Over 50? Time to Spare? Want to make a Difference?
Time to volunteer as a befriender or driver.
What is a Befriending?
Would you be interested in ‘befriending an isolated patient at home’? Keeping active and interested in old age is hugely beneficial for a person’s physical and mental well-being. GPs and other health professionals are increasingly recommending social activities and interactions as a treatment for loneliness and isolation. As a volunteer, you are vital in facilitating this. Your role could include sharing a cup of tea and a chat with an isolated person or helping them access a group or activity in the local community.
What is a Volunteer Driver?
A volunteer driver would take older patients to and from their health-related appointments. Some patients have no access to personal or public transport and find it difficult to get to their GP surgery or to their other local healthcare appointments. By driving them to their regular (non-emergency) appointments you can help to reduce missed appointments and save health professionals having to make time-consuming home visits.
What will I get out of it?
Volunteering for The Old School Surgery provides a valuable service and you will become an important member of the team. You will meet other volunteers regularly and will be offered interesting, short training courses at no cost to you.
How much time do I need to commit?
You decide how much time you want to spend volunteering in a week or a month.
I am interested – What do I do next?
You have three options:
- fill in the form at the bottom of this page to send an application electronically
- download the below pdf leaflet, fill it in and send it to us (online here or by post, our address is here)
- pick up a paper leaflet from The Surgery reception, fill it in and give it back to one of our receptionists.
After approval, we will contact you to give us two referees and you will be asked to agree to a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check done through The Surgery. By joining the RSVP scheme you will also receive free personal accident and third-party insurance cover.
RSVP application form
