Volunteers sought to aid Abbeyfield's old folk in Barnard Castle

OFFICIALS of a town charity which provides supported accommodation for the elderly are on the look-out for more volunteers.

The Abbeyfield Barnard Castle Society, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, provides a home for up to ten people at its property in Galgate.

Non-profit making and completely independent, a voluntary committee made up of a chairman, three trustees and one volunteer oversee the operation of Abbeyfield House.

Committee member Jennie White said the organisation could do with more volunteers getting involved.

“We have trustees who are all volunteers and who bring different skills and experience,” she said.

“We need a bit more help and would like more people to be involved on the committee.”

Abbeyfield House manager Sue Hall said anyone who could lend a hand with anything from helping residents simply sew on a button or pop to the shops to tackling minor repairs and gardening would be welcome.

“It would be very flexible, We would like some people who would like to come along and help with our little community,” she said.

Although run independently, the charity is affiliated to the Abbeyfield Society.

Ms White explained: “This means we follow the Abbeyfield ethos of bringing people together.

“We operate to a very high standard and we are inspected – which is quite a rigorous thing, covering things such as health and safety, hygiene and data protection.

“We have an obligation not to fall below a certain standard.”

Abbeyfield House offers independent living for those over 55 who are no longer able or willing to live alone.

Both single people and couples are catered for, each with their own ensuite self contained bedsit or apartment within the complex, a former doctor’s surgery.

There are no nursing facilities or staff to look after residents, however, a morning round is made to check everyone is okay.

There is a communal lounge and dining room where residents meet for a main lunch and light tea.

“We still feel there is a need for this kind of home,” said Ms Hall.

“We are quite a step removed from a care home. Residents tend to be fairly independent but fairly isolated and enjoy a bit of camaraderie.”

Staff keep in touch with residents' families and one of the top floor flats in the home has been converted for use by visiting relatives.

Ms Hall added: “The staff do the rounds on a morning and deliver milk and papers – that doesn’t happen elsewhere – and the meals are the big thing, the meals bring people together.”

Staff are on duty from 8am to 6pm and all residents are connected to the Durham Care Connect system should an emergency arise.

Rent covers costs and any excess goes straight back to the building – a major refurbishment of the 27-year-old kitchen is next on the agenda.

Ms Hall and house keeping manager Julie Teasdale head a small team consisting of house keepers Karen Dickinson and Andrea Hedley, house keeping assistant Terry-Ann Jackson, relief assistant Steph Williams and Edward Cockburn, who oversees maintenance.

Anyone who would like further information about volunteering with the Abbeyfield Barnard Castle Society should contact Ms Hall on 01833 638116 or email abbeyfield bc@gmail.com

With vacancies currently at the home, Ms Hall is also happy to speak to anyone interested in moving in.