Help of Denia & District 
A BRIEF HISTORY OF 'HELP OF DENIA AND DISTRICT'
The HELP organization began on the Costa Blanca in the late 70's. Javea was the first to set up an organization
and the Denia and District branch of HELP came into being in 1984, following their example.
At that time none, if any, of the Spanish services spoke anything but Spanish and there were no translation services
available. As expatriates began to settle in the area, a need for general help and support grew, and for support
in medical emergencies particularly.
Growth of HELP OF DENIA
The Denia group wanted to organize a formal network and so they set up a committee. The first AGM was held in March 1985 and at that time they had 49 volunteers with Anne Macletchie elected as the first chairman. A small handbook was compiled, and a few items of equipment were bought. From these small beginnings the organization grew.Within a year the number of volunteers in the Denia area had grown to 75, and a luncheon club had been established. This was set up to help those who had no transport and to provide some social support to the elderly.
In the early 90's a 'support in bereavement' group was suggested and it was felt that more information was needed to support the volunteers. An induction talk for new volunteers was arranged, so that the more experienced volunteers could pass on their knowledge. At this stage the number of volunteers stood at 134.
Developments
In the early 1990's. when Denia opened the Marina Alta hospital, HELP began to change as it was no longer merely a support service on a neighbourly basis. There were calls for translation services from almost everyone attending the hospital no matter from which area they came. This resulted in a team of interpreters being established over the next few years.In 1991 some volunteers started a bereavement counselling service and during this time a sub-committee was formed to raise funds for a defibrillator machine for Denia Red Cross. Lectures on First Aid were given by St. John's Ambulance Brigade at the Centro Cruz Roja, and a First-Aid booklet was proposed, to be distributed to Volunteers.
Also, a proposal was made that leaflets with useful phrases in English/Spanish be drawn up for distribution to patients in hospital.
As funds grew, donations to local organisations were made, For example, in 1993 three ship-to-shore phones were presented to Red Cross Denia for use in rescue craft, also a special lifting chair.
Charity shop
In 1998 a charity shop was opened in La Xara with the specific remit of raising money to buy essential equipment for the hospital, and to pay for the services of a translator at weekends.The equipment bought recently includes over 20 special beds being purchased for which the hospital arranges for them to be used in private homes for terminally-ill patients.* These beds are kept in local Health Centres, and are in such constant use that further purchases will be made when this need becomes apparent.
The success of the fund-raising aspect of the shop led to new premises being rented with a resulting increase in sales and revenue to raise money for the above-mentioned beds, and also the purchase of more equipment for loans to the general public.
* It must be stressed that money for the purchase of these beds also comes from donations, both private and from organizations such as Lions of Teulada; Javea Rotary, Calpe Rotary; Masonic Lodge 83 Javea; 'La Tienda de Caridad in Calpe; the 'Roundabout Charity Shop' in Javea; and the Line-Dancing Groups of Calpe, Moraira and Alcalalí