Vernon Kay, James Haskell and Jodie Kidd all volunteer their time to The Sun’s Helping Hands at Christmas campaign
YOUR Christmas shopping may be done but there is still time to give the gift of volunteering.
Our Helping Hands at Christmas campaign with Royal Voluntary Service this month has supported their work providing a lifeline to elderly and vulnerable people UK-wide.
You have been signing up in your droves for a host of volunteer roles, including helping to run social clubs, driving people to hospital appointments, working on hospital trolleys and making companionship calls.
Or giving what money you can to help.
Catherine Johnstone, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “Winter is when our support is most needed. Christmas in particular can be hugely challenging for those we support.
“Through Helping Hands at Christmas, we’ve been able to share with readers just how much of a difference donations and volunteers make.
“I’m so grateful. We look forward to welcoming new volunteers to our teams because of your generosity. Thank you, and season’s greetings.”
It is still not too late to pitch in with however little time and/or money you can spare, see right.
We also tell how a host of celebs got on when they mucked in and tried out a range of volunteer roles, from cooking to driving . . .
Jodie Kidd
MODEL Jodie got in the driving seat of our Helping Hands at Christmas campaign – by volunteering to give a pensioner a lift to and from her Royal Voluntary Service lunch club.
Jodie ferried Yvonne Kilburn, 82, from her home to the centre in Bordon, Hants.
She was highlighting how vital Royal Voluntary Service’s transport service is for getting vulnerable people to and from social clubs and hospital appointments.
Car enthusiast Jodie said: “I had a brilliant day volunteering with Royal Voluntary Service.
“When I drove Yvonne to her local lunch club, I realised how just transport can be for people.
“But it was more than just getting from A to B – Yvonne and I had a lovely chat and giggle in the car together.”
Yvonne was thrilled to be chauffeured to weekly Whitehall Lunch Club in Jodie’s sleek Audi RS6 with gold wheels.
She has been going to the club for eight years and originally worked as a volunteer there, with her late husband.
Car-racing fan Yvonne said: “I loved it when Jodi revved the engine of her car. It was fantastic to chat with her and we had a great time together.
“Lunch club is so important to me. I’ve been widowed for five years now so life can get lonely. The club is great for helping me keep in touch”.
Jodie added: “At the lunch club I got stuck in with the other volunteers and we had a laugh whilst we were prepping lunch.
“To then sit down with everyone whilst they enjoyed the lovely, warm meal was so rewarding. It’s so clear to see how much clubs like this mean to the people that come along – for some they are a real lifeline.
“Volunteering is such an amazing thing to do and any time that you can give will make a real difference and can even change lives.
“I love driving, so helping out with the transport service was the perfect role for me.
“But there’s something for everyone to help out with, no matter what your skills or experience.”
The centre at Whitehall and many others like it are supported by funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, awarded by Postcode Support Trust.
James Haskell
FORMER England rugby player James won over a group of elderly diners with his softer side as he gushed about his baby girl Bodhi.
James, 37, who appeared 77 times for his country, delighted the pensioners by sharing tales and photos of his daughter.
He joined a Christmas party at Rickmansworth Lunch Club, Herts, to say thank you to volunteers for their tireless work ensuring the elderly and vulnerable have somewhere they can enjoy a hot meal and some company.
Reflecting on his visit, James told The Sun: “I’ve felt really at home with the entire gang today – they’ve made me so welcome.
“I came down to provide some entertainment for everyone, but to be honest they’ve been entertaining me.
“I’ve been sat between two women – one who grew up in South Africa and another who has been on trips to the Antarctic for scientific research.
“You just never know who you’re going to meet.”
This year more than ever clubs like this will provide crucial support to the elderly and vulnerable as they struggle to heat their homes and afford food and other essentials.
James was treated to a delicious chicken chasseur dinner cooked by volunteers Jeanette Twigg, 55, and Chris Patient, 74, and served by Sylvia Duffy, 62, Angela Sims, 55, and volunteer coordinator Tricia Hegde, 70.
Royal Voluntary Service provides the club’s hearty lunches at Mill End Community Hall every day to ensure that their service users have a home-cooked meal if they need it.
James is pictured above with Valerie Leech and Jean Boshoff, who he sat with for lunch and were absolutely taken with the doting dad’s touching tales about three-month-old Bondhi.
James and his wife, personal trainer and reality TV favourite Chloe Madeley, 35, welcomed her in August this year and have been sharing adorable snaps of their daughter on social media.
Jean, after nattering with James over lunch, told how much she loved having a special surprise guest at a place that she comes to every day.
She said: “My husband died three years ago and I’ve been coming to the club ever since.
“It’s really lovely to have nice company and the food is amazing. Plus, you get to meet people you’d never see otherwise – like James.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Donate time
THERE is a wide range of volunteering jobs available, including making a companionship call, serving hot meals at our lunch clubs to someone who would not otherwise eat, delivering practical help to those recovering from illness and working on hospital wards or at vaccination sites.
If there is not a suitable role in your local area, you might want to sign up as an Emergency Response Volunteer.
You will be contacted when new vital roles are introduced, to support communities and the NHS over winter.
Visit the website: royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/helpinghands
to find out about jobs in your area and follow the instructions on how to sign up.
Donate money
IF you can’t volunteer you can donate money to help cover the costs of recruiting and training volunteers.
Just £6 a month covers the cost of a volunteer for a year.
To donate, visit the website above or text HANDS to 70507 to give £5*
*You will be charged £5, plus one message at your standard network rate.
Royal Voluntary Service will receive 100 per cent.
If you wish to discuss this mobile payment, call 020 3282 7863. Registered charity number 1015988 (England and Wales) & SC038924 (Scotland).
By texting HANDS to 70507 you are agreeing to us contacting you by SMS about fundraising and to tell you more about our work.
To give £5 without receiving further contact by SMS, text HANDSNO to 70507.
Chris Bavin
WITHIN seconds of walking through the door for his lunch club visit, TV chef Chris was elbow-deep in dumpling pastry as he was put to work.
Chris, 42, known for shows such as How to Eat Well for Less, was shown the ropes by volunteers at Liss Lunch Club, Hants, who challenged him to beat dough balls they had already made.
In mock horror, he cried: “I thought I was here to help, not compete on MasterChef.”
He put in his shift under the watchful eye of day chefs Lucy Panton and Lorraine Roberts.
Talking about his day, Chris said: “What we are doing here today is amazing.
“The volunteers do so many extraordinary things and we need to recognise that.
“They love it, the guests love it. It’s so worthwhile, it makes you feel amazing. If you can volunteer at a local service like this, please do.”
Volunteer Ros Humphries, 76, told Chris: “I keep coming back because I love helping.
“It brings me joy, to give to other people. Plus, I love working with the team.”
Vernon Kay
HOURS before treading the boards in Cinderella, TV host Vernon joined a Zoom companionship call with volunteer Andrew Kluge, one of Royal Voluntary Service’s more recent recruits.
For the past five months, company boss Andrew, 59, from Bolton like Vernon, has been partnered with 96–year-old Reg Birch,of West Didsbury, Manchester.
During their half-hour chat, Andrew told Vernon, 48, all about Reg, the bond they have made and why he would encourage anyone to volunteer.
He also helps Reg with shopping and takes him out.
Andrew said: “It makes you realise people are lonely and need support.
“I feel I’m helping, giving something back. I’m learning from it, too. I’m growing as a person from meeting people like Reg.”
Vernon said: “That’s really good you are still learning. Ninety-six, that’s a life lived, isn’t it? It’s really sad that our senior citizens sometimes don’t have anyone to talk to.
“If you think of that journey through history that Reg has personally experienced, he’s got a wealth of memories.”
Reg, who has never wed, lives in his childhood home. He has been in the RAF, lived in South Africa and Germany, worked in printing and worked until age 95.
He has been using Royal Voluntary Service for the past two years.
He said: “If it wasn’t for Andrew, I don’t know what I would do. He does so much for me, helps me with my bills, and we enjoy our time.”
Andrew signed up as a volunteer after his mum Brenda died in 2020, age 89.
She had used a befriending service, where someone would come round for tea and a chat.
“It was a lifeline for her because she didn’t get out much, apart from seeing me once or twice a week,” said Andrew.
“So, since Mum died, I thought rather than just play golf, I’d do something useful, and signed up to volunteer. I requested doing something similar to the service Mum had.”
Vernon, who last year also joined The Sun’s Jabs Army last year to help with Covid vaccinations at the Bolton Wanderers stadium, told Andrew: “It must be fulfilling because us northerners are a different breed, we do like a chat and a brew.
“Bolton is a great town, a community that pulls together when needed.”
Extra help
Sun Bingo Players have raised £20,000 for our campaign as all the proceeds from their Winner, Winner, Christmas Dinner have been donated to our Helping Hands drive