VOLUNTEERS are being sought to provide friendship and support to those who feel socially isolated because of their disabilities.

BADDAC (Bury and District Disabled Advisory Council) has launched its recruitment campaign for befrienders.

Jigsaw Link is the new name for the organisation's befriending scheme. The scheme is aimed at the more mature disabled, hard of hearing and partially-sighted people throughout the borough.

The aim of Jigsaw Link is to link-up volunteers on a one-to-one basis with those who would benefit from such a service.

BADDAC stress that people with physical disabilities, the hard of hearing or partially-sighted often find themselves lonely, socially isolated and lacking confidence.

Thanks to the help of volunteers, these people will be given the opportunity to improve their quality of life and take part in a range of activities. Befrienders will find themselves sharing a variety of experiences with the service users.

In return for their time, skills, attitudes and experience, the scheme will provide the volunteers with clearly defined objectives, supervision, support, training and travel expenses.

The role of Jigsaw Link volunteers is to offer support and friendship and to act as a link between the service users and the community.

Volunteers need not have experience of disability as training will be given.

However, they should enjoy meeting people and have the ability to form friendships. Reliability is essential as is an open minded approach to people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

The amount of time volunteers may spend with the service users is entirely up to the individuals concerned.

This may vary from a visit once a week for a cup of tea and a chat to maybe acting as a companion on outings to shops, the cinema, appointments etc.

To match a volunteer befriender and a service user, Jigsaw Link will be looking for compatibility and possible shared interests.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer on this very worthwhile voluntary scheme, or indeed anyone wishing to take advantage of our befriending service, should contact Jigsaw Link on 0161 253 6853 or call in at the Seedfield Centre, Parkinson Street, Bury, for more information.