The 2008 Star Woman of the Year will be crowned next week. In the build-up to the presentation, we’re profiling one of our eight finalists each day. Today we meet an inspirational county volunteer.
Julie Thomas is a motivating, compassionate, go-getter who fronts a band of volunteers that care passionately about the welfare of people who time - and others - have forgotten.
The 51-year-old mother, from Beechwood Drive, has been involved with the welfare of elderly people for over 20 years, and shows no sign of slowing down.
After a background in social services, she joined Age Concern in 1998 and helped set up a number of initiatives, including a Home From Hospital scheme in Leominster and Help At Home scheme in Shrewsbury.
But it was in 2002 that her experience with the older, socially isolated and more vulnerable members of society came into its own when she spearheaded a new group called North Shrewsbury Friendly Neighbours by Voluntary Action.
Funded by the Home Office for three years, it was established to help with the anticipated redundancies of the Perkins factory. By 2005 the job was done, and the £150,000 money was spent.
Julie, however, had other ideas. She and her fellow volunteers felt the group filled a vital gap in the community, and despite having no cash in the coffers and no premises, they set about securing its future.
A new base was found in a former butcher’s shop in New Park Street, Castlefields, and thanks to ongoing fundraising they are now in their third year as an independent charity. They’ve been awarded grants by the county and borough councils, The Primary Care Trust and Lloyds TSB - but still have to raise approaching £15,000 a year.
Conscious that many in their catchment area were not only socially isolated but lonely, Julie and her team set up a Friendship Circle early last year with a grant from Awards For All.
There are 17 people on their books and the circle meets once a fortnight at Severnside House Community. Everything from learning to crochet, pamper sessions and gentle exercise classes are on the itinerary.
Members range in age from their 70s to 90s. All live alone and many have little or no contact with families, but these get-togethers give them the rare opportunity to socialise. Such is the project’s success that there’s now a waiting list.
North Shrewsbury Friendly Neighbours by Voluntary Action also provides one-off and short term help and support with a host of basic tasks to those in need.
Light shopping, collecting prescriptions or pensions, support during convalescence, transporting the old and infirm to appointments and dog walking are all on offer to help people.
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