Click to open the CSV website

Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme

Retire into Action
 

News and Events

August / September 2008

RSVP's 20th Anniversary

RSVP is 20 years old, and lots of events are taking place each month across the UK to celebrate this important anniversary, reflecting the vital role RSVP has developed and played over the last twenty years in community life.
Celebrations were held in Exeter, Peterborough and Sandy in Bedfordshire, all involving the local mayors, where awards were presented for outstanding achievement. In the Forth Valley MSP Bruce Canford, Minister for Parliamentary Business, enjoyed meeting volunteers and presenting long service awards, while the knitters held a celebration in Dunblane with Stirling MP Anne McGuire and the Lord Advocate of Scotland, Eilish Angiolini - who cut the anniversary cake. In Pembrokeshire, the Cars for Carers scheme held a themed James Bond night - a glittering evening of entertainment and dining, and fundraising, as a result of which South Hook LNG kindly donated £3,000. Edinbugh and Midlothian held an Alternative Garden Party in sheltered housing right next door to Holyrood Palace with local MSP Sarah Boyack.
In April there was a major UK-wide evening celebration at Dover House in London introduced by David Cairns MP, Parliamentary Minister of State to the Scotland Office. The theme of the evening was Reaching Out, which is essentially what RSVP's 12,000 volunteers do, and it was a splendid occasion at which volunteers from across the UK could chat with MP's and guests from other charities, who were eager to learn about the wide variety of RSVP projects.

Support from Gloria

TV presenter Gloria Hunniford is supporting RSVP and has written to scores of local newspapers throughout the UK:
I was shocked when I found out that nearly a fifth of the over-65s go without weekly contact with friends, family or neighbours.
I support CSV's Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme because its army of volunteers visit thousands of lonely and isolated older people to show them they aren't forgotten.
This year is also the 20th anniversary of RSVP. During that time the charity has recruited 20,000 senior volunteers who, in turn, have helped more than 150,000 children to read, and knitted more than 250,000 teddies for traumatised children.

Get Active Week, 22-29 June

Taking place every June, Get Active Week is one of the main events in RSVP's year. Over a hundred events took place this year around the UK when volunteers arranged a myriad of outings, all aimed at giving a memorable day to thousands of older isolated members of local communities.
Volunteers in Middlesbrough took a group of elderly people on a boat trip from Stockton to Yarm, and another group on a walk followed by afternoon tea in Saltburn. In Greater Manchester 19 events were organised for hundreds of older people including day trips to Blackpool, Rhyl and Southport. In Wrexham volunteers organised a healthy walk treasure hunt for 60 older people. In East Dorset volunteers took 50 frail elderly and isolated GP patients for a beach picnic. In Swansea volunteers took a group of 25 older people on a boat trip to the Brecon canal. In Kent volunteers took a group of older people on a day trip to the Dickens Centre in Rochester.
The week was launched with a flagship event in London at the Kensington Close Hotel when some 180 volunteers and guests from across the whole of London gathered for a splendid afternoon together which included lots of entertainment - from Latin American dancing to bell ringing - as well as a delicious tea.

Older People's Day 2008 on 1st October

RSVP is one of many partners in this initiative. Under the banner Full of Life, the day will celebrate the achievements of older people and the huge contribution they make to society, while at the same time tackling outdated stereotypes and affirming a positive view of later life.