David Dingley’s hitting the heights to help older people
• Gloucestershire charity worker to take on Britain’s tallest peaks
• Raising money to help lonely and isolated older people
GLOUCESTERSHIRE charity worker, David Dingley is calling for help as he takes on one of the UK’s toughest challenges.
He is aiming to scale Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon in just 24 hours to raise money for The Silver Line – the only national, free, confidential and 24/7 helpline for lonely and isolated older people.
David who recruits and supports volunteers for The Silver Line in Gloucestershire aims to raise enough money to pay for at least four people to be supported by the helpline and to have a Silver Line Friend for a year.
Gloucestershire Volunteer Manager, David, said: “Many older people call The Silver Line Helpline at weekends and in the evenings – we’re there to help them when no one else is.
“But running the helpline, training volunteers, and the cost of all calls are paid for by donations, so raising money is constant challenge for us. That’s why I’m asking people in Gloucestershire to help by sponsoring my Three Peaks Challenge.”
To support David Dingley go to justgiving.com/Davids3peakchallenge or go direct to The Silver Line’s website: thesilverline.org.uk/donate/
The Silver Line helpline operates around-the-clock, 365-days-a-year, to provide information and support and receives around 10,000 calls a day from lonely and isolated older people.
Founded by Dame Esther Rantzen, it offers friendship and advice, and signposts callers to other resources in their community.
The Silver Line also operates a telephone friendship scheme, where an older person is matched with a volunteer Silver Line Friend who shares their interests. They enjoy a regular weekly chat together – with many matches blossoming into real friendships.
It’s free for both the volunteer and the older person.
David Dingley added: “With the growing number of callers we also need more volunteers from Gloucestershire to become Silver Line Friends.
“It just takes 30 minutes a week to chat with an isolated older person and really make a difference. To volunteer just call 0800 4 70 80 90 or go to our website thesilverline.org.uk “
The Silver Line Helpline: 0800 4 70 80 90 Website: thesilverline.org.uk
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