Volunteer Newsletter Feb Edition

We Our Volunteers Spring 2020

Welcome to our first quarterly newsletter. We
really enjoyed meeting you at the end of last
year and hearing your views. As requested we
will be bringing back the volunteer newsletter,
which gives you an opportunity to share some of
what you’ve got up to in your local community
and for us to update you on all Age UKIW news.

We have listened to your compliments, concerns and criticism. Age UKIW would not

be here if not for the support that you, our volunteers provide. We want to be sure

that you feel supported too. Below is what we hope is a summary that reflects the

key points that you have What you said: Our response so far:
raised to us, and what we

have done or plan to do in You would like to be kept A newsletter specifically for
volunteers will be reinstated
response: informed about changes which will provide important

within the charity.

Communication needs updates on what's going on
improvement. within the organisation.

“Finally an You would like more Volunteer engagement event
opportunity to have
information about clients was held on November 27th to
our say”
that you'll be interacting with allow for you to voice your
“A well organised
when you're first introduced feedback, along with a follow up

to them. survey sent to those who could

You feel underutilised. not attend.

day” You would like some A plan of events will be
opportunities to shadow produced for 2020 and sent out.

relevant people to further This will include both

“Thank you for your knowledge . engagement events and
listening to our You would like more events recreational ones across the
island.
views”
We had a Christmas afternoon

and opportunities to meet tea to thank you for the support
both for information and fun. you provide.

GNS direct line: 301323 or 301325

Sharing with you events of 2019

Jingle and Mingle

What a fabulous day we had at our Christmas event sponsored by Rouse Ltd for
our clients living in the north of the Island. A fun filled day which included a visit
from the Donkey Sanctuary, carols sung by local schools, a visit from Santa, a
delicious meal cooked by the catering department at the Isle of Wight College
and a great raffle to end the day. This started Christmas for many of our clients.

We couldn't of done this without the support of the volunteers that provided
transport on the day.

“ Thanks for the lovely lunch, I
really enjoyed the company”

“This really made my
Christmas”

“I really enjoyed the choirs
with the young people and a

good sing song”

GNS direct line: 301323 or 301325

Shoe Box

Last year Age UKIW staff decided not
to participate in their usual office

Secret Santa and instead to donate
shoe boxes of gifts to give to our

clients. Clients were overwhelmed with
this kind gesture and it is something
we plan to make a Christmas tradition
here at Age UKIW.

“What a wonderful,
thoughtful surprise”

Volunteer Christmas
Afternoon Tea

We would like to say a huge thank you
to everyone that attended the festive
tea, a great afternoon was had by all!
It was lovely to see so many smiling
faces with everyone joining in with our
Christmas sing-along. This afternoon
couldn't have happened without our

volunteers attending and our
wonderful staff contributing. This is an

event we plan to do annually.

“Fabulous singing, can I
book the choir?”

Call: 301323 or 301325

The More the Merrier

Below is an article submitted by Tim and Hazel sharing their experiences as Good
Neighbour Scheme volunteers:

“Almost by accident we have formed a group of Age-UK Isle of Wight ‘clients’, who now
view the group as the core of their social life. It is at least partly the answer to their one
commonly perceived problem, loneliness. Do we think the group is a good idea?— “Yes”.

Do we think other volunteers and clients would benefit from forming similar groups?
Again, “Yes”. “Why?” you may ask, and “What does it involve?” Well, let me try to

convince you.

The group enjoys an outing to a café, restaurant, or other event at least once a fortnight.
Through the winter we try to include trips to the live-relay opera or ballet screenings at
Cineworld, and Hazel also lays on a cream tea on Sunday afternoons at our house,
where I show a good and thought-provoking film on our reasonably large TV. I suppose I

should add that all our members now view me as a first point of call for their practical DIY
needs. This can be anything from changing an inaccessible light bulb to plumbing
problems.

So how did the group come to form? Well, very simply, we gathered new members from
people I delivered to hospital appointments or whose IT problems I was asked to fix. We
are still ‘open’ to extra members, and ‘vacancies’ do arise occasionally if someone moves

out of the area.

So within those flexible limits, the title above is broadly true and any of you who might
also wish to form a group, will find much mutual pleasure in doing so and I’m happy to

share our findings with anyone who cares to ask.
So what are you waiting for? Give it a try and extend your Good Neighbour outreach. Let

the excellent work of Age UK Isle of Wight become ever more widely know and
appreciated throughout our lovely island.”

Tim and Hazel - GNS Volunteers

Photograph courtesy of Tim and Hazel

Call: 301323 or 301325

Thank you Tim and
Hazel for sharing your

story with us.
If you would like to

share your
volunteering
experiences with us for
the next issue, we
would love to hear

from you.

Call: 301323 or 301325

From Compassion To Action
Become A Volunteer

Anyone can become a GNS volunteer, it is Meet the Team
extremely rewarding and a great way to meet
new people. Volunteers are the heart of the Your GNS team are:
community and the gift of their time is priceless. Allison: 01983 301325
We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help Hannah: 01983 301323
Maria: 01983 525282
someone! Debbie: 01983 525282
Email: [email protected]
Do you know of anyone that would be interested
in becoming a volunteer? If so please ask them
to call GNS on 01983 301325/301323 or email

us at [email protected]

“When action meets compassion, lives
change”

Call: 301323 or 301325

Some Exciting Developments We Wanted To Share

Can you help? Social Prescribers need volunteers to support the most isolated in
your local community.

Age UKIW have launched Social Prescribing in surgeries across South Wight,
North East Wight and Central Wight. Their role is to support individuals with a
variety of matters where medical prescription may not necessarily be the answer,
such as loneliness, anxiety, unemployment, illness and debt.

If an individual is aged 18 or over, a Social Prescriber can listen in confidence to
their needs and help them access a range of local support and advice to help
improve their health and
wellbeing. This service is provided
for free.

Social Prescribers will be
supported by GNS volunteers in
this role, if you're interested in
finding out more please contact
us.

Your Local Community Unit At St Mary’s
Community
We are proud to announce that Age UKIW are
We hope you have working alongside St Mary's Hospital supporting the
enjoyed the first edition
of your newly reinstated new Community Unit. The Community Unit is
newsletter. We are keen designed to help people who are medically fit to
to get you involved and
would love to hear your leave hospital but require further support and
convalescence before returning home.
feedback and any
suggestions on what you The Unit has a large day room and dining area to
would like to be included encourage people to move around and join in,
in the Summer edition. therefore improving their mobility and wellbeing.

This is part run by our Activities Coordinator who
encourages people to take part in seated exercise,
board games and craft activities. Are you available

to volunteer on this unit to support the Activities
Coordinator? Let us know!

SAVE THE DATE

TRAINING- DATE & TIME
EVENT & LOCATION
Corporate Training/GNS- 26/02/2020, 26/03/2020, 27/04/2020, 28/05/2020,
29/06/2020, 27/07/2020, 28/09/2020, 26/10/2020,
Age UKIW Head office– 147 High Street, 26/11/2020. From 10:15am– 11:30am
Newport, PO30 1TY.
To book your place please contact
Age Friendly Island Training- [email protected]

Age UKIW Head office– 147 High Street, 20/02/2020, 13/05/2020, 20/08/2020, 18/11/2020.
Newport, PO30 1TY. From 9:00– 12:45pm

Age Friendly Island Public To book your place please contact
Forums- [email protected]

03/03/2020 Lord Louis library From 14:00-16:00

05/03/2020 Sandown Library From 10:30-12:30

05/03/2020 All Saints Church Ryde
From 14:00-16:00

12/03/2020 West Wight Sports Centre Freshwater
from 10:00– 12:00

Transport can be arranged for those with mobility
issues. Contact Age UK IW on 01983 525282 and
ask for Helen or email [email protected]

Volunteer Keep In Touch 17/03/2020 CHOYD Yarmouth From 13:30– 15:30
Sessions-
18/03/2020 Newport Congregational Church from
10:00– 12:00

19/03/2020 All Saints Church Ryde from 13:00–
15:00

24/03/2020 Broadway Centre Sandown from 13:00–
15:00

Fundraising

If you happen to have any
gifts that are unwanted, we
would love to have them as
raffle prizes for our future

fundraising events!