Maidenhead & Windsor

People who like books and reading could open a new chapter of activities in their spare time by joining the Maidenhead Royal Borough's band of volunteers working with the homes mobile service.

Volunteers go into people's own homes and local Maidenhead residential homes to provide help and support with reading or listening to story tapes – and the appeal has gone out for more volunteers to boost the service and enable even more people to enjoy books in the future.

Maidenhead Cllr Richard Fagence, lead member for leisure and cultural services, said volunteers had been a valuable part of the homes mobile service for many years and more were needed to cope with the demand.

He said: "Many older people in the borough, who can no longer manage to get to libraries really appreciate the support of the mobile service. Our team of volunteers spend time with them, perhaps have a cuppa and give a helping hand with choosing books and tapes. This is a great way of helping to make the library service accessible to those in our community who are unable to get out and about and who want to keep in touch with the wider world of literature and information that most of us who visit libraries in the normal way take for granted."

The popular Maidenhead homes mobile service currently has a waiting list of older people so volunteers are needed as soon as possible. No special qualifications are required as training and guidance will be given – just an interest in books and the time to spend with library customers who are confined to their homes. Volunteers also need to be able to drive and be fit enough to carry books, which can be heavy. All volunteers are subject to the usual Criminal Records Bureau checks.

Anyone interested in becoming a Maidenhead homes mobile service volunteer should contact Margaret Simpson on 01628 826139 or Ralph Hinchliffe on 01628 796314.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead