A leading charity is urgently appealing for volunteers in the Renfrewshire to help ensure that the elderly are not left feeling isolated and unable to socialise since the covid pandemic.
Re-engage, which is dedicated to ending loneliness and isolation for those aged 75 and over, is rebuilding its network of free Sunday tea parties throughout the UK and needs coordinators willing to spend a few hours to oversee these gatherings
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Meryl Davies, CEO of Re-engage said: “Before the pandemic our monthly tea parties provided a vital lifeline for older people who barely saw another person from one week to the next.
“Two years of lockdowns and uncertainty have left many of them lacking the confidence to get back into the outside world. We want them to start socialising again so they do not feel they have been left behind. But to do that we need local community leaders prepared to devote a few hours which can change so many lives.
“Our tea parties are the perfect remedy for those feeling isolated, probably even more so since the pandemic gripped the country, and we want to provide a service that will bring some happiness to their lives. Without coordinators we can’t do that.
“Loneliness is a serious health issue and with the over-75s one of the fastest growing populations it needs urgent attention.”
The charity currently has nearly 400 volunteers across Scotland who regularly provide a location for tea, sandwiches and cake for over 200 older people.
The guests are also driven to and from the tea parties. But there is a shortage of coordinators in many areas including Bishopton, Erskine, Inchinnan and Renfrew.
Due to this lack of transport, and with some elderly folk struggling with mobility issues, it means that many are left for periods of time not getting out very much or at all.
Mary, who is partially blind and was recently widowed after being married for 60 years, said: “I have no friends and I haven’t got a big family. I can’t go out much, so I really look forward to the Sunday outings. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy them. I don’t know what I would do without the tea parties. If I don’t have them, I have nothing.”
Feeling lonely can have a negative impact on one’s mental health with some studies showing that it can increase issues such as depression, anxiety, stress and can even impact sleeping habits.
Renfrewshire Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling, who also volunteers at Re-Engage, said: “I started volunteering with Re-Engage roughly eight years ago and volunteering has always been a big part of my life, especially in my 20s.
“When I heard of Re-Engage and what they try to do is a very homely approach to helping and supporting elderly people. The Covid lockdown has had a huge impact on everyone. During the lockdown, we were all denied the opportunity to mix socially.
“I think volunteering here is an incredible way to link generations together especially now that we are coming through the worst of the pandemic. I strongly encourage anyone who has the time available to volunteer as it is something that is not a huge time commitment and you get a lot out of it. It is satisfying knowing that you are keeping those generational links going.”
To find more information about Re-Engage and to sign up to be a volunteer, check out the site’s website: www.reengage.org.uk/ .
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