By Dean Chant, Marketing and Communications Officer

Guild Care helped combat loneliness by organising a Christmas outing for a group of their service users on Sunday (10th December).

The afternoon was filled with festive cheer, featuring specially arranged minibuses ensuring service users from Guild Care’s range of community services and care homes could attend. The afternoon started with mince pies and mulled wine before taking the minibuses to The Assembly Hall for the attendees to enjoy the Christmas with The Salvation Army show.

Rennie and Peter, who were in attendance, are regulars at Guild Care’s Creating Connections events at The Lovett Hub and Peter also attends Guild Care’s Haviland House Dementia Day Service. Rennie said, ‘It’s a lovely way to spend the afternoon.’
Guild Care’s vision is for all people in need of care to live fulfilling, safe and secure lives, this event served a dual purpose by also highlighting Guild Care's pressing need for volunteer drivers. Guild Care’s community services rely on dedicated volunteers, and they are actively seeking individuals willing to contribute their time to drive minibuses, ensuring that small groups of older people who face challenges accessing public transport can still enjoy their services.

Elizabeth Lang, Volunteer Manager at Guild Care, said ‘As part of our Transport Team, you will be at the heart of reducing isolation and loneliness for people across our community services. You will do so much more than just pick up people and drop them off, you will brighten up people’s lives.’
Each year, the Guild Care Transport Team make thousands of journeys from people’s homes to their services. It is because of them that so many, who would have otherwise not been able to join their services, can attend and meet with their friends.

Are you ready to help drive home isolation with Guild Care? To find out more about volunteering head to www.guildcare.org/minibus-drivers or contact the Guild Care volunteering team on 01903 600602 or via email at [email protected].