MORE volunteers are urgently needed in West Oxfordshire, with one charity warning there are not enough to meet increasing levels of demand.

A combination of an ageing population and cuts to social services and NHS budgets has resulted in more people relying on support, charity Volunteer Link Up said.

Based at Witney Methodist Church, it organises West Oxfordshire’s Good Neighbour Scheme, which provides a link between those who need assistance and those willing to offer their time.

More than 800 West Oxfordshire residents currently benefit from the help of volunteers, but more still need assistance.

Volunteer Link Up is hosting a recruitment fair tomorrow to try to encourage more people to sign up and help their community.

Manager Pat Chirgwin said: “There are a lot of older people who just need that extra help to keep going and remain independent.

“We’ve increased the number of clients we have, so we need more volunteers.

“It’s not just us either.

“There will be all sorts of charities at the volunteer fair – Blue Cross, the Stroke Association, and Yellow Submarine.

“We want people to be aware there is a need for whatever they can offer to the community.”

The charity discovered that transport accounts for 75 per cent of requests for help, with more than 600 residents asking for assistance to get to appointments.

In the last 12 months volunteers helped with nearly 4,000 journeys.

Volunteer driver and mayor of Witney Jim King, 72, gives up his time twice a week to drop elderly residents off at the doctors’ surgery, hospital or hairdressers.

He said: “I started about four or five years ago when I retired, after I saw a stall on Volunteer Link Up at Ducklington summer fair. I do it for the community. One day I might need help. We have a need for this sort of service. The elderly population is growing.”

The second most popular request is befriending, which can include dropping in for a chat, going for a walk with an elderly person, helping to sort out junk mail, or helping with puzzles and crosswords.

This important socialisation is helping 149 West Oxfordshire residents remain independent in their own homes.

Volunteer befriender Ruth Lapworth visits two different residents in Witney.

She said: “We can be a wonderful safety valve. The people we talk to can often tell us things they might not be able to tell a family member.”

Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, Sir Barry Norton, added: “If we can get the message out there that more volunteers are needed then we should get people signing up. I have volunteered at North Leigh Football Club for 30 years and the volunteers there do a wonderful job.”

To get involved with Volunteer Link Up, call 01993 776277.

The recruitment fair runs tomorrow from 10am to 2pm at the Corn Exchange in Witney.