Visits from a befriender to isolated housebound people are one of our most requested services. Lack of affordable housing in Finsbury and Clerkenwell has led to family members and friends often having to move away from the area, so that a volunteer may well end up being the most consistent individual in a housebound person's life.

Volunteer visitors offer the kind of social, emotional and practical support that the situation demands.

The Finsbury & Clerkenwell Volunteers also provide a respite service for those families who need a break from caring for their dependent relatives. Volunteers may escort them out or sit with them at home, providing time and space for the main carer.

The Telephone Club has been in existence almost as long as the group itself and offers an effective and valuable link to isolated or housebound people.

The Telephone Club volunteers come into the office several mornings a week to make calls in rotation to the current membership.

Regular outings are arranged on a similar rotation basis and members are sent birthday and seasonal greetings cards.

We have an accessible transport project. The two ambulances cover more than 12,000 miles per year, overcoming the mobility problems faced by many of our clients. Transport is a vital connection in enabling them to maintain links with the outside world. The vehicles are used for virtually all our activities.

The Vibast Centre near Old Street station is home to the volunteers' lunch and social club.

The club is staffed solely by volunteers. It remains self-financing.

The club has a distinctive and friendly atmosphere as a result of its 'non-clique' policy. It has a high helper/user ratio meaning that members get attentive and supportive service from the team of volunteers based there. The commitment of the team means that despite many unforeseen problems lunch has never had to be cancelled, throughout its entire history.

The volunteers have worked closely with Church representatives on a number of joint projects and have become an established part of the Exmouth Market community.