A LOCAL charity are looking for volunteers to visit, help and befriend people who have become isolated or out of touch with the community in Frome.
Active and in Touch work in partnership with Somerset You Can Do Services to offer ongoing befriending support to anyone over the age of 18 who feels isolated or lonely in Frome and the surrounding villages.
The local scheme, that has been running since November 2011, currently supports over 80 people, with the help of over 55 volunteers. However, with the number of referrals increasing, the charity needs more volunteers to meet the demand.
“The people Active and in Touch support have become isolated and lonely through circumstances that life has thrown at them, maybe caring for a partner for years, moving to a new area, or just not feeling confident to try new things alone,” said Project Coordinator Lucia Chadwick.
“With the help of our volunteer befrienders we can make a real difference. Our volunteers meet people and spend time with them, find out their needs and interests, and help them to find their own place in the community.”
Chairman of Active and in Touch, Charles Wood, first joined the team as a volunteer and continues to visit people in the community. He explained, “As a volunteer, to count so many people from so many different walks of life and circumstances as friends, whether beneficiary or volunteer, is rewarding, with there being a little bit of a family atmosphere in what we do.
“We volunteers often get as much back from the small acts of companionship as we give.”
If you would like to be a volunteer, or if you know someone who might benefit from this service, please contact Lucia on 07572 854029 or email activeand intouch@gmail.com.
More information can be found on the Active and in Touch website http://active andintouch.weebly.com/
