The first stage in developing our long term strategy was to be clear what we wanted to achieve for older people in Britain in the future.

In summer 2007 WRVS' trustees discussed and agreed a clear direction for the charity over the next ten years and beyond:

Our vision: a world where every older person has the choice and opportunity to get more out of life.

Our purpose: providing practical support through the power of volunteering so older people can get more out of life.

This sets the approach we'll take in the future. Our vision underlines our belief that people in their 60s, 70s, 80s and older should expect the same chance to live life how they want it as most people expect to do when they are in their 20s, 30s or 40s.

And our purpose clearly sets out how WRVS can help achieve that for older people - providing the practical support they want, through the power of volunteering.

This vision and purpose provides the focus for everyone in WRVS to make progress together towards one goal. It will also help us attract new volunteers, donors and partners to help make it happen.

WRVS' trustees and executive directors also developed five strategic aims to drive our work and help us achieve this vision and purpose.

Strategic aims

1. To enable older people to get more out of life.
2. To grow a focused range of excellent, innovative and practical services that older people want.
3. To maximise the power of volunteering to change lives.
4. To work in partnership with other organisations to build strong communities through volunteering.
5. To create the organisational capacity and capability to deliver WRVS purpose.

All teams in WRVS started focusing what they did on achieving these objectives in 2008.