Help and Care is appealing for local people to come forward and volunteer to help older people in their community.
Help and Care needs to recruit volunteers in Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset to help vulnerable older people who are calling their helpline because they are in need of support.
A whole range of volunteering opportunities are available including: making friendly phone calls to isolated older people, driving older people to essential hospital appointments, supporting housebound older people with IT skills such as using email and internet shopping, taking and accompanying older people to social and leisure activities such as the cinema or theatre, becoming involved with the walking group and help with shopping.
Training and support is provided to all Help and Care volunteers.
Heather Martin, Volunteer Co-ordinator at Help and Care said: “Many older people in our communities are in need of support. Two of the older people our volunteers helped recently said: ‘When I see you I know why I’m alive’ and ‘I live for these outings.’ If you volunteer your help will make an enormous difference to an older person’s quality of life.”
To find out more about volunteering at Help and Care call 0300 111 3303 or look at our section about volunteering on our website.
Help and Care’s dedicated team of volunteers were set up in 2002, they help hundreds of older people and provide support with over 1000 tasks every year. Help and Care was the first organisation in Dorset to be awarded the prestigious ‘Investing in Volunteers Award’ and has been providing help and support to older people and Carers for over 26 years.