We’re calling for drivers during Volunteers’ Week
We’re asking drivers with their own cars who can spare 30 minutes to an hour each week to sign up during Volunteers Week (June 1 – 7) to transport lonely and isolated people in Southampton.
We are looking for helpers to convey isolated and often lonely individuals to a weekly intergenerational CommuniTea event at Weston Adventure Playground.
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.
Although we can find roles for most people wishing to assist us and will not turn individuals away, we’re ideally looking for those who have time to spare between 9am and 4pm from Monday to Friday. This is when those that use all our general services require assistance.
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.
Even when people have only a few minutes to spare and are not available on a regular basis, there are ways in which they can really help to make a difference to someone who needs support.
Communiteers are offered simple and basic training on topics such as safeguarding, manual handling and developing listening skills. They can choose their level of involvement and the types of activities they wish to engage in too.
Support provided is at a neighbourly level and Communicare does not offer professional, personal care, which can be given by statutory providers, or routine cleaning or gardening.
John Ansell, who is a Communicare Volunteer and Trustee, said: “I have been volunteering for Communicare since 2018 and often see the benefits that attending events such as the CommuniTea coffee mornings have on people who otherwise don’t see or speak to anyone all week.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to help them get to and from places, often it can be the highlight of their week and it has become a highlight of mine too. If people can just provide a little bit of time each week, we would be extremely grateful.”
We’re now inviting people from all walks of life and of all ages who have a current UK driving licence and their own car to get in touch.
Drivers work 30 minutes to an hour a week, or on a pre-agreed ‘on-call’ basis, depending on the individual’s availability. If you can spare a few hours, please do give us a call. It would mean such a lot to our service users who are unable to make their own way to our social events and other activities including essential appointments.