WITH Wiltshire’s population growing older as people live longer, the number of elderly people living on their own is increasing as well.

Age UK Wiltshire’s Wellbeing Project aims to tackle isolation and loneliness among the elderly by recruiting an army of volunteers to spend time visiting and helping older people.

But the project is more than just providing someone to share a cup of tea and a chat, its core aim is to restore confidence and encourage its beneficiaries back out into the community to take part in things they enjoy to help them build friendships and discover a renewed zest for life.

Project worker Steve Goodrick oversees 45 volunteers in the north of the county and just slightly below that number in the south. But he knows the list of potential clients, referred to Age UK by GPs, social services, families and other agencies, far outstrips the resources he has available.

This is why the charity wants to see at least double its number of volunteers this year.

Mr Goodrick, 61, has been with the charity since January after spending four years working for Macmillan as a fundraising manager.

He passionately believes the older members of society need and deserve more consideration. “I’ve always felt that older people in society aren’t always the best supported,” he said. “It is quite easy for them to be ignored. Their opinions, their voice, their concerns aren’t always recognised. People are entitled to lead as fulfilling a life as they can.”

He believes Wellbeing can reconnect its elderly clients with the community. “It is about heading off the tendency for people to become isolated, through various reasons, such as if people become less confident about going out in the world,” he said.

“People may have care packages in places and that may deal with their practical needs, but it is not necessarily seen as company. There are many people out there who need support and figures suggest that number is only going to grow.”

Volunteers are given rigorous training in safeguarding and how to work with their clients, as well as given DBS background checks. Once they are trained they are matched with a client.

Mr Goodrick said: “We meet with a person and have a chat with them about their life, what they do what they get involved with and what their interests are - or were. Then we will try and get that person reconnected, get them involved in activities that they have told us they like doing.”

Once they are matched, the clients have an agreed action plan, usually over five months but it can be longer according to the client’s needs.

With our support, the volunteer will find the groups or activities that match their client’s interests and gently coax them to into joining in. Volunteers have got clients involved in bowls, singing groups, lunch clubs, model train clubs and fitness classes.

There are no hard and fast rules about how much time volunteers commit but generally it is around two hours a week. In addition to encouraging their clients to get out, even if it is just a trip to the shops, they assist with all manner of day-to-day problems.

“It could be helping them with their smartphone or filling in forms, but we steer clear of personal care, financial involvement or handling money. Although we can refer to our Information and Advice team who can advise on these matters.” said Mr Goodrick.

For the clients and volunteers it can lead to enduring friendships but whether the bond lasts five months or five years, the visitors get as much of a benefit as their clients, said Mr Goodrick.

“I think for the volunteers there is fulfilment that they have helped change someone’s life, certainly for someone who maybe didn’t see anyone from one week to the next. Now they have a different outlook.”

To volunteer for the Wellbeing Project, call the charity on (01380) 727767, email volunteering@ageukwiltshire.org.uk, or go to ageukwiltshire.org.uk.

Caption: Wellbeing project manager Steve Goodrick has 45 volunteers in north Wiltshire and just short of that in Salisbury