The purpose of this thesis was to study what kind of needs and wishes the members of The Helsinki Metropolitan Area Association for Carers and Friends POLLI (Pääkaupunkiseudun Omaishoitajat ja läheiset ry) have. The objective of this study was to find out what type of available voluntary work and peer support is beneficial for the members of POLLI and what kind of new activities they need. This thesis provides the workers of POLLI concrete information on how to develop and improve the activities of the association.

Our research subjects were “Have the members of POLLI participated in available voluntary work and peer support or would they want to participate?”, “Do the members of POLLI need some kind of voluntary work and peer support that POLLI doesn’t already provide?” and “Does the voluntary work and peer support of POLLI meet the members wishes and needs?”.

This study is quantitative. The data was collected by a questionnaire that was created with the workers of POLLI and that was based on their wishes. The theoretical section explores voluntary work, peer support, participation and producing and using the services. It also includes information about informal care, coping in everyday life and about the UMO-project that is the previous research of the association.

The results show that there is a need for voluntary work and peer support among the members of POLLI but it is not always possible to participate in activities. The main reasons for that are the lack of time and getting a substitute for the carer him/herself.