Fears for charity offering lifeline to isolated

Long since retired from her job at Leeds University, and having lost her husband some years ago, Mrs Fisher suffered a devastating stroke which left her paralysed down one side of her body.

"Your quality of life suffers so much," the 79-year-old says. "It makes things very, very difficult."

With her daughter working in New Zealand and her son recovering from a serious motorcycle accident, Mrs Fisher would enjoy little in the way of company were it not for Re-Connect, a small volunteer-based charity which organises "be-frienders" to visit elderly people around the area.

It is typical of the groups being supported by the Yorkshire Post's Communities in Need appeal.

"We help people who are isolated," says manager Helen Smith. "They might have just lost their husband or their wife – maybe they can't get out, or haven't the confidence to go out.

"Although someone like June does have help from carers, our volunteers are totally different. They're not in a rush, they'll take them out and have a walk and a chat. It gives them something to look forward to."

Mrs Fisher nods in agreement.

"I am so grateful," she says. "My volunteer takes me to the park, she cooks me a fresh meal with fresh ingredients, which is just wonderful. And we have such a lot in common. I'm 79, but she's about 60, and it's so nice to be able to talk to someone who understands and can talk to you on your own level. We have lots of shared interests."

The charity also runs a transport service for isolated elderly people – WakeyBus – that helps them get to lunch clubs, tea dances and other social events.

"Without us there would be an awful lot of elderly people who just would not get out of their homes," Ms Smith says.

But Re-Connect's core funding – paying for its office, utility bills and tiny core of paid administrative staff - finishes at Christmas.

"Then we've got a real problem," Ms Smith says. "We really are desperately trying to get funding to keep the project going. But we're such a small local charity, it's very hard for us."