New chapter for Help at Home Costa Blanca
WITH a new committee elected, Help at Home Costa Blanca (HAH CB) is seeking to raise awareness of what they can do for people who require assistance.
They are also striving to improve the efficiency and efficacy of their work during these extraordinarily challenging times, especially for the more vulnerable among us.
Their new president, Patricia Muirhead, and general secretary, Susie Brice explained to Costa Blanca News on Tuesday that this will not only involve ‘updating an modernising’ their operations, but also getting out and about to do what they say in their mission statement.
This outreaching to find people who may need help before their situation worsens and becomes more serious would be similar to the way some social services operate in the UK, said Patricia.
Their priority is to remind the community where they work – from Pilar de la Horadada to La Marina urbanisation (San Fulgencio), including Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Rojales – exactly what they can offer.
“There are still many people who don’t know we exist,” assured Patricia.
Following an assessment of needs, this includes transport to medical appointments; respite care 2-4 hours per week; a little help around the home; shopping; companionship/befriending; advice on social services and welfare benefits; and translation.
This is provided for free, subject to the charity’s available resources.
A recent call they took required them to find out the condition of an elderly woman in hospital on behalf of her husband due to the visiting restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
They are available to give talks to groups who might be interested in finding out more.
They also have excellent contacts with other charities and agencies, and work with them to help people. This includes Orihuela Costa social services, in Playa Flamenca, ‘who sometimes call us’, noted Patricia, as well as working closely with the Red Cross. Fortunately, ex-president Carmen Pérez will continue volunteering with her invaluable knowledge and contacts at the town hall and hospital.
Of course HAH CB relies on their volunteers so has policies and practices to ensure that all of them are treated equally and fairly.
Although they have over 90 volunteers, currently only 4050% of them are working since most are aged over 50 (and some over 80) so cannot take the risk of Covid-19 infection.
One possibility to attract more young people could be to offer training schemes in various roles, enabling volunteers to gain experience and learn about retail and office procedures, for example, which would be good for their CV.
There are opportunities to work in various roles, and volunteers are encouraged to participate in any area. They particularly need help in the shop and office, befrienders and drivers but other choices include assessment, fundraising, home help and marketing.
As little as four hours a week could make a huge difference to them and the people they help, as well as being a richly rewarding experience.
They reminded that HAH
CB treats all confidential information according to Spanish data protection law and they do not discuss business inappropriately. All volunteer and client information is kept locked up. While they offer assistance wherever they can, they do not offer advice on legal or medical matters.
On the subject of fundraising, while they had a good year in 2019, this year will inevitably be challenging due to the restrictions on organising public events.
Fortunately they still have income from the market at the Emerald Isle on Tuesdays, occasional functions there and recently at Pablo’s International, and generous organisations such as Drivers Golf Society.
As such all donations, either financial or goods to sell in the shop, are welcome.
To contact HAH CB about any of the above subjects, visit their office and furniture store in Cabo Roig, Local 8, N332, KM49, (Mon- Fri 10.3014.00) on 96 532 87 94 or charitycentre.helpathomecb@gmail.com; charity shop in Playa Flamenca (MonSat 10.30-14.00) on 634 352 367; or centre in Ciudad Quesada, on 693 027 026 or helpathomequesada@gmail.com.