A CHARITY which works to combat isolation among older people is looking for more volunteers in Ryedale.

Contact the Elderly is appealing for people to help run tea parties for older people in the area.

The charity already runs tea parties in Ryedale, but needs help from new volunteer drivers to pick up the guests from their homes, hosts to welcome groups into their homes once or twice a year and a volunteer co-ordinator to help organise the monthly tea parties.

Mary Robinson, of Contact the Elderly, said volunteers get as much out of the tea parties as the guests.

She said: “The charity is committed to offering a lifeline of friendship to the oldest and loneliest people, but our hopes of extending this lifeline in Ryedale are fading due to a real shortage of volunteers in the area.

“Anyone who can spare a couple of hours one Sunday a month, has a driving licence, a car and a capacity for drinking tea, is eligible.”

Anyone interested in volunteering for Contact the Elderly in Ryedale should phone Mary Robinson on 01535 632592 or email mary.robinson@contact-the-elderly.org.uk