Volunteers wanted to help with elderly

Age UK East Riding already has 60 volunteers on its books but wants to find 180 more to help older residents with shopping, taking to appointments and using computers.

The scheme - which received a £35,000 boost yesterday from the East Riding Council – builds on the charity’s befriending service.

Chief officer Mark Rounding said: “It is a sad fact that there are many older people who live alone in small rural communities who don’t see people on a regular basis and literally 10 minutes of somebody’s time would make a world of difference.

“It gives those looking for work crucial experience and for those not looking for work it gives them something to do in their spare time which really benefits the community.

“We are looking at a taskforce of volunteers so there’s an older people’s champion in every parish – given that there’s 100 parishes it is an extremely tall order.”

Age UK will be asking for a small fee for the service, but hasn’t finalised the details yet. Volunteers would be paid expenses, but would have to undergo Criminal Records Bureau checks. A one-off grant was agreed by East Riding Council’s Cabinet.

There was criticism of the authority last year for axing visits to older people who rely on the authority’s emergency Lifeline service.

Mr Rounding said: “We have been working closely with East Riding Council to ensure that this scheme will be available to support those local residents in sheltered housing who miss the regular contact they previously had with their mobile wardens.

“However it is certainly not the case that the Age UK volunteers will be expected to take on the roles of the wardens.

“The aim of our service is to provide befriending, not technical, support.”