Lucy Norman, aged 97, of Clare, Suffolk, Age UK Suffolk's eldest volunteer.
Clare: 97-year-old still working as a volunteer
By Emma Brennan
Friday, February 17, 2012
12:00 PM
A NONAGENARIAN from west Suffolk has proven that you are never too old to take up voluntary work.
Lucy Norman, 97, who lives in Clare, is the oldest volunteer to work with the charity Age UK Suffolk. She became a volunteer telephone ‘befriender’ last year, after her husband passed away.
The Ipswich-based charity is keen to put the experience and skills of Suffolk’s older residents to good use, and telephone work is ideal because it enables retirees to volunteer without leaving their homes.
Lucy calls an 81-year-old Stoke-by-Nayland resident once a week for a 20 minute chat about everyday matters. She said the volunteering had mutual benefits, as it had also helped her combat her own feelings of loneliness and isolation after the loss of her husband.
“I just couldn’t stop helping people, I had the time and I wanted to do something useful. I love the satisfaction of hearing someone else’s happiness just through the tone of their voice,” she said.
Michelle Blom, Age UK Suffolk’s volunteer officer said: “Older volunteers are warmly welcomed into our organisation. We greatly value their understanding and ability to engage with other older people and share their life experiences. Lucy’s enjoyment of her befriending also shows that volunteering benefits both the volunteers and the clients.”
After just completing her first year as a volunteer, Lucy shows no signs of tiring of her voluntary role. She added: “Hearing my new friend respond positively is a real motivating factor for me to keep going with this for as long as I can.
“I am getting so much satisfaction from helping someone else, and I would recommend it to everyone.”
Age UK Suffolk has 700 volunteers around Suffolk, but the charity is searching for other people like Lucy to provide companionship, either by telephone or home visits.
To find out more, call 01473 298 684.
