RSVP’s Get Active Week 2008 – Sunday 22 June to Sunday 29 June

Hundreds of volunteers from across the country are giving thousands of isolated older people a rare day out for Get Active Week 2008 (22 – 29 June 2008). Highlights include volunteers in London arranging a massage session for elderly people at sheltered housing for the Chinese community, volunteers in Middlesbrough taking older people on a boat trip and volunteers from Poole in East Dorset taking 50 frail, elderly and isolated GP patients for a beach picnic.

Organised by volunteers from CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP), Get Active Week 2008 provides thousands of housebound and isolated people from across the UK with much needed company and companionship.

Get Active Week 2008 takes place during the 20th anniversary year of RSVP. Over the past twenty years RSVP has recruited around 20,000 volunteers who have helped more than 150,000 children to read, knitted more than 250,000 teddies for traumatised children and 70,000 garments for premature babies as well as befriending 1,000 isolated older people.

Denise Murphy, Director of RSVP says: “It is heartbreaking to think that half a million people over 60 lead lonely lives so it is incredible how each year volunteers come together to organise a day of fun for local isolated older people. For many, especially those living alone, this can be the highlight of their year.”

An incredible 5 million over-50s take part in unpaid work each year. (1) Volunteers assisting patients in GP surgeries are cutting patient prescriptions by 30% (2) and volunteers in primary schools are helping to raise the reading age of children.  Research also shows that volunteering can benefit older volunteers in many ways, including making new friends, gaining self confidence and living healthier lives. More than half (51%) of over 65s say volunteering has improved their health and fitness and 62% of over 65s say volunteering helps reduce stress. (3) 

Events taking place across the UK for CSV Get Active Week include:

• Volunteers from RSVP Middlesbrough will be taking a group of 10 elderly people on a boat trip from Stockton to Yarm, as well as taking a dozen older people on a walk followed by afternoon tea in Saltburn. Three volunteers will also be taking 30 older people out for a day trip at Skipton Market.

• Volunteers from RSVP in Sunderland are taking a group of older people on a cultural trip to a local art museum.

• Two volunteers from RSVP in London are offering massage for a dozen older people form a Chinese sheltered housing complex. Six volunteers will also play music to entertain 50 elderly people at the Chinese community centre.

• Volunteers from RSVP in Derby are taking a group of 10 older people to have tea with the major and take a tour of the mayoral parlour.

• Around 20 older people from a sheltered housing are being served strawberries and cream and treated to some entertainment by volunteers from RSVP Camden.  (27 June)

• Volunteers from City RSVP in London are holding a knitting event for 25 older people as well as offering afternoon tea at the Kensington hotel.

• Volunteers from RSVP in Poole will take 18 older people for a pub lunch.

• Nearly 60 older people are going on a healthy walk treasure hunt thanks to volunteers from RSVP Wrexham.

• Volunteers from RSVP Somerset are taking 16 older people to visit HMS Great Britain in Bristol.

• RSVP in Coventry is providing cream tea as well as organising a singing concert for 30 local older people.

• RSVP in Kent are taking 17 older people on a day trip to the Dickens Centre in Rochester.

• RSVP East Dorset are taking 50 frail, elderly and isolated GP patients for a beach picnic.

• Volunteers from RSVP in Swansea are taking a group of 25 older people on a boat trip on the Brecon canal.

• Over 60 older people will visit Dobbies Garden Centre for morning coffee by RSVP Dunblane.

To get involved in 'Get Active Week' visit: www.csv.org.uk/seniorvolunteers or call 020 7643 1384.

Further press information: Paul Donohoe 020 7812 0037/07779 624 385; pdonohoe@csv.org.uk or Jason Tanner 020 7812 0038/ 07941 433598; jtanner@csv.org.uk

Notes for Editors

1. ‘The economic contribution of older people’ - Report for Age Concern England by Pamela Meadows (January 2004)

2. Based on a study by Dr Pietroni: The Impact of a Volunteer Community Care Project in a Primary Health Care Setting (1991)

3. Independent research by ICM, commissioned by CSV Make a Day Difference 2004

4. CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. In 2006/7 229,869 people gave time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trained 12,309 people of all ages and linked 29,000 people to learning through BBC Local Radio. www.csv.org.uk