Meet volunteers from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme in York (From York Press)

Meet volunteers from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme in York

10:07am Wednesday 1st September 2010 in

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WHILE tourists at the Minster click away with their cameras, a clicking of another kind fills the tiny ground floor room behind them in High Petergate. Judy Tolliday is busy with her knitting needles, making garments and toys which she hopes might brighten the day for a faraway toddler in an East European orphanage.

Judy, 72, from Haxby, is a volunteer on the national Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP). Once a month, she and her friends meet to catch up on each other’s news while knitting jumpers and teddy bears for those less fortunate.

Their work is not only sent to countries such as Romania. It also goes to help children in Africa and, nearer home, to hospital premature baby and A&E units in York, Harrogate, Sheffield and Northallerton.

It all began five years ago, after a magazine article told of the therapy and satisfaction to be gained by making clothes for charity. Since then RSVP’s knitting programme has flourished – and nowhere more so than in York.

“We have people all over the county knitting for charity and all the garments come here,” says Judy. “I do enjoy sifting through the bags and we’ll say, ‘Oh what gorgeous cardigans, a little girl will look really pretty in this’, and when I’ve knitted something I picture someone wearing it and that I think is the pleasure for me.”

The items are put into age groups, packed in boxes and sent to an overseas delivery firm which takes them to East Europe and Africa. Judy knits about 60 items a month and has a special place in her heart for premature baby clothes, because one of her children and a grandson were born prematurely.

“He only weighed two ponds and because I spent time at the unit I learned what mums like to see their babies wearing. Sometimes I knit from doll clothes patterns, that’s how tiny they are and we always get lovely thank-you letters from the hospitals.”

For Judy, the third Wednesday of the month is her favourite day. This is when the members get together and with 2010 being the European year for combating poverty, it’s their way of playing a part.

There are 20 members of York’s knitting circle and while they spend a good few hours with their needles every day, they meet up to help each other with their various projects. And if someone comes in with an unfinished piece they are struggling over, one of the ladies will be on hand to help.

So far this year they have sent off 100 boxes stuffed full of clothes and toys, ranging from jumpers and cardigans, which go abroad, to booties and matinee coats for premature babies in Yorkshire.

And then there are the trauma teddies.

“For the children in the orphanage, the toys we make will be the first they’ve ever owned,” says Judy.

“We recently had a report from a man who went to an orphanage and in the corner was a little girl who just would not smile, she was really forlorn. But the next time he went back, a delivery of toys had been made and this same little girl was laughing because she was riding on a little bike clutching and her teddy. “The thought of putting a smile on a child’s face is what keeps me going and makes me think I’m doing something worthwhile.”

As do the stories, like one about a girl in Bulgaria who turned up as the last teddy was being handed out. She was disappointed but kept pointing at the empty box. Unsure what she meant, the aid worker handed it to her and she ran off.

Later at one of the knitting circles, the women were puzzling over the reason she wanted it when one revealed the answer. The girl wanted it as a cot for her baby.

“It really makes you think,” says fellow knitter Margaret Williamson.

“My grandchildren have too much really and it’s only when you hear about a single teddy in a bag or an empty box giving pleasure that you realise how desperate some children’s lives are.

“And when you think of all the disasters going on in the world, we could be knitting for ever.”

The Yorkshire branch of RSVP is managed in York by a committee of seven volunteers led by Roger Bamforth. But they don’t only knit cuddly toys and romper suits. Some, such as Roger, visit primary schools across the county to help youngsters who have reading difficulties.

“I think children can benefit greatly from the individual attention and help that volunteers give them, and for me this has been the most worthwhile thing I have ever done,” he says. “Because if children don’t learn to read by the time they reach secondary school, they will be lost.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and the great thing is you meet not only some amazing kids but a lot of very nice people as well. All want to do the same thing I do, to help children improve their literacy and reading which will see them into their future.”

The reading mentors approach head teachers to offer their services and many are glad of it.

“It is a wonderful thing to see them progress term by term, and I get great satisfaction in helping them to learn,” says Roger. “All of our volunteers find this programme tremendously rewarding and some say to me, ‘Why didn’t we do this before’? Now we’ve got approximately 600 volunteers going into schools throughout the whole of Yorkshire.”

RSVP is involved in all manner of things which benefit the community, from health care to environmental projects – such as maintaining and improving public spaces or providing domestic gardening services. Members can also be found working with organisations such as the National Trust or local museums, while others provide support to sick, frail or elderly people.

Roger says the York branch owes its existence to Anne Pulleyn, who has now retired.

“She was a natural and inspirational leader who really made the place tick and put a vast amount of time into the work. She ran the branch like a business, even though we’re volunteers, and we’re all here today because of her.”

The charity has its roots in the United States and was the brain-child of a group of professional men and women who were approaching retirement and wanted to harness their experience for the benefit of others. It arrived in this country 20 or so years ago and the aim is to encourage those aged 50 and upwards to become active in their communities.

RSVP is managed by Community Service Volunteers, a registered charity based in London, and from humble beginnings the programme has grown with the number of volunteers trebling to more than 14,000. They donate their time and skills to about 400 community activities, including schools support, primary care help, befriending and conservation projects.

“There is no age limit and I believe you’re as young as you feel, because it’s not about how old you are – it’s how you are older,” says Roger.

So the next time you are shopping in Petergate, visiting the Minster, or popping into the Guy Fawkes for a pint, stop outside number 27. You might just hear the sound of frenzied clicking as Judy and her pals use their knitting needles in the battle to combat poverty.

Further growth for work of RSVP

NATIONALLY, RSVP runs a number of regular events such as Get Active Week which is held in June each year to arrange fun outings for local people who are less able or less well off.

Make A Difference Day is CSV’s flagship event at the end of October each year and encourages people of all ages to spend one day helping their community.

The RSVP programme continues to grow without a proportionate growth in income, so volunteers with an interest in fundraising are particularly welcome.

For more information go to csv-rsvp.org.uk or email rsvp.york@tiscali.co.uk