OAB in Banbury

As I write this we’re celebrating some firsts – our first volunteer home visitor has started to assist an OAB client, and our team of volunteers at the Horton are now in the hospital on a Wednesday afternoon to raise patients’ awareness about how OAB can help them.

Our volunteers, Brian and Marisol, are both registered blind, and are very pleased to be out using their communications skills again after having to give up jobs where they worked with people. If you are in the hospital, do say hello to them!

It’s all taken time to set up our volunteer activities because they need to be trained and police checked – CRB checks take a frustratingly long time at the moment but it is of course very important that these are done.

Our volunteers are now all very keen to get started, as are the people they will be helping. If you or someone you know in Banbury or the near vicinity needs a helper let me know. I recently found myself assisting a lady who has sight and hearing impairment to change a hospital appointment. It took me half an hour of phone calls, which she would have found almost impossible to make. This is just the sort of thing a volunteer can help to do.

I am still available to be visited at the help desk at Age Concern on Wednesdays from 2 to 5pm. One of the tasks I’ve been able to perform for people there is form filling. If you are struggling with this do drop in and I can probably help you.

With best wishes from Banbury,

Janet Payne

Banbury Coordinator

[ Photograph of Brian and Marisol: Pictured above are Brian and Marisol as they learn the ropes with David by their side. Both said they were very excited about having the chance to help others who share their situation. ]