Help to shape the health of the borough

VOLUNTEERS with an eye for detail are needed to help spruce up the borough’s health services.

The health improvement service from Oldham Community Health Services will host a volunteer recruitment day on Monday (10.30am-3pm) at the Pakistani Community Centre in Glodwick where people can find out more about the range of opportunities.

Benefits of becoming a volunteer include helping to improve the health of people across the borough and gaining valuable experience and free training opportunities which could lead to paid sessional work.

Volunteer opportunities include becoming a befriender, which involves accompanying a client to the gym or for a walk in the park; a health champion, where they can shadow professional health trainers and then accompany and support people who are nervous about attending activities; or a friends recruiter, which involves recruiting members of the public who want to know more or share their views about services.

Volunteers will also be able to get involved with innovative projects, such as Activat e — which aims to increase levels of physical activity through cycling and walking; or the Digging for Health project, which aims to help people grow their own food to help them eat more healthily, get more active and save money.

Volunteers are asked to offer a commitment of around six to 12 months and a minimum of two hours per week. It is unpaid, but volunteers will receive travel expenses.