Can you spare an hour or two a week?
The Lightburn Elderly Association Project (LEAP) are currently looking for volunteers in Blantyre and surrounding areas.
The lottery-funded project, which has been operating in Blantyre since 2013, provides free, practical assistance to people over the age of 50 who require some additional help due to isolation or health difficulties. LEAP operate a programme called the Hands On Project which consists of 2 strands – a Befriending Service and a Handyperson Service.
The Befriending Service provides short or long-term one-to-one friendship and companionship to older people who may be isolated or lonely. It also assists with reconnecting older people back into their community, for example, by enabling people to attend local clubs or activities.
The Handyperson Service provides free, practical assistance with small jobs and tasks around the home such as changing lightbulbs, curtains and smoke alarm batteries, building small flatpack furniture, fitting new curtain poles and lots more.
LEAP are in need of both more befriending and handyperson volunteers. Volunteers can choose to be a befriender or a handyperson or both, depending on their own interests and skills. The project are seeking help from volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and experience – there is however a particular need in Blantyre for male befriender volunteers to help support some elderly men and possibly start a men’s group which would involve discussion and fun activities like dominoes, darts and cards among other things.
The Hands On Project relies on its volunteers to give up just one or two hours a week – all volunteers undergo a disclosure check, receive training and receive daily support from LEAP staff. Travel expenses are also reimbursed.
If you can volunteer, or if you know someone who could use LEAP’s services, call Liz or Heather on 01698 907 004
