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2 people are interested
Lifechangers Wanted!
ORGANIZATION: Volunteer Link Scheme
Please visit the new page to apply.
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2 people are interested
Can you spare between 1-2 hours a week to visit someone who otherwise would see nobody? You may sit and have a cup of tea and a chat, or listen to music with them. You may assist them to go out to a local shop or to a cafe for a drink. Whatever you do, you will be a lifechanger to them.
About us
The Volunteer Link Scheme is a registered charity (number 1072538) with the sole aim of relieving the isolation suffered from adults living in the London Borough of Ealing who are housebound without support.
We recruit volunteers to visit adults who, for whatever reason, find themselves on their own.
Many of our clients are older adults, however we do take referrals for any adults.
Benefits of volunteering:
We provide thorough initial training
We provide regular additional training on relevant subjects such as wheelchair skills or first aid.
We arrange social events where you can meet other volunteers
Volunteering is good for your health! Research from the United Health Group has revealed that doing good is good for you with 76% of volunteers reporting that they felt healthier over 12 months of volunteering.
More opportunities with Volunteer Link Scheme
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About Volunteer Link Scheme
Location:
Boundary House, Boston Road, London, W7 2QE, GB
Mission Statement
Our mission statement: "The objects of the Scheme are to relieve the stresses experienced by people with physical or sensory impairment and their carers within the family or home in the London Borough of Ealing by offering a respite service through the provision of volunteer befrienders"
Description
The Volunteer Link Scheme (VLS) is a registered charity that was set up in 1994. Our aim is to relieve loneliness experienced by isolated and housebound people across the borough of Ealing. We run a befriending service, which is delivered by trained volunteers who make weekly visits to an isolated client for about two hours. We are the only service like this that works across the borough and currently we have 58 trained volunteers visiting 69 clients every week, meaning that our volunteers make over 2,500 every year. Our clients are mostly older people (86% are aged 75 plus) and all are housebound without assistance - in other words they need help to leave their own home.
Because of their situation our clients suffer from severe loneliness which can lead to other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. The Campaign to end Loneliness states "research shows that loneliness and social isolation are harmful to our health: lacking social connections is worse for us than well-known risk factors such as obesity and physical inactivity." The people that we reach are the invisible population, disadvantaged people who are completely isolated and hidden away in their own homes.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
Individuals homes across EalingEaling, United Kingdom
DATE POSTED
June 28, 2016
SKILLS
- Elder care
- People Skills
- Relationship Building
GOOD FOR
N/A
REQUIREMENTS
- Background Check
- Must be at least 18
- Orientation or Training
- 2 hours a week
- Willingness to volunteer for at least a year