Voluntary Action Reigate & Banstead

Help reduce loneliness among older people

A third of Surrey residents aged 65+ (almost 76,000 older people in the county) live alone*.   

Many of these people face isolation because they cannot connect with the community. 

Older people are at higher risk of social isolation and loneliness due to changes in health and social connections, hearing, vision, memory loss, disability, trouble getting around, and/or the loss of family and friends.  

Losing a sense of connection and community can have a profound effect on someone’s mental and physical health.  

Help us tackle social isolation and digital exclusion  

Do you want a part in helping people in Surrey experience good mental health and emotional wellbeing? 

You might have a valuable skill we can use.  

Do you enjoy making new friends?  

Can you talk for England?  

Do you enjoying driving about?  

Are you a whizz with a keyboard of tablet? 

 

Drivers
Tech Buddies
Befrienders
Good Connections
Local Knowledge
Dedicated Team
Individual response

Volunteer Roles

The talks from the two charities were really informative and inspiring.
Volunteers
Participant in the Volunteer Co-ordinator Forum
The donations arrived! Wow!! We can only say a huge thank you to VARB for facilitating this.
The Old Pheasantry
Land & City Family Trust
You have been incredibly helpful in linking us with skilled volunteers.  We can't thank you enough.
Happy Baby Community
Happy Baby Community, Refugee Charity
I am really enjoying providing support to a fantastic local charity
Gatton Trust volunteer (placed by VARB)
VOLYNTEER ROLE HERE

VOLYNTEER ROLE HERE

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VOLYNTEER ROLE HERE

VOLYNTEER ROLE HERE

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Read more
VOLYNTEER ROLE HERE

VOLYNTEER ROLE HERE

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VARB is part of a national network of Councils for Voluntary Service and we work to guidelines set down by National Association of Voluntary and Community Associations (NAVCA).

VARB is also a registered Volunteer Centre, accredited by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

VARB receives funding from Surrey County Council, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and the Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group.   This covers around 70% of our costs.

We continually seek additional funding to deliver projects that meet our core aims.  In 2022/23 we are delivering the following projects:

  • Volunteer Wellbeing Project – to encourage and support people to volunteer to reduce their risk of social isolation.  Funded by the Community Foundation for Surrey and Surrey County Council Public Health.
  • Banstead Volunteer Drive – to recruit more volunteer befrienders and drivers to support older people in the north of the borough.  Funded by the Better Care Fund via Surrey County Council.
  • East Surrey Hospital Volunteer Pilot – a development project to identify and test new ways that volunteers can support patients and staff in our local hospital.  Funded by Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group.

VARB Achievements 2021/22

Achievements 202122

Thank you to our Funders - We couldn't do it without you!

Surrey County Council
Logo of BUPA Foundation