Find out More
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Volunteer with your car one Sunday a month
If you enjoy driving, love meeting people and have a sense of humour, then this is the volunteering role for you.
Drivers collect the same older person/s each monthly trip, take them to a different home and take part in an afternoon tea-party.
There are usually 3-5 drivers in a group and there are sometimes also 1 or 2 reserve drivers to cover for holidays and emergencies.
Journeys are normally local, but may occasionally be a little longer for a summer outing.
All you need is a full driver's license and valid insurance.
Everyone becomes good friends. Drivers help the host to serve the tea and clear away. Often one of the drivers is also the group coordinator.
Either contact us for more information or to attend a teaparty to see whether it is for you. Or you can complete our online application form now and we will be in touch with you.
Your Commitment - We ask our drivers to commit to 3-4 hours one Sunday a month. You contact your elderly person/s to make sure that they realise when you are going to pick them up.
Our motto is "Never let down an elderly person", so we rely on our drivers to tell the group coordinator the month before an outing if the can't make the following outing. This helps us find another driver from our reserve list, or make alternative arrangements.
"The time I feel most lonely is after six o'clock at night, but when I have been out to a Contact tea, then I don't feel lonely at all, just fresh memories of a lovely afternoon out with friends. It is good getting out and meeting people and it is fun for us to get together. It has made such a difference to my life." from an older guest
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Group Coodinator often a volunteer driver as well
You are the person who ensures everything runs smoothly.
Coordinators organise the monthly group outings by liaising with the hosts and the drivers to so that everyone is clear about the time, date and place. After you call the drivers, they in turn contact their older guest/s.
Support is available from either Head Office or the Regional Development Officer - for additional hosts, drivers and elderly guests, as well as for advice, etc.
Either contact us for more information or to attend a teaparty to see whether it is for you. Or you can complete our online application form now and we will be in touch with you.
Your Commitment - your role is very important, but it only takes a little extra regular commitment each month in addition to the outing. There are 6-9 older guests, 3-5 drivers and a host relying on you. It is your job to be organised and to keep everyone informed about dates, times and places.
"I don't think people realise how lonely and isolated these elderly people feel and just a few hours one Sunday a month can make a huge difference. The gatherings are tremendous fun and I can feel excitement in the air each month when I ring around my members, hosts and my drivers. I find it enjoyable because you can see immediately how, for a small amount of time, you can make a big difference to their lives." from a Group Coordinator
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Host one (or maybe two) Sunday/s a year
Hosts provide a warm welcome and a simple afternoon tea lasting between two and three hours for 6-9 older guests and their drivers (3-5 drivers). Sometimes hosts involve their families and friends and two or three generations join in.
If you are a good listener and are able to chat easily with a mixture of older people, then you will have a great time too!
The only other essentials area big teapot, a downstairs toilet and easy access to your house (e.g. not too many steps to your front door).
Either contact us for more information or to attend a teaparty to see whether it is for you. Or you can complete our online application form now and we will be in touch with you.
Your Commitment - we ask you to commit to one or two teaparties a year - more if you want. The volunteer coordinator will call you to check dates and other arrangements and nearer a time will confirm how many guests to expect.
"We were delighted to welcome everybody and had such a lovely time with our visitors. It was so nice to see everybody leave with big smiles, having had an enjoyable afternoon catching up with friends and relaxing in our home. It was such a rewarding experience, but also very easy. I can't wait for the next tea party." from a Host
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Other volunteering opportunities
In addition to regular group drivers, we also need reserve drivers for many of our groups - you can help out when a regular driver in your area is unable to drive on a particular occasion and this helps to ensure that no older person is ever let down.
Depending on the personal circumstances of group members or drivers, helpers are sometimes needed to assist.
We are always looking for ways of increasing awareness of Contact the Elderly and recruiting volunteers.
You can help us
- with your PR or Marketing skills
- distribute publicity material in your area
- give talks and act as an Ambassador for Contact the Elderly in your area
There is always scope to help us in our Head Office with various administrative tasks.
Please contact us for more information.
