The best day of the week

‘Honestly, I like everything about it,’ says 81-year-old Jac, sitting amongst her many friends at the Market Drayton day centre run by Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin.

‘It’s the best day of the week!’ she says. ‘I like the company and the friendliness. I love the staff and the volunteers here. The food is excellent. Joining this day centre was the best thing I ever did.’

‘I really look forward to it each week,’ says 87-year-old Renéé. ‘It’s so interesting. The other week we had some gentlemen here from the Men in Sheds group, showing us how we could build our own simple birdhouse.’ Mischievous 85-year-old Mick can’t resist adding: ‘Yes, we have all kinds of different groups here. Personally, I’m hoping for some pole dancing!’ Jac and Renéé laugh.

Market Drayton day centre is one of over 20 day centres across the county run by Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin’s dedicated volunteers. All are looking to recruit more volunteers, to make sure the service strengthens and continues.

‘It would be brilliant to have more volunteers,’ says Reg Lacey, Service Development Officer at Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin. ‘It would allow people to volunteer just once a fortnight, instead of once a week and it would give us much more flexibility when volunteers are away on holiday.’

‘I do hope more people will come forward to help us. It really is a lot of fun, and very rewarding to be able to provide a great day out for an older person.’

Among the enthusiastic volunteers who run the day centre are Mary, who has been part of the set-up for 20 years, and two named Sheila, one a relative newcomer who has been with the day centre for just over a year and the other who’s clocked up eight years at the day centre, and has also volunteered for the Lions and the local museum.

Former Shropshire Star photographer, now volunteer, Richard says: ‘I really enjoy just helping out wherever I can. Sometimes I call the bingo, sometimes I make the teas and coffees. It’s really good fun, actually.’

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