage staff will also be available via email between 9am-5pm on weekdays.
At the end of your programme, you will receive digital copies of all your one-to-one documents, an experience document outlining all the key opportunities you have undertaken to prepare you for future job interviews, and both a physical and digital Research 100 certificate. Once you have graduated you will be able to use Re-engage as a reference in any future job applications. You will also be encouraged to apply for any permanent positions if suitable ones arise, and/or to become a permanent member of our volunteers' team as a Research 100 graduate.
Meet some of our Research 100 students
Jonathan
I’m studying Sociology with Social Psychology at the University of York, and my favourite modules so far have been ‘Body and Society’ and ‘Doing Research’. Outside university, I enjoy gardening, especially growing my own food, as well as cinema, and volunteering with the local Youth Justice Service. I joined the Research 100 programme to gain experience and develop new skills in an area I hadn’t worked in before. Some of the calls I’ve taken have been challenging, but they’ve also had really positive outcomes, and I feel like I’m contributing to something meaningful and worthwhile. The programme has broadened my perspective, challenged stereotypes I previously held about older people, and deepened my appreciation of the fantastic work Re-engage does. I’ve particularly valued the chance to build my interpersonal skills through my conversations with older people, and I’ve really enjoyed learning more about the charity along the way.
Katie
I’m currently entering my final year at the University of Southampton, studying BA Geography. I’ve particularly enjoyed modules on Society, Culture and Space, Environment and Health, and Geographies of Social Justice, Welfare and Rights. Outside of my studies, I enjoy going to the gym, drawing, and spending time with my dogs.
I joined the Research 100 programme to gain valuable experience and skills alongside my studies to support my future career. I’m especially interested in research and wanted to get involved in Re-engage’s important work with older people in the community. Through conducting surveys and contributing to projects, I’m a more confident communicator while developing my writing and data analysis skills.
Hear from our graduates
Harriet
Beginning the Research 100 programme, I was unsure what to expect but thought it sounded like a valuable experience that aligned with skills I possessed and skills I wished to cultivate. To say my experience so far has been invaluable would, in my opinion, be an understatement. The programme frequently provides me with the opportunity to conduct surveys and interviews with older people concerning their life experiences, and their experience with Re-engage as a charity. Additionally, I was afforded the opportunity to undertake work experience with two Re-engage departments, each providing insights and skills for me to take forward into my professional career. Most recently, I have been involved with Re-engage’s research initiatives, attending a research group meeting and writing literature reviews on the charity’s behalf. Though these initially seemed daunting tasks, I was supported and encouraged by Re-engage’s team throughout and would highly recommend the Research 100 programme to others.
Sophie
When I started the Research 100, I was eager to engage in new tasks and experiences that I felt would be meaningful for me, and other people. With each monthly supervision, there has always been the opportunity to take part in something new and gain a new skill. My top highlight has to be work experience: meeting new people, taking critical thinking outside-the-box, gaining new insight from doing positively impactful tasks, and so much more! Joining Re-engage as a Research 100 volunteer has improved my confidence for approaching research and volunteering, and I look forward to future tasks where I can learn something new from the programme.
Daniella
Taking part in the Research 100 programme with Re-engage has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I initially hoped to develop practical research skills, but my time with the team has been even more rewarding. Through supervision and project work, I have developed my skills in literature reviewing, surveys, and interviews, while contributing to research with real-world impact. I particularly valued speaking directly with service users, which gave me a deeper understanding of issues such as digital inclusion, isolation, and wellbeing. Beyond research, I developed my communication skills (something I am especially proud of as an autistic person) and contributed to improving accessibility within the organisation. This included raising awareness of signs of neurodivergence in older adults, and consulting on accessible design for training and website materials. Overall, the programme has strengthened my confidence and provided invaluable skills for my future career.