Are you interested in volunteering? Can you lend a ‘Helping Hand’?

Local Volunteer group, Helping Hands, are currently looking for volunteers to help host their sessions during the week, so if you have any spare time that you want to fill, why not get in touch?

Helping Hands, which was founded by Karen Tilley, helps to support local people over the age of 55 and provides social events and other activities. They organise trips out, tea-time events, weekly bingo and quizzes. They are also there if you feel lonely and want somewhere to go for a chat and a cuppa.

Helping Hands hosts a group on a Friday at the Ecumenical Centre between 1pm-3pm where people can go and socialise with other members. Delicious food such as afternoon tea, hot pot, and various other delicious treats are available free of charge, prepared by the fantastic Bake Away!

Dawn Gray, who works with Helping Hands, said: “Activities that include a meal are popular, and members are very complimentary about the food we offer and the themes. We get a lot of people thanking us for the job we do.”

In terms of the day trips, previous excursions have included Bury Market and Cleveleys, plus service users also can go to places like working men’s clubs or wander around the shops. Upcoming trips will be to Oswaldtwistle Mill, Trentham Gardens and the Lowry Centre.

Dawn added, ‘Members are so grateful to get out and about. The trips get the best responses, such as ‘we’ve had a lovely day, ‘another lovely day out’, or they often tell us they’re glad to get out instead of staring at the same four walls.”

Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?

You may be wondering what you’ll get out of volunteering?

Volunteering offers an abundance of benefits! You’ll be helping a successful voluntary group keep running and assisting vulnerable members of our community in living an active life, keeping them busy. Volunteering also looks good on your CV, making you attractive to potential employers. It is also great if you’re looking for work but are either struggling to find a job or aren’t quite sure what you want to do. By volunteering, you’ll learn new skills and meet people along the way.

Sound like something you’d fancy trying? Want more information? Contact Dawn Gray via email at Helpinghands.Westlancs@outlook.com.

For more about their events, check out their Facebook page.