A SALINE nursing home has received a £10,000 donation from the Postcode Lottery which will help them improve the lives of their residents.

At the moment, there are around 30 residents at Bandrum Nursing Home who don’t receive visits from friends or family on a regular basis.

However, thanks to the lottery money, a befriending service run by the Bright Side Community Cafe, within the grounds of the home, could soon change all that.

Michelle Graham, cafe manager, told the Press: “The funding will allow us to put volunteers through training and then pay for their travel expenses as they’re paired with a resident at the home.

“They will act as a buddy to them. They’ll come here to visit and go on day trips, as well as being free for phone calls.

“We have roughly 30 users in the position that they don’t have friends or family to speak to, or see.

“We know it will be a massive benefit to them."

Michelle continued: “The staff here are brilliant, but they can’t be available 24/7. 

"That’s why we feel this service is required and will really prove beneficial.”

Bright Side Community Cafe are hosting an open event on Friday, October 27 as they look for fresh volunteers to come forward.

It will run between 2pm and 4pm, and Michelle hopes a large number of people will be encouraged to attend.

She said: “We’ll have hot food and drink and fliers and applications for those keen to volunteer and make someone else’s life better.

“It really is such a shame that not every resident has someone outside the home to speak to. 

"We want to help them as much as we can.”