Age Concern Sir Gâr Befriending Project
Volunteers wanted to befriend older people.
Residents of Carmarthenshire are being offered an opportunity to befriend older people in an innovative project beginning this month. Age Concern Sir Gâr have secured funding to support volunteers befriend older people across the county. They will be taking them out to meet other older people and enjoy trips to local groups, or the shops and generally become more active in their communities.
Age Concern Sir Gâr regularly receives phone calls for help from both clients and the statutory and voluntary sector. Some of these clients have experienced bereavement and now find that they don’t get as many offers to socialise as they used to get and feel uncomfortable going away on their own. Befriending Circles has a risen from all those comments that Age Concern Sir Gâr receive.
Project Coordinator, Rebecca Thomas added, ‘This project is a lovely opportunity for volunteers who enjoy socialising and would like to spend a little bit of time befriending an older person. We are looking for people across the county who are willing to give up an hour or two and use their cars to help older people get out and about. Our funding means we can cover petrol expenses so volunteers won’t be out of pocket. We would love to hear from people with a car who would like to get involved.’
Retired teacher and mother of two Margaret Keen, who is looking forward to volunteering with the project, said ‘My husband and I do voluntary work because we want to give back to our community. We find we actually benefit from befriending others as much as they benefit! It’s wonderful to be involved in our community.’ Mrs Keen is already actively volunteering within the county and is looking forward to increasing her volunteering by befriending an older person.
Age Concern Sir Gâr was founded in 1995 and has gradually increased its service provision which potentially can provide a range for services to over 48,000 older people in the County out of a total population of over 172,000 (2001 Census). Other services include debt and benefits advice, the handyperson scheme, gardening support scheme and a tax advice service.
If you would like more information about how to become a volunteer on the Befriending Circles project please contact Age Concern Sir Gâr on 01554 784 080.
http://www.ageconcernsirgar.co.uk/
