The Castle Point Association of Voluntary Services issued a borough-wide call for new volunteers on February 20, 2026, to help meet a rise in demand for local support on Canvey Island, Essex. The charity is looking for residents to fill various roles that help neighbours who are struggling with loneliness or need practical help around the house.
Volunteer positions include befriending, providing practical assistance, and other frontline community support roles. To ensure everyone feels confident in these roles, the Castle Point Association of Voluntary Services is providing free training for all new recruits.
The push for more help comes as the town deals with increasing issues like social isolation and the health needs of vulnerable families. Janis Gibson, the Chief Executive of the charity, is leading the effort to expand these services and reach more people in the community.
The organization has already set up a dedicated social prescribing hub on Canvey Island to focus on community health and wellbeing. This project, which helps connect people to local activities and support groups, was established in partnership with NHS Property Services and Castle Point Borough Council.
Residents who want to give their time can view the available roles online to see how they can best support their local area. By increasing the number of volunteers, the charity hopes to shorten waiting lists and provide help to those in need much faster.
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