PEOPLE with big hearts and a few hours to spare are being invited to lend a hand to voluntary organisations in Okehampton.

Age Concern Okehampton, the Children’s Hospice South West shop and the new Okehampton Befriending Group are all looking for help. There are opportunities to help in the shop, providing footcare for elderly people and company for housebound people so their carers can have a break.

Okehampton Age Concern spokesperson Lindsey Svensson said: ‘We’ve recently been asked to engage in a pilot project on behalf of care organisation Devon Carers to provide short periods of support for those caring for an older person.

‘The project is called Time for You and it is designed to give carers a break to attend an appointment, go shopping or just have a bit of time to themselves whilst knowing knowing that a caring, well-matched and competent volunteer is providing good company to their loved ones.’

Age Concern Okehampton, based in North Street, is also looking for volunteers to provide nail cutting at its footcare clinic at Okehampton Hospitals.

‘Our nail cutters are all trained volunteers and we are desperately in need of some new cutters so that we can continue this valuable service,’ said Lindsey, who can be contacted on 01837 55838 or [email protected]

The Children’s Hospice South West shop on West Street is inviting would-be volunteers to drop in this week to find out more about volunteering. Steph Robey, the charity’s retail volunteer advisor, said: ‘Volunteering in our charity shops is one of the most popular ways to support the charity and there are lots of ways to get involved, from creating shop displays to sorting stock, to serving and chatting to customers.’

Meanwhile, the Okehampton Befriending Group is looking for volunteers to lend a listening ear. Co-ordinator Jean Daniel said good listeners were ideal for the role which involves visiting people in their own homes and possibly accompanying them to groups they would like to try. Contact Jean on 01837 551045 or [email protected]