CSV Get Active Week 2006 – Sunday 18 June to Sunday 25 June.
TV presenter and former social worker Paul O’Grady is calling for more people to help housebound and isolated older people take part in CSV Get Active Week. Last year 2,000 volunteers from CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) raised funds and helped 10,000 isolated older people get active by taking them on day trips, tea dances and sing-a-long events. The campaign builds on research demonstrating how volunteering can improve fitness, reduce stress and can even boost you sex life.
Paul, who has used his own show to raise the profile of the work of older volunteers, says: “Across the country there are thousands of lonely and vulnerable housebound elderly people who rely on the support of volunteers to care for them. Many look forward all year for their day at the seaside or the chance to go on a countryside picnic. It would be absolutely fantastic if more people volunteered to help give housebound and isolated older people the opportunity to get out and get active.”
CSV Get Active Week 2006 takes place from Sunday 18 June to Sunday 25 June and will provide thousands of housebound and isolated people with company and companionship. CSV is also hoping to attract more volunteers aged 50-plus to keep themselves active and happy by joining the charity’s RSVP programme.
Professor Philps, National Director (“Tsar”) for Older People in the Department of Health and presenter of the BBC One series How to Live Longer, says: "Most older people want to remain healthy and live independent lives for as long as possible. Staying active, through moderate regular exercise and activities such as exercise classes, dancing or volunteering, not only promotes health and independence but also increases social interaction leading to improved emotional well-being. I support CSV Get Active week in encouraging all older people to stay active."
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. Up to 17% of volunteers even report that volunteering can boost your sex life. (3)
Amongst the events taking place as part of CSV Get Active Week include:
In Manchester over a thousand isolated older people are being given a day to remember with 200 volunteers organising a series of local events, including a visit to a former POW camp by 66 elderly ex-service personnel from Rochdale and Blackburn.
In Somerset around 20 volunteers will organise tea-dances at older people homes in Weston-super-Mare, Nailsea and Portishead.
In Kent, RSVP volunteers will take older people from Canterbury to Dover to view the English Channel at St Margaret’s Bay.
In south London volunteers are taking a group of older people and people with learning difficulties from Woolwich for a strawberry tea party at the Bexleyheath Marriot Hotel.
In the Hertfordshire area volunteers are taking older people from Hitchin for a day out in the countryside including a pub lunch.
To get involved in 'CSV Get Active Week' visit: www.csv.org.uk/seniorvolunteers or call 020 7643 1382/1385.
Further press information: Paul Donohoe 020 7812 0037; pdonohoe@csv.org.uk or Jason Tanner 020 7812 0038/ 07941 433598; jtanner@csv.org.uk
Notes for Editors
- ‘The economic contribution of older people’ - Report for Age Concern England by Pamela Meadows (January 2004)
- Based on a study by Dr Pietroni: The Impact of a Volunteer Community Care Project in a Primary Health Care Setting (1991)
- Independent research by ICM, commissioned by CSV Make a Day Difference and Barclays 2004
- CSV (Community Service Volunteers) is the UK’s leading volunteer organisation and creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their community through volunteering, training and community action. Each year 195,000 people give 4.9 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. www.csv.org.uk