FROM having opera arias sung down the telephone to line dancing via an ipad, Age Cymru Dyfed’s volunteers have gone the extra mile during the last 12 months.

As part of Volunteers Week the charity has sent heartfelt thanks to its loyal army of volunteers who have been supporting older people throughout the pandemic.

Pensioner Marie Owen from Fishguard is a volunteer for the charity’s Befriending Life Links project.

“One thing I’ve learned is that older people retain memories of music,” said Marie, who has been volunteering since last November. “One of my befriendees can’t remember who she’s met that day, but goodness me, ask her to sing an aria from Carmen and she will give you a professional performance down the telephone!”

“I can see the difference it makes. For instance, I attend a weekly social meeting and I have seen one of our ladies grow in confidence, she’s slowly coming out of her shell and it’s wonderful to see. It’s all about having a positive attitude to what we have all been through over the last year.”

And would Marie – who supports three befriendees - recommend volunteering?

“Of course! I find I share a lot of memories of times past with my befriendees and though we reminisce we all agree that in some ways thank goodness times have changed!”

Last year’s Covid lockdown meant Age Cymru Dyfed volunteer Rebecca Davies’s planned psychology degree course in Glasgow had to be done from home in New Quay.

Undeterred, Rebecca, 29, decided to get involved in the community and signed up as a volunteer for the Befriending Life Links project.

“I’d just finished a degree in anthropology which was quite clinical, so this volunteering role gave me the chance to chat and engage with someone who was completely different to me,” she said.

Rebecca struck up an immediate rapport with her befriendee.

“We hit it off big time. My favourite memory is hearing about her attempts to do line dancing with her ipad!” she recalled. “She ended up doing the steps holding the ipad at arms length!”

Rebecca’s months of volunteering have given her extra skills and experience to put on her CV plus the weekly chats were a welcome relief from days of zoom lectures.

Age Cymru Dyfed offer a wide range of support for people aged 50+ and their family and carers and always welcomes new volunteers.

For more details call: Aberystwyth: 01970 615151. Cardigan: 01239 615777. Haverfordwest: 01437 723370.