Dingwall-based charity Connecting Carers has put out call for more volunteers to help support unpaid carers across the Highlands

The volunteers will be part of a new phone team, Carers Call, to listen and provide support to unpaid carers by calling carers weekly.

Charity Connecting Carers hopes the service will make a positive difference to the wellbeing of the carers they help.

The charity’s volunteer co-ordinator, Pauline Laraway, said: “Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, gain new skills and make a difference to people’s lives.

“The beauty of this new volunteering opportunity is that people who perhaps live in more rural areas can help support others across Highland, all from the comfort of their own home and at a time that suits them.

“Becoming a Carers Call volunteer is an ideal chance to make a difference and help make connections with people from across Highland. Over the course of the pandemic many carers have struggled with added pressures due to the lack of support services operating. It is hoped that by bringing together volunteers to support unpaid carers across Highland it will have a positive impact on their ability to continue in their day-to-day caring role.”

They are looking for volunteers with a friendly, personable manner who like to chat and are patient and empathetic.

Roisin Connolly, CEO of Connecting Carers, added: “Successful recruitment of volunteers will ensure that we can offer our new wellbeing service to even more unpaid carers who require a safe space to talk openly about their caring role and the impact that it is having on their health and wellbeing.

"Volunteers are part of the wider Connecting Carers team and therefore receive the necessary support and training to enable them to fulfil this important role.”

For more information, contact Pauline Laraway at plaraway@connectingcarers.org.uk.

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