the difference that royal voluntary service makes in great ......would involve singing favourite...

1 Royal Voluntary Service

Every step of the wayThe difference that Royal Voluntary Service makes in Great Britain

At home and about

In the community

committed volunteers across England, Scotland and Wales

older people supported at home, in the community and in hospital

every month

people participating (being supported or volunteering with us) by 2023

We aim to have

35,000

100,000

2,000,000

In hospital

1

Impact Report 2016

Women’s Voluntary Services was created in 1938 by Lady Stella Reading to help civilians in need. By 1943, one million volunteers were involved in almost every aspect of wartime life, from collecting salvage to knitting socks for merchant seamen. After the war, we became the cornerstone of modern social services.

Welcome

Today, as Royal Voluntary Service, we’ve evolved to respond to a new social challenge – our ageing population. Older age is to be celebrated and is one of the great success stories of the modern era. But healthy life expectancy hasn’t kept pace with increased longevity and, today, families and support networks are often dispersed. For millions of older people life can become progressively difficult and socially isolating.

Our help begins with a conversation to find out what is needed where we ask ‘what would make life better for you?’. Then we offer a tailored range of practical support, companionship, volunteering opportunities and activities. Whether based at home, in the community or in hospital, our aim is to make life easier, better connected and more fulfilling.

60% of over 65s live with a long-term condition - 18 million by 2025i

Over 1 million older people say they are always or often lonelyii

Royal Voluntary Service2

Volunteers & volunteering

3 Million

14 to 94

We believe passionately in the benefits of volunteering.

Supported by dedicated employees, we have 35,000 remarkable volunteers offering help and finding personal benefits in doing so. They have a range of skills and abilities and share a desire to make things happen in their community and improve other’s lives.

Our volunteers offer companionship and provide practical help. They settle older people back into their homes after a hospital stay, organise lunches, create and run clubs and workshops, and provide transport and library services.

volunteers in the last 75 years

year old men and women from all walks of life volunteer with us

Royal Voluntary Service 3

Sharing time changes the lives of older people and volunteers.

Volunteering is rewarding, inspiring and good for you at any age. It helps you feel valued, involved in the community, and has significant well-being benefits.

Research by Professor James Nazroo found that older people who volunteer are happier, healthier, less likely to be depressed or lonely, and have a better quality of life than those who don’t.iii

Elsie (92) volunteers at her local hospital, providing visitor information and chatting with older patients. After her husband died, Elsie felt depressed and rarely left home. Volunteering made a big difference to her life.

“ I saw the post advertised and applied. I love working with Royal Voluntary Service, the hospital staff and other volunteers. I look forward to doing my job and am proud of the work I do.”


Hospital stays can be distressing for many older people.

Our volunteers offer companionship on the ward and practical help for those without family or friends nearby. For patients needing more tailored support, they provide assisted walking and exercises to increase mobility, and ensure patients eat and drink at meal times.

We provide bespoke hospital support for dementia patients. Researchiv shows that hospital stays are far longer for dementia sufferers than for those without dementia admitted for the same procedure.

On Ward

“ Royal Voluntary Service volunteers are a welcome addition to our team and a friend to patients. The whole ward is pleased when they visit as they play an invaluable part in patients’ hospital stay. They add a quality of care which is needed and welcomed.” Margaret Jenkins Ward Clerk, Bristol Royal Infirmary

More than

100 trolley services nationwide


Our trolley service volunteers bring refreshment, a smile and a whole lot of comfort.

They relieve the pressure on NHS staff and the vital support they provide to thousands of patients in Britain’s hospitals every day can have a real positive impact on wellbeing.

Our volunteers go out for stints of four hours on average, offering kindness, a listening ear and a helping hand to those who are staying in hospital. They bring around magazines, newspapers and a range of healthy refreshments to those unable to get up and about to visit the hospital shop.

Trolley Services

“ I take the trolley around the wards as I enjoy being part of Royal Voluntary Service and giving back to the community. The patients think it’s wonderful and really appreciate a friendly face and look forward to our visits ” Val Marshall Volunteer, Royal Voluntary Service Café,Loughborough Hospital


Dementia Carers support

“ My father received weekly visits from Royal Voluntary Service which helped both my parents and me. I got a short break from my responsibilities as a daughter, knowing that someone who knew my parents personally was seeing them weekly. Volunteer visits would involve singing favourite songs, watching DVDs, playing games and sharing memories. Since my father died, our volunteer continues to visit my mother who considers her a friend.”

700,000 people live with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to double over the next 30 years.vi Helping people to live well with dementia remains a challenge.

We provide social and practical support for people living with dementia and their carers. Volunteers make home visits, help with shopping, collect prescriptions and support trips to doctors’ appointments. They make time for a cup of tea and a chat while carers take time for themselves. The service has improved the well-being of many people living with dementia and their carers.

Susan says:

61%of those with diagnosed dementia felt anxious or depressed recently

don’t feel part of their communityv

34%

Being diagnosed with dementia takes a toll on older people’s mental well being:


In the last decade, hospital readmissions for people aged 75+ has increased by 86%.vii

Home from Hospital

Royal Voluntary Service research found that whilst the majority of people were relieved to return home from a hospital stay, many - particularly those living alone - felt anxious.Our Home from Hospital service helps older people get back on their feet after time in hospital. Volunteer contact with the patient begins before discharge in order to gain an understanding of their needs and build trust. Checks ensure the home is safe, warm and

comfortable with essential provisions stocked. Upon discharge, the older person is escorted home, settled back in and regular visits continue for up to six weeks with volunteering helping to collect shopping or prescriptions, with cooking or looking after a pet.

This personal and practical support builds confidence and encourages people to leave hospital sooner and step back into their old life.

Sheila (90) needed support following a stroke. Volunteer Vicki has been visiting Sheila since she came home from hospital.

“ I’d been down in the dumps since being in hospital and didn’t feel confident going out on my own. The first time Vicki came, she took me into town. We had coffee and

I did some shopping. I’ve been a widow for 30 years so I’m used to my own company, but I get lonely. Vicki’s visits help. If she didn’t come, life wouldn’t be so pleasant.”

Royal Voluntary Service

Those who used our Home from Hospital Service in Leicester reported a:

improvement in social contact

70%

improvement in confidence52%


This could mean getting some shopping in, walking the dog, changing a light bulb or just sitting down for a friendly chat over a cup of tea. We also provide a link to local social activities and help older people to get back to doing what they enjoy.

We work with GPs to identify those most at risk of ending up in hospital within the next year. This helps alleviate strain on local services.

Good NeighboursVolunteers provide companionship and practical help with everyday tasks.

felt more connected to their communities and less isolated thanks to our service in South Lanarkshire.

75%

Counter social isolation

Maintain independence

Keep vulnerable older people out of hospital

“ I look forward to seeing Louise every week. We always have a laugh and a joke, and we go to the pub for a pint of bitter or sometimes we stay in my flat and have a cup of tea. Louise has made a big difference to my life.”

Louise visits Francis once a week and has noticed a big difference since she started visiting him, he seems a bit happier, more willing to socialise and come out of the apartment to meet Louise and the other residents.

Louise says: “Stepping into Francis’ world was a real eye opener for me; I suppose I was a bit naive. I didn’t realise how many people lived on their own, and become isolated and lonely. It’s lovely to be able to help and enjoy myself at the same time.”

Francis, (81) was very upset and lonely after losing his wife and had become very isolated. He now has weekly visits from volunteer Louise who he is says is his ‘lifeline’.


342,000 over 75s feel trapped in their own home through lack of suitable transport.viii

Our transport service helps those who can’t drive, use public transport, or who live in remote locations to leave their home and go about their everyday lives independently. Volunteers drive people to and from hospital appointments, shopping visits, social occasions and day trips.

Transport

“ The volunteer drivers have become my friends. It's such a comfort to have someone take you to the hospital, stay during the appointment and then take you home again. Knowing that I can get around has definitely helped me keep my independence.”

Dorothy (100) lost her driving licence some years ago. Living in a rural area, she became isolated. After finding out about our transport service, she now uses it for monthly hospital appointments.

car journeys every year

87,000


Reading or listening to an audio recording can help alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Older people identify their reading tastes and preferences, then material is selected by library staff in suitable formats and delivered by volunteers to their homes.

Our volunteers do more than just deliver books. They provide vital, regular social contact to many older people whose mobility and social interaction are limited, as well as checking on their safety and well-being.

Home Library Service

Eileen (84) is registered blind. She lives independently but is unable to leave her flat without help. Volunteer Patricia visits every fortnight, delivering ten audio CDs. She always stops to chat.

“ Keeping myself busy is a challenge as I can’t see to watch the television or read, so the Home Library Service is important. Without Patricia’s visits and the audio CDs she brings, the day would be very long.”

books delivered every year

100,000Our national impact:

Percentage of older people who come into contact with family,

friends and neighbours:

17% less than once a week

less than once a monthxi

11%

18

Daphne (81) and her husband moved to a new area when they retired. Soon after, her husband died.

Our lunch clubs are a vibrant place to meet over a good, nourishing meal.

They enable older people to meet friends, enjoy interesting activities and even learn basic cooking skills. For many, they are the only opportunity to eat a meal in company.

“ When I first lost my husband, the lunch club was somewhere to go which brought me back into the community. We meet at the pub where we enjoy a very nice meal and a natter. I’ve made lots of friends since coming here. I’m not sitting at home eating on my own and there’s no washing-up!”

Lunch Clubs

volunteer-run lunch and community clubs

increase in food intake when older adults invited to eat

with familiar othersix

486

60%


Participating in social activities after retirement helps people live longer and is as important to heath as exercise.x

Sheds are places for older people to come together to produce crafts, learn new skills, and socialise. Members of the wider community can get involved too.

They prevent isolation and loneliness by keeping people active and connected. Open to everyone, Sheds can play a particularly important part in meeting the needs of older men who are far more likely to be socially isolated than women.

Tom (98) a former farm worker, gardener and driver only retired at the age of 85.

“ It’s provided me with a social life and I enjoy the banter. I’m very handy so it keeps me active and using my skills.”

Sheds

Royal Voluntary Service is working with the UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA) and the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) to support the development of Sheds across the country.


Frailty needn’t be an inevitable part of ageing. It’s possible to intervene to prevent or reverse frailty through increasing exercise and movement.xi

Dancing offers a host of health and wellbeing benefits, helping older people stay physically and mentally active while doing something they enjoy.

Dancing

“ If I don’t dance, I really miss it. It keeps you fit and your brain active.”

Shirley (77) learnt to dance as a child. It’s been a big part of her life ever since. When Royal Voluntary Service set up a Modern Sequence club in her home town, she was keen to get involved. She became a volunteer and has run the club for over 20 years.

GP referral to exercise interventions such as a weekly group exercise class with additional home exercises can improve balance and reduce falls xii


Our wartime offer of ‘tea and comfort’ was well-known. Now Royal Voluntary Service is one of the biggest retailers in hospitals in England, Scotland and Wales.

We offer NHS staff, visitors and patients convenient, fairly-priced food, drink and shopping choices as well as support and advice about hospital and community services available to older people.

Committed to ensuring there is healthy food and drink in hospitals we have pledged to transform our cafes, shops and trolley services into hubs for healthy eating by March 2017.

Proceeds from our retail services fund the charity’s wider work supporting vulnerable older people in hospital, at home and in the community.

Retail

“ Seeing the patients is one of my favourite parts of the job.”

hospital cafés, shops and ward trolley services run by 13,000 trained volunteers and staff

raised by retail services in 2013/14

440

£48.8M

Aled (62) has been a hospital volunteer for 14 years. He serves drinks in the tea bar and delivers newspapers to the wards.

Royal Voluntary Service

To partner with us to deliver services for older people at home, in the community or in hospital, or to find out more about our work, you can contact us in the following ways:

Find out more

*All calls charged at a standard rate when using a BT landline. Calls from other providers or from mobile phones may be charged at a higher rate. Your call may be recorded for quality or training purposes.

Online:Via our contact page: www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/getintouch

By phone:Call 0845 266 1114*Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm

By post:Royal Voluntary ServiceBeck CourtCardiff Gate Business ParkCARDIFFCF23 8RP

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24

Sourcesi http://www.nesta.org.uk/publications/five-hours-day

ii The Campaign to End Loneliness, of which we are a founder partner www.campaign toendloneliness.org.uk

iii Nazroo, 2013, waves 2-4 http://www.elsa-project.ac.uk/

iv http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_094051.pdf

v http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/infographic

vi The longer patients with dementia are in hospital, the worse the effect on the symptoms of dementia and the individual’s physical health. Discharge to a care home becomes more likely and antipsychotic drugs are more likely to be used. Source: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/countingthecost

vii Going Home Alone, Royal Voluntary Service report 2014

viii Victor C et al “Loneliness, Social Isolation and Living Alone in Later Life” Economic and Social Research Council (2003)

ix McAlpine, Harper, McMurdo, Bolton-Smith and Hetherington, 2003 http://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/portal/en/research/nutritional-supplementation-in-older-adults(b4423a5b-fc96-4428-9a98-ba47757b30ac)/export.html

x University of Queensland, Australia http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/2/e010164.full

xi Villareal DT, Banks M, Sinacore DR, Siener C, Klein S. Effect of Weight Loss and Exercise on Frailty in Obese Older Adults. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(8):860-866

xii Barnett, Anne, et al. “Community based group exercise improves balance and reduces falls in at risk older people: a randomised controlled trial.” Age and ageing 32.4 (2003):

Royal Voluntary Service Impact Report 2016

Royal Voluntary ServiceBeck CourtCardiff Gate Business ParkCARDIFFCF23 8RP

0845 266 1114

www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

Royal Voluntary Service is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 2520413. Registered office Beck Court, Cardiff Gate Business Park, Cardiff CF23 8RP. Registered charity 1015988 (England and Wales) & SC038924 (Scotland)

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