THE charity WRVS is looking for volunteers in Okehampton to help with the Home Library Service.

WRVS helps older people across the country stay independent at home, and active in their community. The Home Library Service, also known as Books on Wheels, is for people who enjoy reading or listening to audiobooks, but cannot get out of the house to a library.

Volunteers choose and deliver books to those who want them, and can build up a rapport with clients on a one-on-one basis. The service is run in partnership with Okehampton Library.

Pam Mayall, local service manager for WRVS, said: 'The WRVS is a charity whose aim is to make life for elderly people a little easier.

'Older people often feel as if they have no contribution to make, or they have been forgotten about when life becomes harder for them.

'We want to help by offering practical support, especially to those people who can no longer access services which they have been used to.

'Volunteers choose books from the library for their clients, which they usually deliver once a fortnight, but at a time to suit them and the client. There is no charge to the client for this service and no fines.

'We supply large print books, tapes and CDs as well as ordinary print, and clients may order books that they particularly want to read. At present we have a waiting list of eight clients because we simply cannot get volunteers.

'My aim for the future is to push the service out more from the towns so that those clients who live out in the sticks are not ignored. Often these people are lonely and isolated and desperately need a friendly face.

'Our volunteers often make lasting friends so there is satisfaction on both sides.

'Because we expect our volunteers to take the service out, we pay a generous mileage allowance, as we don't want anyone to feel that they cannot afford to volunteer. It's time we value not money.'

Anyone interested in this worthwhile volunteer work can call local organiser Delia Jeffers on 01837 840081, or Pam Mayall on 01404 871397. Alternatively, you can pop into the library to find out more.