Blog: International Volunteer Day 2020
This year's UN International Volunteer Day campaign aims to thank volunteers and shed light on the difficulties and needs they have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The message “Together We Can Through Volunteering” is one we’re sure will resonate with everyone.
Volunteers have played an invaluable role in their communities this year, and we’d like to give a huge shout out to all the amazing volunteers across Age Scotland and our member groups for all they have done and continue to do to support older people in every part of Scotland.
Below we’ve compiled just a few examples of some the great work that’s Age Scotland member groups have been involved in, none of which would be possible without the ongoing efforts and dedication of volunteers.
Rising to the challenges – keeping older people safe in Dundee
Age Scotland member Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action (DVVA) has been part of a local partnership identifying and addressing issues experienced by older people in the city during COVID-19.
Their initiatives have included a volunteer shopping by invoice service, Come With Us ready meal delivery service, Have a Go activity packs, a book and jigsaw delivery service, pen friends, telephone befriending, prescription collection and delivery and setting up a Get Local Support informal volunteering project.
More recently, the partnership put together ‘Everyday Packs’ for distribution to the older people's community in Dundee, designed as a helping hand to enable older people to get back out and about safely. The packs contain a small bottle of hand sanitiser, a reusable washable face mask and packets of sanitiser wipes and tissues and are distributed to those aged 55+ who are socially isolated or digitally excluded.
"I greatly appreciate all the help given when I wasn’t able to leave the house” says one very grateful Dundee resident. “I think what you do is amazing and can’t thank you enough. Very many thanks".
LEAP to the rescue
South Lanarkshire charity Lightburn Association Project (LEAP) revamped its normal services to support older people with vital befriending, emergency handyperson and personal shopping services during COVID-19 restrictions. At last count, LEAP was supporting around 300 older people and had completed more than 1,000 shopping trips to pharmacies and supermarkets.
For volunteer shopper Lorna Woods, it’s about helping as much as possible:
“I’m shopping up to four days a week for our customers, and I’ve done more than 50 shops already. Every shop is different and can include particular brands. Some people specify gluten free, something I’m well aware of as my daughter is gluten free and I know how important it is to her.”
Providing lifeline services in South Kincardineshire
The Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network (MCHLN) operate from a base in Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire. Staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to ensure no one went without essential services and support over the past few months.
Not content with their telephone and shopping services still providing support, health walk groups looking to re-engage with walkers, and the brightly filled planters and boxes from gardening groups, the MCHLN are planning a socially distant afternoon tea to thank everyone for adhering to lockdown, doing as they were asked and ensuring maximum community safety.
Project worker Bernie Dawks paid tribute to dedicated volunteers:
“As a small charity, we have thankfully been able to adapt quickly and in response to the needs of the community during the lockdown, but we would not have managed to do so without our volunteers."
