It’s a voluntary contribution

As National Volunteers' Week begins, CHARLOTTE PERCIVAL joins a York charity where volunteers make a difference to thousands.

SMARTLY dressed in a suit and tie, Walter shuffles to the door of his home. He welcomes us in, offers tea and coffee, and talks of his days as an accountant. Pride, it seems, is ageless.

But Walter is 78, walks with a stick, cannot properly clean his house and is surrounded by rubbish and memories.

He is appreciative of Age Concern's interest, happy with the occasional check' visit, but politely declines any services.

This is typical of a first-time visit, according to Age Concern volunteer "Scott", who did not want his real name used in this article.

"The second and third times are generally easier because I've got all the questions I need to ask out of the way and the person knows who I am," he said.

"They generally open up a bit more and might start to ask for a bit of help. The point is that they know I am here if they need me."

Throughout the visit, Scott gauges that Walter does his own shopping and laundry. He travels by taxi to the supermarket and eats hot meals when he can. More often he nibbles what he fancies.

"You could see behind his eyes he fully understood what I was saying," said Scott. "He took it in and considered it for a bit before giving us his answers. He was very much on the ball. More than anything he wants to continue to be able to live in his house."

Walter, for now, is not a worry. He knows help is there should he need it. His house is fitted with mobility aids and his daughters try to visit him weekly.

Not everybody is as fortunate as Walter. In preparation for National Volunteers' Week an annual celebration of the work done by volunteers I spent a day watching Age Concern provide a lifeline to the community.

My first task was to answer phones in the office, in Walmgate. "Beryl" again, not her real name works in reception a couple of mornings a week. In her late seventies, Beryl is older than some of the clients.

After answering calls about insurance and daytrips, she tells me how volunteering keeps her active.

"I do really enjoy it and it's nice to know you're helping someone. My hearing gives me trouble and sometimes the people on the phone have bad hearing so it can take a bit of time. It's very rewarding though."

Later, I take an elderly couple's shopping list over the telephone and order it for them on the internet.

An 83-year-old woman who wihes to be known as Jean is dependent on this service. Without it, she would struggle to buy food.

"Three years ago I had a heart attack in Tesco and almost died in the shopping aisle," she says.

"I couldn't go through that again. This help is invaluable."

Age Concern volunteers are constantly in demand to provide help, advice and companionship. At venues throughout York, volunteers help to run day clubs, giving older people a day out with their friends. They run activities, serve lunches, drive minibuses and chat with the guests all of them making a difference.

Ethel Waines, 77, used to work as a volunteer, but now she attends a day club as a guest. "It gets you out of the house with friends and stops you feeling alone. Some of the volunteers bring really exciting activities with them like craft making. I really enjoy things like that, it means a lot to me."

Back in the Walmgate headquarters, "Josephine", another volunteer who wishes to remain anonymous, is working in the shop. She has been volunteering for 13 years and still enjoys it, aged 79.

"It is good company and you meet all sorts of folk a lot of people just come in here for a chat," she said. "I think you need to be adaptable and unflappable, but I do really enjoy it."

James Player, deputy chief officer at Age Concerns, believes volunteers are vital to the charity.

"They do it because they want to do it and we should never take the goodwill of our volunteers for granted," he said.

"It would be quite wrong for the Government to become dependent on volunteers you can't push people to be those things.

"We try to ensure that they are comfortable and happy in what they're doing. They are what the charity is all about."

He encourages a broad spectrum of people to apply for volunteering.

"We have all ages of volunteers helping us," he said.

"Some stay with us for about 25 years. We have some volunteers in their 80s visiting and supporting people in their 70s. There is no way you can legislate to say how fit or healthy someone stays in their later years or what people's needs will be."

How to be a volunteer

If you would like to help Age Concern, ask yourself these questions: Could you

If the answer to any of these is yes, phone James Player on 01904 621020