People of Hampshire show their caring side (From Daily Echo)

Dozens sign up for Age Concern Southampton's campaign

1:30pm Monday 30th January 2012 in New Forest

THE Daily Echo has been inundated with calls from dozens of people across the region who want to help stop loneliness and isolation in Hampshire.

People of all ages from across the city and beyond have pledged to selflessly give up their time to become volunteers and make sure elderly residents are not alone this winter.

It comes as weather experts have warned that a weather system from Siberia is expected to send temperatures plummeting over the next few days.

Our campaign in partnership with Age Concern Southampton’s “Be a Friend” urges readers to remember the more vulnerable members of our community.

It comes after a call for help from the charity, which relies on both donations and volunteers to ensure “friends” visit hundreds of older people at home who are in need of company.

And already Southampton residents have shown their caring side. Among the people who have got in touch with us are Claire Parsons, who is a 37-year-old single mum at home because she cares for her autistic son, retired support worker for people with learning disabilities Gladys Finn, from Hedge End, and retired social services worker Gloria Duff, from Woolston.

Chief officer of the charity Anne Carty, who points out that half of people over 70 in the city live alone, said she has been “delighted” with the response so far.

She said: “We have had a great response so far both in terms of donations and prospective volunteers, which we really appreciate at the charity.”

But with your donations and if you can spare some free time every week, the charity can recruit even more volunteers to be “visiting friends” who provide regular companionship and friendship. The charity also provides a new Telephone Friends Service, which means volunteers are able to speak to their friend on the phone.

One of those relying on the Age Concern Southampton service is 85-year-old Iris Harding, who as reported in the Daily Echo, lives on her own and says volunteer Lorraine Hodgson’s friendly face makes her week.