A WILTSHIRE charity whose volunteers befriend older people living in care homes is up for a national award.

Care Home Volunteers has been shortlisted for the Volunteer Team of the Year category at the Caring UK Awards.

The charity was founded in Salisbury in 2014, but has since expanded to cover the entire county.

Norman Edwards, chairman of Care Home Volunteers, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response of people in Wiltshire and Swindon in supporting our cause, and by the enthusiastic participation of care homes in helping us make life better for their residents.

"We are really pleased to have been shortlisted for this award. It is a great recognition of the superb work done by our fantastic team of volunteers”

There are almost 40 Care Home Volunteers across Wiltshire, visiting 33 care homes in the county. A further 18 volunteers are currently being trained to do the one-to-one befriending visits. Many of those supported by the volunteers are older people suffering from dementia and may not be able to take part in social activities organised by their care homes.

The charity will have to wait until Thursday, December 6, to hear if they have been successful in wowing the judges. The Caring UK Awards winners will be revealed at a glittering ceremony in Leicester.

For more about volunteering with Care Home Volunteers, visit: www.carehomevolunteers.org.uk.