New friends and good company

Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin’s Whitchurch day centre is a place where older people can chat, play games, enjoy a tasty meal, and have a laugh.

‘Our members are picked up by a volunteer driving the community bus and brought here to the community centre in Kingsway Court,’ explains Mel, one of the more recent volunteers. ‘We tend to start the day with tea and toast. Later we have gentle, hand-eye coordination exercises and then there’s cards and dominoes, sometimes there’s a quiz.’

Lunch is another highlight of the day. The meals are prepared at the kitchen of nearby Whitchurch Community Hospital and are very much appreciated by day centre members. ‘What’s nice,’ says Mel, ‘is that we volunteers enjoy this every bit as much as the day centre members. It’s such a nice atmosphere.’

The day centre is one of over 20 across Shropshire and Telford, run by the friendly, welcoming and dedicated volunteers of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin. Right now, the centre, along with others around the county, is on the lookout for more volunteers.

‘It would be brilliant to have more volunteers,’ says Reg Lacey, Service Development Officer for Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin. ‘It would just make things so much easier. If we have a few more volunteers it allows for greater flexibility, for instance if people are away on holiday and we need cover, so we would really love to hear from anyone wishing to join us. It really is a lot of fun, and very rewarding.’

Testament to just how much the volunteers enjoy it is the fact that some of them have been doing this for getting on for 20 years. Rita, Whitchurch Day Centre’s longest-serving volunteer, says: ‘It’s really lovely here at the centre. I would recommend it to anyone.’

Susan Hordley, another long-serving volunteer, is busy setting up the first game of the day, the gentle throwing and catching of brightly coloured cushions, as she says: ‘This is just a bit of fun, but it’s also good exercise.’

Dodging the flying cushions is volunteer Peter Lawrence, who has been helping out here for almost seven years. ‘Fifteen months or so after my wife died, I decided it was time for me to get a life again. I saw an advert for volunteers for Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin. Although I was living in Wem, they asked me if I would volunteer for this group in Whitchurch. I said yes and here I am.’

Among the day centre members are 82-year-old Brenda, who says: ‘I started coming here to the day centre about three years ago. I like the company. I like to sing, and sometimes we have a sing-song. Every fortnight we have someone come and play the organ and that’s always nice.’

Meanwhile, 95-year-old Yorkshire lass Sheila, says: ‘I’m from Doncaster. I moved here to be near my daughter. The people here are very friendly. I started coming here and I’ve made lots of new friends.’

To find out more about volunteering to help at a day centre near you, call Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on 01743 233 123 or email volunteering@ageukstw.org.uk