JANE:
Hello, Jane Fairbanks speaking.
FRANK:
Oh, good morning. My name's Frank Pritchard.
FRANK:
I've just retired and moved to Southoe.
FRANK:
I'd like to become a volunteer, and I gather you co-ordinate voluntary work in the village.
FRANK:
What sort of thing could I do?
JANE:
Well, we need help with the village library.
JANE:
We borrow books from the town library, and individuals also donate them.
JANE:
So, one thing you could do is get involved in collecting them - if you've got a car, that is.
FRANK:
Yes, that's no problem.
JANE:
The times are pretty flexible so we can arrange it to suit you.
JANE:
Another thing is the records that we keep of the books we're given, and those we borrow and need to return to the town library.
JANE:
It would be very useful to have another person to help keep them up to date.
FRANK:
Right. I'm used to working on a computer - presume they're computerised?
FRANK:
Is the library purpose-built?
FRANK:
I haven't noticed it when I've walked round the village.
JANE:
No, we simply have the use of a room in the village hall, the West Room.
JANE:
It's on the left as you go in.
FRANK:
I must go and have a look inside the hall.
JANE:
Yes, it's a nice building.
FRANK:
Do you run a lunch club in the village for elderly people?
FRANK:
I know a lot of places do.
JANE:
Yes, we have a very successful club.
FRANK:
I could help with transport, if that's of any use.
JANE:
Ooo definitely. People come to the club from neighbouring villages, and we're always in need of more drivers.
FRANK:
And does the club have groups that focus on a particular hobby, too?
FRANK:
I could get involved in one or two, particularly if there are any art groups.
JANE:
Excellent. I'll find out where we need help and get back to you.
FRANK:
Fine. What about help for individual residents.
FRANK:
Do you arrange that at all?
JANE:
Yes, we do it as a one-off.
JANE:
In fact, there's Mrs Carroll.
JANE:
She needs a lift to the hospital next week, and we're struggling to find someone.
FRANK:
When's her appointment?
JANE:
On Tuesday. It would take the whole morning.
JANE:
Oh, that would be great.
JANE:
Thank you. And also, next week, we're arranging to have some work done to Mr Selsbury's house before he moves, as he isn't healthy enough to do it himself.
JANE:
We've got some people to decorate his kitchen, but if you could do some weeding in his garden, that would be wonderful.
FRANK:
OK. I'd enjoy that.
FRANK:
And presumably the day and time are flexible.
JANE:
Oh yes. Just say when would suit you best, and we'll let Mr Selsbury know.
JANE:
The volunteers group also organises monthly social events, which is a great way to meet other people, of course.
JANE:
So next month, on the 19th of October, we're holding a quiz - a couple of residents are great at planning unusual ones, and we always fill the village hall.
FRANK:
That sounds like fun. Can I do anything to help?
JANE:
Well, because of the number of people, we need plenty of refreshments for halfway through.
JANE:
So, if you could provide any, we'd be grateful.
FRANK:
I'll think about what to make, and let you know.
JANE:
Thank you. Then on November the 18th, we're holding a dance, also in the village hall.
JANE:
We've booked a band that specialises in music of the 1930s - they've been before, and we've had a lot of requests to bring them back.
FRANK:
I'm not really a dancer, but I'd like to do something to help.
JANE:
Well, we sell tickets in advance, and having an extra person to check them at the door, as people arrive, would be good - it can be quite a bottleneck if everyone arrives at once!
FRANK:
OK, I'm happy with that.
JANE:
We're also arranging a New Year's Eve party.
JANE:
We're expecting that to be a really big event, so instead of the village hall, it'll be held in the Mountfort Hotel.
JANE:
Mountfort. M-O-U-N-T-F-O-R-T Hotel. It isn't in Southoe itself, but it's only a couple of miles away.
JANE:
The hotel will be providing dinner and we've booked a band.
JANE:
The one thing we haven't got yet is a poster.
JANE:
That isn't something you could do, by any chance, is it?
FRANK:
Well actually, yes.
FRANK:
Before I retired I was a graphic designer, so that's right up my street.
JANE:
Oh perfect! I'll give you the details, and then perhaps you could send me a draft …