A CHRONIC shortage of volunteers has brought a North Yorkshire care service to the brink.

Demand is outstripping supply for a visitors scheme for lonely and isolated people.

More than 20 people are currently waiting for help. And numbers are rising all the time.

Organisers of the Northallerton and Bedale Volunteer Bureau are struggling to meet calls for help and are now just hoping the service will not have to fold.

Bureau organiser Dawn Carter said: "The situation is desperate. It really is. We have 25 people waiting and two more came in today. We only have a handful of volunteers and demand is far outstripping supply."

Volunteer visitors handle a variety of tasks to help make a difference to the lives of people in need. Helpers visit people in their own homes to provide company or do other things such as shopping, walking dogs or taking people out in wheelchairs.

"All this can make a massive difference to someone's life who may not have had a visitor for a few days at a time," she said.

Ms Carter said the volunteer shortage had been developing for some time.

"It has always been hard to recruit but recently it has become more so," she said. "This is partly because of care in the community and the loss of some wardens at elderly person's homes.

"The list of people wanting help is growing yet recruitment is at a standstill. Worse, we have two people coming up to retirement age and we need new blood to take their places."

For this type of work, candidates have to be very interested in people. And Ms Carter admitted that procedures for taking people on board can be off-putting.

"But those who persevere go on to find enormous job satisfaction," she said.

The time required is anything from one hour a week. Clients can be of any age, not just the elderly. The Bureau, which has been operating for more than ten years, is funded from various sources and is non profit-making.

"We hope the service will not have to fold as there is a definite need out there," said Ms Carter. "But we rely on volunteers and if they are not there we can't provide the service."

The bureau is trying to raise awareness through various displays and has a new member of staff specialising in recruitment.

Volunteers get one-to-one support for as long as they need it and there is full training.

"I urge people not to be put off by the recruitment process as volunteers are highly valued and the jobs is worthwhile," said Ms Carter. "Some people have been on our waiting list for visits more than six months. Until we get more helpers, they will just have to manage.

"Doing this job makes you realise many people do not have family. If they can't go out, others tend to forget they are there. It is an acute problem."

The Northallerton Bureau is based in South Parade and is open Monday and Wednesday, 10am to 3pm, tel 01609 780458. The Bedale office is open Tuesday and Thursday, 10am to 1.30, tel 01677 425329. Anyone interested in being a volunteer can call Dawn Carter on the Northallerton number