DRIVERS with their own cars who can spare 30 minutes to an hour each week are being asked to sign up during Volunteers Week (June 1 – 7) to transport lonely and isolated people in Southampton.
Communicare is looking for helpers to convey isolated and often lonely individuals to a weekly intergenerational CommuniTea event at Weston Adventure Playground.
Annie Clewlow, Manager at Communicare, which helps vulnerable and isolated people in Southampton, said: “Volunteers’ Week is all about recognising the contribution volunteers make and to say a big ‘thank you’ to them. We would be lost without out current volunteers, however we always need more, and during this Volunteers’ Week, we want to urge others to consider volunteering so they too can experience just how rewarding and uplifting it feels to help others.
“We run CommuniTea coffee mornings with The Southampton Children’s Play Association (SCPA) every Thursday during term-time from 10am, which allows often lonely and isolated people to meet other people of all ages and socialise, which is extremely important for them.
“We have lots of people who would like to come along to our meetings, but they need help getting to them and we urgently need more volunteer drivers to provide just a little bit of time each week to help.”
Communicare currently has 300 Communiteers and has launched a campaign to substantially increase this number to be able to support more people through all the services it offers, not just the coffee morning.
“We’re keen to hear from individuals who can help, even if they have just 30 minutes every now and then to spare, and, also, groups that already operate in the community who could help, such as Neighbourhood Watch groups, book clubs, WI groups, flower arranging clubs, all sorts really.”
To find out more about Communicare or becoming a Communiteer, please visit www.communicareinsouthampton.org.ukor call 023 8250 0050.