TWO Dawlish community organisations have been rewarded for their work helping tackle mental health issues.

Assist Teignbridge Volunteer Centre and East Teignbridge Dawlish Community Transport were recognised for supporting individuals in need of help to combat loneliness and help mental health in the town.

They were presented with Dawlish Town Council’s OWL awards – Outstanding With Loneliness.

Cllr Carole Tamlyn handed over the awards as chairman of the town council’s mental wellbeing and suicide prevention working group.

They each received an owl plaque and a certificate, plus owl badges for all volunteers and staff who have worked towards reducing loneliness in the community.

Chrissi Marshall, volunteer co-ordinator at Assist Teignbridge, received the award. She explained the organisation recruits, trains and supports volunteers to provide a befriending service to older, lonely individuals, who may be isolated and housebound.

She said: ‘We also provide enabling services to help individuals who may lack confidence and be lonely, by supporting them to integrate into the local community, sourcing activities they may enjoy.

‘Evaluation shows that this improves their health and well-being. They feel connected, listened to and know that they are part of an organisation they can approach for help, should they need it.

‘Just knowing there is someone they can ask for help or support, makes all the difference to their mental health.’

Volunteers are also trained to look for signs and triggers that might indicate that someone’s lonely and isolated.

Chrissi added: ‘This is not a new idea and with an ageing population, especially with people retiring and migrating into the area and losing their support networks, we will no doubt see an increase in demand.

‘The main support we need is the raising of awareness of our service, along with the opportunities for volunteers to get involved.’

Sally Preston, office manager, accepted the award on behalf of East Teignbridge Dawlish Community Transport.

She explained that the organisation offers more than affordable and accessible transport. She said: ‘It also offers invaluable opportunities to get out and about in the community, meet people, build friendships and social inclusion, improving overall wellbeing whilst also assisting with medical journeys that individuals may choose not to attend otherwise.’

The charity is trialling a new Bingo Bus initiative to engage the community, focusing on social interaction with a fun activity.

Sally said: ‘Many people are alone and would not attend by themselves or wish to be out of their homes by themselves of an evening.’

They are also launching videos to be shared among the community with a key objective in reaching out to the ‘hard to reach’ individuals.

It also hopes to building relationships and provide opportunities to find those in the community who may slip through the net or decline engagement.

More volunteer drivers are also desperately needed to fully use its fleet of vehicles. Sally explained: ‘The more drivers we have the more we can offer to our community.’