The Bureau boosts Volunteer numbers with text campaign to local GP patients

Local charity The Bureau has teamed up with Manor House Surgery in Glossop, issuing a text to patients asking them to volunteer. The response has been fantastic, with the Befriending Project potentially gaining 13 new volunteers, and the Car Scheme 19; over double the existing number of drivers. 

Befriending Coordinator Faith Revesz contacted Vicki Townley, Practice Manager at Manor House GP, to see whether The Bureau could tap into their enormous patient base and reach out to people to ask for support on two crucial volunteer-led projects, Befriending, and the Car Scheme.

The Bureau provides a whole range of activities and services to help alleviate loneliness and isolation, offering extra support outside of the GP remit to increase wellbeing and happiness. 

Befriending and the Car Scheme are two of the charity’s most popular projects. The first offers a face-to-face visit and a listening ear to a vulnerable or elderly adult from a dedicated volunteer Befriender, while the Car Scheme sees Volunteer Drivers take passengers to and from their medical appointments, offering support on the journey for a fraction of the cost of a taxi. 90% of clients said they wouldn’t be able to make their appointments without it - costing the NHS between £30 and £120.

Jan Bramald, Car Scheme Coordinator at The Bureau said: “The car scheme is such a life saver for our clients. People get very anxious ahead of their appointments, and are concerned about traffic and parking too, whether that's because of frailty, disability, mental health or even the type of procedure they are having. Being driven there by one of our volunteers makes all the difference. It’s a fraction of the price of a taxi, and they can have a chat on the way there! It has been heartbreaking having to turn people down recently, so it’s a huge relief to know that now we’ve increased our pool of volunteer drivers, this won’t be as likely!”

 Faith Revesz, Befriending Coordinator at The Bureau added: “We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with Manor House and open up the option of volunteering to so many people. The response has been amazing, and the waiting list of lonely people wanting some company should shrink very quickly now! A huge thank you must go to Vicki at the surgery, and the people that responded for supporting us withthis.”

If you would like to volunteer, or if you are interested in receiving support from either the Befriending or Car Scheme services at The Bureau, get in touch with them by emailing info@the-bureau.org.uk or popping into their office on Henry Street.