Volunteer week is an annual event that celebrates the work of
volunteers. Unfortunately, this year the celebrations can not go ahead
because of the COVID-19 situation and the risks to everyone. Everyone
has been affected, in some way by the pandemic.
This week we should be celebrating volunteers and the fantastic work
volunteers carry out for charities everywhere. During normal times charities
would be holding events to showcase the work of their volunteers. Sadly we
are not working in normal times. Many charities are having to meet the
challenges that the COVID-19 has thrown down.
At Age Concern Chesterfield and District we have a team of dedicated
volunteers who are working extremely hard delivering our Telephone
Befriending Service. Our volunteers are telephoning their existing call lists of
people who are housebound, lonely and isolated. Since lockdown the
volunteers have risen to the challenge of ringing new people who are
shielding, and are lonely and isolated. Volunteers from our Active Age project
are working with the Telephone Befriending Service volunteers to deliver
telephone calls to those who need to hear a friendly voice. It is hard to
imagine that many lonely people, across all ages, do not have a face to face
or telephone conversation with another person. The only voice they hear is
from the radio or television.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of all charities. This is particularly true at Age
Concern Chesterfield and District and trustees value the hours that the
volunteers give freely to help and support others within their community.
The Trustee and staff would like to thank all of our volunteers for their
dedication to the existing and new people they telephone each week. Without
the volunteers there would be no service.
Thank you.