Urgent call for volunteers to help lonely older people

A charity is urgently appealing for new volunteers to help isolated older people who live alone in Derbyshire.

Contact the Elderly, which organises monthly social gatherings for people aged 75 and over wants to develop new groups to help as many people in the community as possible but desperately needs volunteers in Chesterfield, Dronfield, and Stretton.

It is looking for support in three key areas: group coordinators to help organise monthly tea parties, hosts to welcome a group into their home for a tea party once or twice a year and drivers with a car who can collect older guests and accompany them to the events.

Contact the Elderly has been dedicated to tackling loneliness and social isolation in older people for more than 50 years. Last year it supported 6,223 older guests in 813 groups across the UK. It is supported by around 11,000 volunteers.

The charity has been hosting regular events in the Derbyshire area since 2015. One Sunday a month a volunteer driver collects and accompanies an older guest to their tea party, which is hosted by another volunteer. Through the groups strong bonds have been formed and friendships made – and 95% of the older guests that the charity helps say they now have something to look forward to.

Helen Mather, who has been volunteering as a driver for Contact the Elderly in Sheffield for more than three years, often drives older guests in the group to Dronfield where two of our hosts are based. She urges others to get involved in the area so that the charity can set up more localised groups.

She said: "The charity brings adults of all ages together to share conversation and cake and it's a lovely way to meet and support older people in your community.

"I'd encourage anyone looking for a meaningful way to give something back to offer a few hours of their time each month as a volunteer driver. I've met some lovely people."

Angela Handforth, Development Officer for Contact the Elderly in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, said: "The older guests who come to our groups in Derbyshire love their regular afternoons of conversation and companionship and tell us that it gives them something to look forward to each month. However, we k

A charity is urgently appealing for new volunteers to help isolated older people who live alone in Derbyshire.

Contact the Elderly, which organises monthly social gatherings for people aged 75 and over wants to develop new groups to help as many people in the community as possible but desperately needs volunteers in Chesterfield, Dronfield, and Stretton.

It is looking for support in three key areas: group coordinators to help organise monthly tea parties, hosts to welcome a group into their home for a tea party once or twice a year and drivers with a car who can collect older guests and accompany them to the events.

Contact the Elderly has been dedicated to tackling loneliness and social isolation in older people for more than 50 years. Last year it supported 6,223 older guests in 813 groups across the UK. It is supported by around 11,000 volunteers.

The charity has been hosting regular events in the Derbyshire area since 2015. One Sunday a month a volunteer driver collects and accompanies an older guest to their tea party, which is hosted by another volunteer. Through the groups strong bonds have been formed and friendships made – and 95% of the older guests that the charity helps say they now have something to look forward to.

Helen Mather, who has been volunteering as a driver for Contact the Elderly in Sheffield for more than three years, often drives older guests in the group to Dronfield where two of our hosts are based. She urges others to get involved in the area so that the charity can set up more localised groups.

She said: "The charity brings adults of all ages together to share conversation and cake and it's a lovely way to meet and support older people in your community.

"I'd encourage anyone looking for a meaningful way to give something back to offer a few hours of their time each month as a volunteer driver. I've met some lovely people."

Angela Handforth, Development Officer for Contact the Elderly in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, said: "The older guests who come to our groups in Derbyshire love their regular afternoons of conversation and companionship and tell us that it gives them something to look forward to each month. However, we know that there are many more people in the local community who need our help."

Angela added: "We would love to set up more groups in the area, but we desperately need volunteers in order to do this. If you can spare a few hours – whether that's a week, a month or even a year, we would really love to hear from you."

If you are interested in volunteering for Contact the Elderly once a month as a driver, or twice a year as a host, get in touch by calling 0800 716543 or emailing angela.handforth@contact-the-elderly.org.uk

now that there are many more people in the local community who need our help."

Angela added: "We would love to set up more groups in the area, but we desperately need volunteers in order to do this. If you can spare a few hours – whether that's a week, a month or even a year, we would really love to hear from you."

If you are interested in volunteering for Contact the Elderly once a month as a driver, or twice a year as a host, get in touch by calling 0800 716543 or emailing angela.handforth@contact-the-elderly.org.uk