In National Volunteers Week, CHRIS TITLEY learns how lending a

helping hand can make all the

difference

KATH Humphries is dancing again. At 85, she has returned to the dance hall in Bishophill Junior, York, that she first graced as a 17-year-old.

"I have a lovely dance partner," she said. "Our friends have a bit of fun with us, saying we're like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers."

Not so long ago, this scenario would have seemed like an unattainable dream. Mrs Humphries was registered blind 12 years ago. She has no sight in one eye and very limited sight in the other.

As her vision failed, so did her confidence. "I can see enough to get around, but I haven't the confidence to go out on my own."

Mrs Humphries became, she says, "caged" in her Bishopthorpe home. When she asked her doctor about getting a guide dog, he said no, it would be too much for her. Instead, he put her in touch with the York Blind & Partially Sighted Society.

They had a volunteer on their books, Roy Piercy, ready to help. When the two first met, they clicked, said Mrs Humphries. Since then he has helped transform her life.

"He's very good. He does all my bills for me because I can't see to read them even with a magnifying glass.

"He does a bit of shopping for me. He makes me laugh. I send him out to go and buy me some hairspray and some setting lotion for my hair.

"They look at him in the shops. He says he's a little bit embarrassed but, bless him, he does it.

"He's better than any guide dog!"

Roy, 67, of Copmanthorpe, is only too happy to help.

"I took early retirement from British Rail and I saw one of the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society's adverts.

"My wife suffers from glaucoma and has eye problems. I thought it would be nice to try to help somebody who's lost some of their eyesight."

Joining the team was quite easy, he said. He took part in an informal interview, attended some visual awareness training and then was matched with his first client. This was an elderly gentleman in York. When he became ill and moved into a home Mr Piercy was introduced to Mrs Humphries by Sue Stothart, co-ordinator of the society's home visiting service.

"We got on very well from the start," he said.

He usually visits Mrs Humphries once a week, when he takes her and her partially sighted dancing partner to the Bishophill hall.

At other times "she will ring me if she's got a problem, or has something she wants help with," Mr Piercy added.

He finds being a volunteer very rewarding. "I had a heart operation a couple of years ago. It makes me feel grateful that I have come through that all right and I can help somebody else.

"I would heartily recommend being a volunteer."

Sue Stothart used National Volunteers Week, which runs until June 7, to appeal to anyone with a little spare time to get in touch. Like most York charities the Blind and Partially Sighted Society is constantly in need of more volunteers.

She is looking for people 18 and over, preferably with free time during the day, although some of her clients are happy to welcome volunteers in the evening. It is also very useful if the helper has a car.

The best volunteers are people "who really enjoy meeting people on a one-to-one basis," Sue said.

"Although they are part of a large team of volunteers they're really working on their own in the community.

"It needs to be somebody who's got a good sense of humour, who's a good listener and likes a good chatter, and someone who's pretty calm and unflappable."

A few hours' help makes all the difference. As Mrs Humphries said: "People have said to me, 'you look wonderful, you look happier than you did'.

"I've said, of course, I'm getting out and meeting people."