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Volunteers Kathie Peat and Gillian Eggleshaw are marking a combined 54 years of supporting MHA’s Lichfield Live at Home scheme.
The Lichfield scheme was the national charity’s first to open in 1989 – making them MHA’s longest serving volunteers with 27 years’ service each.
Live at Home schemes are run by national charity MHA and support older people who live in their own home, providing services as diverse as befriending, activities, trips out and lunch clubs to help alleviate isolation and loneliness in later life. There are currently 75 schemes across the UK, supporting 9,000 older people and helped by 2,300 volunteers.
In 1989, Gillian was the Volunteer Services coordinator in Lichfield and on retirement chose to support the newly formed Live at Home scheme and started as a committee member. Kathie, who has been a Methodist all her life, was recently widowed and retired and joined as a home visit befriender.
They had not met previously but through the years have become very close friends and been through many experiences and changes together.
Gillian was Chairperson of the scheme for a time and now Kathie has been in that role for five years with Gillian supporting her as Vice Chair.
Both Kathie and Gill are delighted with the progress of the Live at Home schemes and look forward to the new challenges with confidence. They are both enthused by the new developments and increased support from MHA for Live at Home.
Kathie said: “Being a volunteer for Live at Home is great and really worthwhile. Over the years it has given me many happy times and memories.”
Added Gillian: “It has been great being part of live at Home, watching the scheme grow and develop and we look forward to the future with pride.”
Peter King, manager at Lichfield live at Home scheme said: “Gillian and Kathie and are always there to lend a helping hand to scheme members, they ‘muck in’ when needed and want to continue as volunteers for as long as they are wanted and able.
“On behalf of Live at Home I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for all their wonderful efforts through the years and the spirit in which they have given it.”