We provide volunteers to help older people, people with disabilities, carers and children with special needs and their families, who are Sutton residents, with the following:

• Transport – provided by drivers using their own cars to take people to:

• Clinics • Clubs • Day Centres • Further education

• Shopping trips • Visits to relatives • Work placements

• Shopping and escorted shopping

• Pension and prescription collection

• Befriending

• Escorting out

• Wheelchair pushing

• Reading and helping with correspondence

• Maintenance of NHS hearing aids (Sutton Hearing Aid Remedial Project)

• Dog walking

• Gardening (one-off clearance when condition of garden is causing a hazard)

• Small DIY jobs (as determined by the skill of the volunteer)

• Odd jobs (e.g. moving a bed from upstairs to downstairs to facilitate hospital discharge)

This list is not exhaustive and other requests will be considered. We cannot help, however, with domestic work or with services that are available through the Health Authority or Local Council, e.g. hospital transport, personal care or giving medication.

Help is available on a one-off/ short-term basis (up to 6 weeks) but we ask that we are given at least one week’s notice. Help can also be on a regular basis (weekly/ fortnightly/ monthly) but there may be a waiting list for the service required.

Our volunteers are local people from varied backgrounds and cultures who give up their own time to provide our services. They have all been through our screening process and are offered training according to their needs. The services listed here are totally dependant upon the availability of volunteers and funding.

Donations

We provide these services without charge; however donations towards the work of the Volunteer Centre Sutton are welcomed.

Eligibility Criteria

For all services except transport, befriending, gardening and DIY that have their own specific criteria (available on request), users must be:

• a resident in the London Borough of Sutton

• over 18 years old

• unable to pay for the service

And:

• have a physical or sensory disability or

• be temporarily disabled due to ill health or

• be housebound or

• be physically unable to perform the task themselves or

• be cared for by someone who is unable to help due to illness or special circumstances

Direct Services aims to enhance the quality of our service users lives in many ways including reducing social isolation, improving mobility, increasing independence and promoting their general health and wellbeing. When surveyed, service user’s comments included:

J My volunteer is most helpful – polite – punctual – and in every  way an ideal volunteer.

J I am very pleased with this service. Without it I would not be  able to go to my club. Thank you very much.

J Very grateful for service rendered as am registered blind and  hard of hearing. Thank you very much.

J I rate the service as excellent, without it I would not be able to  go and meet other people.

J I do so appreciate this service, without it I am housebound.

J My volunteers are a wonderful help to me and I don’t know  what I would do without them.

J I would like to thank you all for making life a lot easier.