Working hard for older people in County Durham
Published on 11 May 2020 01:37 PM
Since the Covid-19 situation started we have been able to arrange vital support for hundreds of older people across County Durham. We have recruited the help of over 120 generous volunteers who are out in the community shopping for those unable to shop for themselves due to the risk the virus poses to them.
These magnanimous volunteers are not only collecting shopping and prescriptions but also delivering jigsaws, books, craft materials and DVDs from our closed charity shops to households, free of charge.
Staff and volunteers are also calling hundreds of older people every week for a welfare check and friendly chat. Many of our older people live alone and miss contact and conversations with their neighbours, families and friends. Older people in particular are anxious and a daily or weekly call can offer much needed reassurance and a listening ear.
We've completed over 600 shopping trips and given information and advice about support services, benefits, scams and Covid-19guidance to over 4377 older people across County Durham.
The services we are delivering have been greatly appreciated by our clients. One client has been in touch to say that ‘She will be standing outside clapping tonight for us as well as the NHS’, she told our volunteer that ‘she is her guardian angel’ and made her a necklace to say thank you.
Another client made homeless by her landlord as lockdown began has sent a donation and these kind words ‘A small donation for all the kindness and comfort Age UK County Durham gives me’
Another client said ‘I cannot begin to explain how grateful I am for the help Age UK County Durham gave me. The volunteer was so lovely and has made such a difference to my life’.
Robyn Holmes (Chief Executive Officer at Age UK County Durham) said ‘without the support of our dedicated staff and volunteers, we would not have been able to respond as quickly to the Covid-19 crisis and be in the privileged position to have supported so many older people across the County. The community spirit and generosity of strangers is a credit to our County’.
Stay safe, stay well everyone