Our Sitting and Befriending Service

We're here to help!

The Sitting and Befriending service of the Voluntary Help Centre is situated in the Cotswold District Council offices, High Street Moreton, and operates as part of the "Help in the Community" service. The Service provides volunteers who will visit and sit with the frail, socially isolated or disabled of the North Cotswolds, together with helpful respite for carers

Volunteer sitters can provide such services as reading, playing scrabble, shopping, or outings, but by far the most important is the company provided or a break for a carer needing time for themsleves.

The service is highly valued by all professionals of the health service and community workers, including mental health teams. Referrals can be from any of these departments, but also can be from families or individulas themselves

Training and guidance is given to all volunteers for the many health conditions we regularly encounter; for example - stroke, Parkinson's Disease and mental health illnesses. Volunteers are given training including instruction in Moving and Handling. Volunteers need no qualifications, except an instinct for kindness, patience and understanding, and an abilitiy to respond to other people's needs. Volunteers receive no payment for their time. However, wherever possible, we request that travelling expenses are paid to the centre which are then reimbursed to the volunteer.

Voluntary work is both enjoyable and rewarding. If you feel you have these personal qualities and can respond to the needs of others then you too could become a volunteer sitter.

Our Luncheon Clubs

Attached to the Sitting service are two monthly luncheon clubs which are open to all in the North Cotswolds, where a very good meal is provided with congenial company at a low cost - all done by our wonderful team of volunteer cooks! Moreton-in-Marsh lunch is held on the third Thursday of each month and the Northleach lunch is held on the first Wednesday of each month.

For further details, call Jill or Lynn on 01608 652019 on Mondays and Thursdays 10:00am to 5:00pm to discuss in confidence your needs. At other times there is an answer phone.