Award-winning Cheshire charity is a lockdown lifeline

A Bedfordshire man who left his family home to care for his 92-year-old mother in Tarporley during lockdown has credited Cheshire charity Older People Active Lives for helping them both cope with isolation.

Duncan Round (61) said that the support OPAL has given to the shielding elderly and their carers during the pandemic has been second to none.

He moved in with his mother Margaret on 13 March realising she would have been very lonely without her weekly trips to the OPAL day club and the usual visits from those helping her with the house, garden and shopping who would likewise have to self-isolate.

OPAL and other helpers who did her hair each week, nails, feet, DIY and windows were unable to continue with the regular support they offered.

“From one day to the next the shutters in mum’s life came down and, when you have someone vulnerable like that, you have to step up to the plate. Dementia is such a debilitating condition that requires constant stimulation to keep the mind alive. I spoke to my wife and we agreed it would be best for me to come up here as she couldn’t be abandoned.

“I’ve struggled during lockdown but OPAL has made life so much easier. They’ve created a virtual community of carers who all look after each other. One chap struck up independent WhatsApp calls on football, music and life. We have weekly news sheets called OPAL Reach - plus Zoom calls which gives me a structure to my week. They’ve also given talks on wellbeing and ways to keep busy. They even found a hairdresser to give us tips which was useful as I had no idea how to use curlers and mousse!”

Last week OPAL scooped a prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and, as a thank you to its 200 plus volunteers, hand delivered them all a cream tea and goodie bag.

They then celebrated with a tea party on video call to which the Cheshire-based Duke of Westminster was invited but was unable to attend due to prior commitments.

However, he said he was delighted to hear OPAL had won the award and applauded the work of the charity and its volunteers.

OPAL was founded in 2011 and offers older people and their carers the opportunity to get out and connect with their community in numerous ways including all-day activity clubs, one-to-one respite care, cooking and craft sessions and IT support programmes.

“OPAL Services truly is a remarkable organisation which provides what I can only describe as a lifeline for older residents in rural villages throughout West Cheshire,” said Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs M.B.E, K.St.J who presented OPAL with the award, along with a signed certificate from the Queen and an invitation to the Royal Garden Party next year.

“Thanks to their team of very special volunteers it puts smiles on people’s faces and it brings happiness and purpose back into the lives of many.”

Duncan says he’s unsure when he will be able to return to his family as he’s waiting for guidance from the government on what they’re going to do to unlock his mother’s sector.

“They haven’t talked about what people like her who can’t go out can do. Who is there to assist her if I leave? Until a green light is given to her helpers there will be a huge issue for Mum and thousands like her. As far as I’m concerned OPAL is the only independent organisation which has put its head above the parapet and made a difference for older residents. They’re brilliant. I hope they get more funding as a result of the hard work they’ve been doing as it’s a great blueprint.”

More information about OPAL can be found here.

Those interested in finding out more about volunteering for OPAL can contact volunteering@opalservices.org.uk.

1. Opal Services covers rural communities throughout West Cheshire including Frodsham, Farndon, Helsby, Kelsall, Malpas, Tarporley, Tattenhall and their surrounding areas.

2. OPAL Services is part funded by the Local Authority but over time has had the support of several funders, some National such as the Lottery and the CoOp, and some local such as The Westminster Foundation, The Marshes Community Fund and Rowlinsons - a local firm of solicitors who adopted them as their charity of the year in 2018 and helped raise funds to support them in running their services.

3. OPAL Services currently has eight members of staff and over 200 volunteers.

4. This year there were 230 recipients of The Queen’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK. More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at https://www.gov.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service

Pictured - Margaret and Duncan Round