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Volunteer Tea Party Hosts and Drivers

On 11 Jun 2014 at 3:54pm Julia wrote:

Contact the Elderly is setting up a Lewes Area group to offer monthly Sunday afternoon teas for isolated and lonely older people.
To do this we need volunteer drivers to pick up and accompany the older group members once a month to the tea parties and volunteer hosts who will offer a Sunday afternoon tea to the group once or twice a year.
If you enjoy the company of older people and would like to be involved please give me a call on 01273 401569.
www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk

On 11 Jun 2014 at 10:13pm PC Dixon wrote:

Do I need a DBS check for this ? Maybe !

On 12 Jun 2014 at 7:18am Taxi ranker wrote:

How would I stand should an accident occur ?

On 12 Jun 2014 at 7:34am Legal Eagle wrote:

Obviously, not thought through.

On 12 Jun 2014 at 1:54pm Elanor Rigby wrote:

there`s bound to be red tape - enough to stifle a good idea

On 12 Jun 2014 at 1:57pm Father Mc.Kenzie wrote:

My Children , you are always welcome - young and old . Best wishes to you Julia and your group

On 18 Jun 2014 at 7:30pm Julia Rivas wrote:

Thank you all for your responses. First let me tell you a bit about Contact the Elderly.
This is a charity that will celebrate it's 50th anniversary next year. Supported by a volunteer network, the charity organises monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for small groups of older people in the homes of volunteers across England, Scotland and Wales.
With over 540 groups nationwide, the charity provides a regular, consistent and vital friendship link every month to over 4,400 older people, aged 75 and over, who live alone, without family or friends nearby. At the same time, the charity also encourages its more than 7,000 volunteers to find enjoyment and fulfilment in achieving the charity�s aim and making new friends.
The Contact the Elderly model is based on a simple yet very effective concept: free monthly tea parties for older people, supported by a network of volunteers, within local communities. The social gatherings bring individuals together and develop fulfilling friendships and support networks � and thereby help to reduce loneliness and isolation.
Contact the Elderly recruits volunteer drivers, hosts and group coordinators to help arrange the monthly tea parties for small groups of older people (up to eight guests per group). The group is warmly welcomed by a different host each month, but the charity�s drivers and older guests remain the same. This ensures that over the months and years, acquaintances turn into friends and loneliness is replaced by companionship.
To answer your questions regarding safeguarding and insurance:
Our group coordinators and drivers have to be DBS checked and we ask for two references as well.
With regards to accidents; our volunteer drivers use their own cars and need to tell their insurance companies that they are volunteering as drivers - so will be covered by their own insurance.
The Charity also carries Public Liability insurance for all the volunteers.
If you are interested to find out more please go to our website: www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk.
Thank you all for your interest.