If you’ve got an hour to spare each week you could make a big difference to an older person’s life.
Age Concern is appealing for volunteers to join its Befriending Scheme, which involves popping in to see an older person in their own home for a catch up over a cuppa.
Help is particularly needed in Markyate, Berkhamsted and Tring.
The lower age limit is usually 16 but volunteers can be as young as 12-years-old and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Training is provided.
> Home visitors are needed to visit people for a short time after they have been discharged from hospital.
The visits are once a week for up to eight weeks by mutual arrangement and would be perfect for those looking for a short-term flexible volunteer opportunity.
Volunteers can help out by picking up essential shopping, collecting prescriptions and providing positive support and companionship.
Helpers will be good at listening, have patience, empathy and ideally their own transport or the ability to travel locally.
This is a volunteer opportunity with Age Concern with help needed in Markyate, Berkhamsted and Tring .
> Parents are needed to give support to other mums and dads that are facing tough times.
Home Start Dacorum needs volunteers who have a few hours to spare each week to visit a family in their own home.
The charity runs a home visiting scheme which aims to help parents with pre-school age children who, for a variety of reasons, feel temporarily unable to cope with the stresses of family life.
All volunteers undergo comprehensive training.
The next 12-week course is being held in Berkhamsted on Tuesday mornings from 9.30am to 1.30pm and starts on September 25.
The work of the volunteers is complementary to that of a small team of professional workers.
>To find out more about these volunteer opportunities and others on offer contact Volunteer Centre Dacorum on 01442 247209, visit the centre at the Round House in Marlowes or go to www.volunteerdacorum.org