The British Red Cross is looking for volunteers to support older people in Cornwall following a stay in hospital.

The Cornwall ‘Welcome Home’ service is a partnership between Volunteer Cornwall and the Red Cross offering support to around 400 people each year, after a discharge from hospital.

The service could consist of transport home and help settling in, or up to four weeks of support from a Red Cross volunteer if someone needs a bit more help to regain their independence. The service is funded by Cornwall Council.

If people need a bit more support, the dedicated team of 20 Red Cross volunteers work with them towards their personal goals to regain their independence. This could range from enabling people to shop for and prepare meals to accessing social opportunities to combat loneliness.

Anna Chatterton, 70, who lives in Ruddlemoor, near St Austell, has been helping people as a volunteer since early 2011 and enjoys seeing the difference her support makes during the weekly visits to someone’s home.

She says: ’For me, as well as the people I support, volunteering is a great way of remaining active and independent.’

Anyone who is interested in volunteering should contact Lucy Goldring on: 01872 272 878.