Elderly volunteers celebrate 30 years with special tea
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme’s Forth Valley branch has celebrated the UK association’s 30th anniversary.
Members of the organisation recognised the milestone on November 7 with an afternoon tea at the Albert Halls.
They were joined by the chief executive of Volunteering Matters, Oonagh Aitken, and Natalie Masterson, the chief executive of Stirling Voluntary Enterprise.
RSVP work to encourage and assist older people in using their skills and experience to keep active in their retirement through volunteering.
The group, which has run in Forth Valley for over 16 years, provides a wide range of opportunities and projects in schools, hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Walks are organised throughout the year by their‘walk leaders’in partnership with Active Stirling.
There is also a ‘handyperson’service, which sees older volunteers taking part in smaller maintenance jobs that some elderly people are unable to do themselves in their homes.
Knitting groups have also been set up in Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa.
A spokesperson for RSVP Forth Valley spoke of the benefits of volunteering for the elderly:“Volunteering can have a huge impact on the people and services we support, the local community and volunteers themselves.”
“Older people who volunteer are less likely to become socially isolated, experience fewer health problems, socialise more and have fun in retirement.”
For more information on how to get involved, contact rsvpscotstirling@ volunteeringmatters.com.