Mentoring Older People - Patient Transport Scheme

Jackie is volunteer coordinator for CSV RSVP in Derwentside. She suffers from cerebral palsy and began volunteering after taking early retirement on health grounds. Jackie coordinates a patient transport scheme – RSVP volunteers drive older patients to GP and hospital appointments. Jackie says volunteering helped her to adjust to life in retirement:

“Volunteering for CSV RSVP is great fun it has made me feel less isolated and lost, when you leave full time employment through medical reasons it is hard to deal with, as you lose who you are very quickly as you no longer belong in the work force and you become invisible to people in general. I tell everyone if they are in similar situations get out there find out about volunteer work in your area there’s always something to fit with what you like to do.  

Being part of RSVP has given me a greater understanding of how hard it can be for an older person, they may not see anyone for weeks and going to a doctor’s appointment maybe the only time they get out. I am always cheerful and chatty and enjoy talking to them and they always say it cheers them up even though they are not feeling too good, just talking can help enormously when people are feeling down and lonely.

So if you have time on your hands through redundancy, unemployment or you’re just looking for something to keep you busy get out there, find out about RSVP from your local CVS centre and join in the fun of helping people and your local community.”

Click through to the map to find your local CSV RSVP group – just look for the orange pins. Alternatively you can contact CSV RSVP on 020 7643 1385.