Donate time forMeals on Wheels

The charity’s Community Meals on Wheels service provides older and housebound residents with much more than a hot meal; the service is a source of vital social contact for people who might not otherwise see anyone else from one week to the next.

Royal Voluntary Service volunteers also perform ‘safe and well’ checks to make sure the older people who use the service have everything they need to stay safe, healthy and independent in their own homes.

The charity will be distributing information about various volunteering roles - and be showcasing its new range of Meals on Wheels - at various locations around the county over the next couple of weeks. You can talk to their team face-to-face on: Thursday 6th February, 11am-1pm, at Pulborough Village Hall. Or on Tuesday 25th February, 10am-3pm, in Swan Walk Shopping Centre, Horsham, and on Thursday 27th February, 10am-12pm, in Horsham Library in Lower Tanbridge Way, Horsham. Alternative dates and location are also available and are all listed on the Royal Voluntary Service website. http://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-in-west-sussex/local-events

David McCullough, Royal Voluntary Service Chief Executive, said: “This is a really vital service for older people and makes a massive difference to their lives. Our volunteers are fantastic and really enjoy what they do; they get as much out of volunteering as they put in, but we always need more helpers to meet the growing demand for the service, especially at this time of year.”

Volunteers can choose to dedicate as much or as little time to volunteering as they wish but typically give around two to three hours per week. If you are unable to meet the team on any of the above dates the charity can be contacted on 0845 600 5885 (please quote West Sussex) or visit its website at www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/westsussex.

Royal Voluntary Service supports over 100,000 older people each month with tailor-made solutions to help them stay independent in their own homes. Through its army of 40,000 national volunteers, the charity runs services such as Good Neighbours (companionship), Community Meals-on-Wheels and Books-on-Wheels to alleviate loneliness and help older people generally. Royal Voluntary Service also provides practical support for older people who have been in hospital through its On Ward Befriending and Home from Hospital services.

Report contributed by the Royal Voluntary Service.