A NEW venture to help lonely elderly people in the Malvern area is being launched this month and is looking for volunteers.

The charity Contact the Elderly is looking for occasional helpers to relieve the loneliness of frail, and often isolated, older people.

One Sunday afternoon a month, volunteers with cars are needed to collect one or two elderly group members and accompany them to the home of a volunteer host for afternoon tea.

The local co-ordinator is looking for volunteer drivers, who have one Sunday afternoon a month available to collect the same one or two passengers, travel to the host’s house for about 3pm and see the older people safely home again about 5.15 pm. A few reserve drivers would also be very useful to cover holidays.

Hosts are needed to provide a Sunday afternoon tea once or twice a year for between six-10 elderly members and their drivers.

Anyone who thinks they might be able to help should contact Kay Bromley on 01684 892381 or email kayb@communityaction.org.uk.