at a glance: supporting older people at home

We provide practical support to older people – to combat loneliness and isolation and to help them stay independent at home.

Good Neighbours

Our 34 Good Neighbours services help more than 9,700 older people every week.

Volunteers provide help with tasks like gardening, DIY, shopping, collecting prescriptions and pensions, and provide companionship by making home visits or through telephone contact.

Community transport

Our 41 community transport schemes help more than 5,300 people to go shopping, see the doctor, meet friends and take part in social activities.

Meals on Wheels

We work with more than 70 councils to deliver around six million Meals on Wheels every year. Our volunteers provide this vital support to over 31,000 older people who find it difficult to cook a meal, and who are often isolated from their community. Our volunteers may be the only person that many Meals on Wheels recipients see that day.

Home library services

WRVS run 76 home library services in partnership with councils; providing books, videos, DVDs and CDs to more than 20,000 older people.