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01761 431388

Charity Seeks Volunteers

The Carers' Centre Team left to right: Gill Evans, Alison Hillis, Trisha Jordan, Peggy Nethercott, Sonia Hutchison, Neil Drinkwater, Jo Grobler, Jill Tovey and Lydia Clark.

A local charity that supports carers in Bath and North East Somerset is using Volunteers’ Week 2011 to appeal for new recruits to boost its army of volunteers. The Carers’ Centre helps thousands of carers every year with advice, support, information and a wide range of events and activities.

The Centre is looking for more volunteer befrienders to work directly with carers. Volunteer Manager, Trisha Jordan, explained: “Being a carer can be lonely and stressful, with no one really understanding what you are going through. A befriender is a volunteer to talk to and listen to your problems. It can make a huge difference to a carer’s life.”

Befriender, Enid Green, from Temple Cloud, said: “I befriend 3 carers, visiting them regularly and listening to their problems, taking them out for a bit of a break. I thoroughly enjoy my volunteering work. The people I befriend have become good friends and we appreciate what we give to each other.”

Volunteer drivers are also sought by the charity. “Drivers are a vital part of the work of the Centre,” added Trisha. “Last year our volunteers drove over 5,000 miles on more than 400 journeys to help carers get to and from Carers’ Centre activities, providing vital break away from caring.”

David Wicks from Weston, in Bath has been a volunteer driver for the Centre for 5 years. “It gives me a real buzz to help people,” he said. “We are a good team and we have great fun.”

Interested in volunteering? To find out more or to apply, please contact the Carers’ Centre on 01761 431388 or visit www.banescarerscentre.org.uk