A SCHEME that helps disabled, elderly and housebound people is appealing for more volunteers.
The Volunteer Link Scheme (VLS), which was launched in 1994 and makes more than 2,000 visits a year, has more people on its waiting list than helpers and is asking anyone who can to give up an hour or two of their time to make a difference to someone's life.
Currently there are 55 volunteers visiting about 70 people, with 20 on the waiting list.
New campaign manager Lisa Butler, who has been a volunteer for two years, said: "I started volunteering because my grandad, who was deaf and blind, had one and I could see the difference it made to him.
"Also I wanted to put something back. You can just sit and chat, go for a walk or just stand in for a carer to give them some time off.
"It can be a life-saver to a lonely person or someone who is isolated.
"They might go out for a pint of milk and not talk to anyone else all
day. It can also help to give an older person their confidence back.
"We get amazing feedback about how much this means to people."
She said the visits were becoming
vital as more community centres were being cut, giving the elderly fewer social outlets.
She added: "Volunteers can be anyone just prepared to sit and talk. They
just need to be friendly, patient and kind. This is particularly important coming up to Christmas when a lot of elderly people tend not to cook for themselves."
Referrals come from a number of sources including social services, local housing associations, voluntary agencies and self-referral.
Once a referral has been made, the volunteer co-ordinator makes a home visit to check the client's needs and match them with a suitable volunteer.
Volunteers, who have to be over 18, do not provide hands-on care or do the weekly shopping, cleaning, decorating or gardening.
All volunteers are Criminal Records Bureau checked and given training, and support is always available.
The VLS also runs the Voluntary Sector Older Persons Forum (VSOPF), a networking group which brings together more than 70 organisations with an interest in elderly peoples issues throughout the borough. * Anyone interested in volunteering can call Amelia Clarke on 020 8832 7422. For more information, see www.volunteerlink.org.uk.
