STAFF at Tavistock Area Support Services (TASS) are calling for more help in the community.

The demands on the befriending service are ever growing and TASS is keen to recruit new volunteers to support the service and visit older people in the local community.

Cathy Hipsey befriending worker at TASS said: ‘If anyone would like any info please contact before attending but anyone is welcome to come along to the first meeting.

‘This is actually the first time we have held a training session in the evening because people have often said they would like to attend but have work commitments during the day so we hope lots of people will come along.

‘The course is a four week course. After the training we would match up the volunteers with someone within the area – the area covers the two surgeries in Tavistock and goes out to Yelverton and Princetown.

‘We teach a range of skills from listening to learning about vulnerable people and dementia. We run a mix of activities and normally invite speakers along but that was a bit more difficult this time given that it’s an evening course.’

She continued: ‘To anyone thinking about volunteering I would tell them it’s an incredibly worthwhile thing to do, for you and the person you are helping. The commitment is as much as someone can give – some people want to help two people and others see one person every couple of weeks. We welcome anybody.’

Training sessions will take place on Tuesday evenings throughout June, at the Anchorage Centre, Chapel Street, Tavistock. From 7pm to 9pm for four weeks, beginning on Tuesday, June 7.

For further information please contact Cathy on 01822 610942 or send an email to [email protected]