The season of good will has left us again for another year. But it doesn't have to end there as volunteering in Middlesbrough takes off. Audrey Forbes takes a look at the precious work being done by the newly launched Independent Living for Older People. ********** Lose weight, drink less, save more money - the dreaded New Year's Resolutions.
 The majority will have been broken as quickly as they were made. But if you vowed to be more community-spirited and have a couple of hours to spare, volunteering could be just your bag. Independent Living for Older People was launched in October last year. The organisation works in partnership with Middlesbrough Council and is supported by a consortium of Age Concern, Teesside, the Salvation Army and WRVS. ILOP aims to offer a helping hand to the elderly, whether it be shopping, a listening ear through its befriending services, or even doing odd jobs. Debbie Diggins, project co-ordinator, said the scheme is the first of its kind in Middlesbrough. She says: "We're finding so many people in Middlesbrough who are in an isolated situation who need help. "We need to do something in the community to help these people. "It will be a valued service." A steady stream of volunteers and service users have started visiting the ILOP offices in the Newport Triangle. "We're getting volunteers and service users through and we've had some great calls from clients to say thank you," Debbie says. Through its work, ILOP hopes the volunteers will enable older people to live active lives and gain confidence in their communities. "It is an exciting time but we do need more volunteers," Debbie adds. The hours can be arranged to suit clients and volunteers. "We would like a diverse range of people with different skills and abilities," explains Debbie. "There are no set hours. It suits the volunteer and clients' needs. "It could be someone who has a spare seat in the car when they go shopping. "It's usually about two hours per week but if someone wanted to do more that's brilliant." Anyone interested in volunteering should call 01642 228340. Maurice is so handy
 Armed with his trusty tool box, Maurice Gappy is a man on a mission.
Factfile
ILOP offers the following services:
Befriending
A friendly chat over a cup of tea.
Help with letter writing or form completing.
Being present when workmen call.
Advice and information on other services.
Collecting prescriptions or shopping.
Transport
Visit friends, families or colleagues.
Keep hospital or doctors appointments.
Attend lunch clubs or community centres.
Manage your own finances and personal affairs.
Assisted shopping
A volunteer to collect or meet you at a prearranged time and date.
Assistance at your local supermarket or town centre.
Help with pushing a trolley or packing and carrying bags.
Ensure you are safely returned home or to transport.
Assistance with putting your shopping away.
The service is free but there is a charge of 35p per mile for travel, payable at the end of the journey.
The handyman scheme provides low level DIY work and light gardening tasks at a nominal rate.
Charges are: £5 per 30 minutes, or £8 per hour, excluding any materials to complete work.
If you would like help with everyday chores or just a listening ear, please call the friendly team on 01642 228340.
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The 57-year-old has taken up the job of handyman for ILOP. From building a garden fence to putting up curtain rails - the father-of-two from Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, is your man. The paid role sees him visiting clients like James Kilbane, 71, in Whinney Banks, to do odd jobs. Maurice says: "I'm happy to be doing odds and ends for James and getting satisfaction that he's comfortable. "I've put up some curtain rails, lamp shades and net curtains. "There are small joinery jobs to do and when the weather changes the gardening will probably pick up." Maurice donned tools in early December having retired six years previously from a job at ICI in Wilton. "I was getting a little bit bored and wanted something to do," he says. "I wanted to take this to keep the old mind ticking over a little bit!" The job is 20 hours per week. He says: "I could see myself doing something like this as I like talking with people. "I do jobs in my own home. "It's not really the money I'm here for. It gets me out and about and I feel needed. "It's putting something back into the community." Although his role doesn't cover befriending or shopping trips, Maurice is happy to stop and chat. "I've got two hats on, for carer and handyman. "A lot of the clients like to have a chat with you. It's a bit of company for them." Now he is looking forward to working with more Middlesbrough people in need of a helping hand. "I'm just waiting now to get into my stride. "There will be a lot of people wanting jobs doing - I have no doubt about that. "I get a huge amount of satisfaction from this." Making time for a cuppa and a chat
 Time is of the essence for Ann Keenan. The North Ormesby mum fills every hour of each day with her part time job and helping her little band of clients. And every second counts as the mother-of-five works at the Trinity Centre and fulfills her role as a volunteer for ILOP. "I'm a bit of a softy helping people out. I decided I had too much free time and wanted to volunteer. "I've always liked helping people even since I was a kid." "I hope that when I get older I have someone there for me." The 49-year-old began volunteering for ILOP two months ago. She visits a lady who uses a wheelchair and also helps a man in her spare time outside ILOP. "I wanted to go back and try something for myself and to help others," she says. "I get an awful lot of pleasure and satisfaction from it. "It's keeping me fit as well and it gets me out of the house." The hours aren't set and Ann's only stipulation was that they fitted around her job. "It's as and when, and so far it's worked really well. It's been brilliant." A cup of tea and a chat, trip to the shops or picking up a prescription are all in a day's work. "If they want to talk it really helps to have a cuppa and a natter," says Ann. "For a lot of people who have been on their own it's all they want to do. "Some of them do get lonely." And rather than running errands for her client Ann is able to take her out and help out. "We both do the shopping not just me going to get it," she says. "It's a big boost for them. It brings them out of themselves." Ann hopes to bring more people into her fold as ILOP gathers pace. And she believes the role has as many benefits for the volunteer as the client. "If you like talking to people of different ages and circumstances and helping them you should give it a go. "I get so much satisfaction out of it." | 
