Pembs pensioners lend helping hands

12:50pm Sunday 2nd March 2008

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A national shortage of volunteers created by more people returning to work or choosing to spend their retirements trotting the globe doesn't seem to have hit Pembrokeshire.

According to the Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS) the number of people on its database remains constant. Each year it places up to 300 volunteers.

Nationally, the picture is rather different, with a new report suggesting that far fewer people are willing to volunteer - particularly the 55 to 64 year age group.

It blames pressures from work and family or people simply deciding to spend free time on themselves.

Pembrokeshire seems to be bucking this trend. PAVS has 400 people on its database and works with 200 charities and other groups.

Caroline Graham, its volunteering co-ordinator, says volunteers range from young people seeking work experience to people with disabilities who are unable to work and new residents who want to meet people.

"We see ourselves as a specialist for volunteering in Pembrokeshire; we match people with opportunities,'' she said.

These volunteer placements are more formal than traditional roles such as that of the school governor, fundraising or helping with church activities.

The Pembrokeshire branch of the cancer charity, Tenovus, has no shortage of volunteers.

Manager Debbie Jenkins says there are 20 volunteers to man the shops and help with fundraising, mainly in the over-60 age group.

"We recruited five new volunteers last year.

Many of the volunteers give up their time to help because their lives have been touched by cancer and want to give something back,'' she said.