Red Cross needs volunteers

The Red Cross is seeking volunteers this Christmas in the Newtown and Llanidloes areas.

The Red Cross volunteers are refusing to ignore people in crisis. Whether it’s ensuring you have some grocery shopping after being discharged from hospital or making welfare phone calls to people who have been without power following a storm, the Red Cross are here and local to you.

Tony Vine is one of the hundreds of our volunteers in Wales. He works locally as part of the Home from Hospital service. He recounts his own experience:

“I applied to become a Home from Hospital volunteer three years ago, after hearing a service user giving a presentation. She was returning home, following a lengthy stay in hospital and spoke about the invaluable help that she’d received from the Red Cross,” he said

“Some people, especially the elderly, are particularly vulnerable when they leave hospital. I’ve been privileged to assist many of them in re-adjusting to life in their own home during those difficult initial few weeks.

“I feel fortunate to have met many men and women that, with a little help, have been able to face their recovery with resilience, fortitude and optimism.

“Volunteering for the Home from Hospital service has given me an opportunity to help others re-connect more confidently with life beyond their own front door.

“Apart from meeting some wonderful people as service users, I have made many great new friends within the Red Cross itself, both fellow volunteers and staff alike. They’re all working with the common purpose of helping others in difficult times.”

Finally, when asked about his journey and becoming a Red Cross volunteer, Tony says “I chose to volunteer, I chose the days I could volunteer and I chose to care”.

If you want to make that choice and begin your own journey with us, please speak to us on 0300 100 1400 or volunteeringwales@redcross.org.uk