Just One Hour Can Make A Huge Difference
Until quite recently when she moved away, I had been visiting an elderly lady as a volunteer befriender for Age UK,” says Pleasant Craigie. “Due to lockdown I knew I wouldn’t be able to befriend anybody else but after getting back in touch with Age UK to see what else I could do, I now help out by making phone calls to elderly people and doing their food shopping.
“I shop for two older people and organise a small team of volunteers who are also doing the same. When I drop off food, I stand at the other end of a corridor and wave. We talk more on the phone, but at least they can put my face to my voice.
“I know my life is better when I make someone else’s life better. It takes the focus of f me and it puts whatever worries I might have into a dif ferent perspective. My contact with these elderly people is not difficult and it doesn’t take a lot of time and ef for t, but it makes a big dif ference to them.
“It is a worry that a lot of charities are going to be in financial straits due to the virus. They need as much suppor t as they can get. Helping doesn’t need to take a lot of time, or to be a huge commitment. It is easy to think that there is little, or nothing, that we can do to help or that it won’t make any dif ference – but actually, even just an hour of voluntar y work once a week, can make a great change to someone’s life.”
Demand for Age UK’s vital ser vices has increased rapidly during this unprecedented health emergency. Help Age UK keep their information and advice and friendship ser vices running and help local Age UK branches provide practical suppor t in their communities by donating at www.ageuk.org.uk/coronaappeal