Skipton social club gets extra help to expand carers group (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Skipton social club gets extra help to expand carers group

9:00am Sunday 27th January 2013 in News

A Skipton social club has expanded its carers group so it can offer more support to people and help them beat the winter blues.

Three extra volunteers from the Oddfellows Society’s Skipton Branch have been trained as welfare officers to support members in the area who are lonely, unwell or facing other difficulties.

Volunteer Jean Phillip, from Middletown, said “We offer help all year round but January can be particularly difficult for people as short days and bad weather combine. It is vital that people shouldn’t feel alone as they get older or if illness strikes.”

The three welfare officers all have experience working with councils or as care providers, have undergone training from the Oddfellows Society and are volunteers.

Mrs. Phillip added: “We can help people access professional support or advice, but we’re also able to offer some company. We can do home visits, or take people to or from hospital and to our regular club events for company and some fun.

“The Oddfellows is a friendly society, and friendly is exactly what we are. We organise a lot of events at the Three Links club on Rectory Lane, where they can build their own networks. We want to let people know that we’re here, on hand for them if they ever need us.”

The society holds regular events at the Three Links Club that are open to all, including quiz nights, coffee mornings, music nights and the forthcoming Open House project for carers and older people which is being launched on February 12, in partnership with local charities Carers Resource and CareFree.

For more details call Jean on (01756) 791593 or e-mail les.viles@oddfellows.co.uk.