VOLUNTEERS at a charity which supports the elderly had their work recognised with a Thanksgiving celebration.

A total of 131 people who give their time up to help Age UK Northumberland came together at the Round House in Ashington to celebrate their achievements over the past year.

The charity’s head of charitable services, Amy Whyte, praised the work of the volunteers.

She said: “Our volunteers collectively dedicate over 25,000 hours of their time each year to help us to reach and support older people living in Northumberland.

“We truly couldn’t do it without them. The contribution that each and every one of our volunteers makes is priceless to our charity and we feel that it is really important to celebrate this.”

The celebration took place on November 28, and Susan Chrisp, volunteer co-ordinator was delighted to see all the volunteers in one place.

She added: “I’m very proud of our volunteers. They give up so much of their free time and make such a difference to the lives of the people they help.

“It was a wonderful moment for me to see so many of our volunteers together at our Thanksgiving celebration.”

“It is always wonderful to hear our volunteers talk about their voluntary work and the benefits that they gain from helping others.

“I believe it works so well here at Age UK Northumberland because we spend time finding the right role for each individual and work with them to provide training and coaching to ensure they are well supported in their role.”

The charity works with elderly people across Northumberland, with a focus on combating loneliness and isolation. It provides services for older people throughout the county, including advice, advocacy, personal care, exercise and falls prevention classes, and lunch clubs.