Help of Denia & District

TRANSPORT

Short Distance: There are occasions when a person needs to attend the hospital or clinic and they cannot drive or walk to the nearest public transport. This service will normally be requested from people near your own locality, and it usually means you would have to wait until the patient has been attended to.

Long Distance: Sometimes people have to travel to Alicante or Valencia for hospital treatment and not be capable or well enough to drive their own car. If you volunteer for this, you are entitled to ask for the expenses incurred with road tolls, petrol etc.

CHARITY SHOP

The Charity Shop in La Xara is open weekday mornings 9.30 am - 1.30 pm.(Saturdays 9.30 - 1.00 pm.) There is a rota of regular volunteers but also needed are names of those who could be available for emergencies and holidays.

HELP CENTRE

The HELP Centre will be a facility for carers to leave their 'charges' so that they can get a few hours respite. Although not open yet Pat is looking for Volunteers to run it.

FUND-RAISING

The Annual Sponsored Walk and the Autumn Fayre are our main fund-raising activities, which normally take place in May and October respectively. They are usually half-day events and always great fun to be involved in, either as a participant for the Sponsored Walk, or in the case of the Autumn Fayre to man a stall, bake a cake, make jam, sell raffle-tickets, etc. And if there are any other activities which you feel you could introduce into this fund-raising category, your suggestion would be very welcome.

HOME VISITS

This is one of the most useful services you can carry out for people who are temporarily housebound or incapacitated.
If you have previous experience of being a carer, you will be of particular value in relieving relatives for a few hours every week or whenever you can manage to give the permanent carer some respite. But of no less importance is the help one can give in the more domestic areas listed on the volunteers form - so please come forward for these tasks too.
Please indicate as detailed on the volunteers form the service you can provide, and the times you are available, and Anita or Joy will call on you if and when they receive a request for help.

TRANSLATORS / INTERPRETERS FOR CLINIC APPOINTMENTS, ETC.

If you are competent in the Spanish Language, but do not want the commitment of being on the Hospital Interpretation Team, your services could be invaluable for those who need help in an emergency which involves dealing with the Spanish authorities - this could be, for example, a visit to the doctor or chemist or to the Town Hall. Please only volunteer if your Spanish is capable of this. There is no fixed rota but please indicate on the volunteers form the days and times when you are liable to be available. (You are entitled to make a charge of €12 an hour for this service.)

HOSPITAL TEAMS
(Jill Porter-Smith is in overall charge)

Interpreters for Hospital Appointments. 'Help' provides a team of voluntary interpreters who are on duty at Denia Hospital every weekday from 1100-1400 hrs. Each member of the team is called upon for one morning every 3 weeks. Currently Jill has her full complement, but new volunteers are welcome who would initially be called upon to cover for sickness and holidays. Jill will contact you if you volunteer for this much-appreciated service.

Hospital Visiting Team. Volunteers on this team visit English-speaking people who are in hospital - it is therefore much appreciated by those who have no family to visit them, or if the relatives cannot visit them with any frequency. Volunteers are asked to offer this service for one afternoon every 2 months. Anne Willars will contact you if you offer this service.

The 'Shadows'. This is a team of volunteers who man the 'Help' desk at the hospital. They are available to answer general queries when the Interpreter is engaged in the consulting room. Pauline Major (96-645-5353) organises a rota in which every 'shadow' is on duty for one morning (1100-1400 hrs) every 3 weeks - she will contact you if you volunteer for this team.