ABOUT US

Where We Work

We work across Wetherby and many neighbouring villages and wards across Leeds and surrounding areas. These include:

• Wetherby
• Bardsey
• Boston Spa
• Bramham
• Clifford
• Collingham
• East Keswick
• Harewood
• Linton
• Scarcroft
• Thorner
• Thorp Arch
• Walton

Contact us today to find out more about the areas we cover or to find out more about the things we do.

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What We Do

We offer services to improve the quality of life for over 60s in Wetherby and surrounding villages.

We were founded in 2003 and are a registered charity organisation, part funded by Leeds City Council.

Our services include:

• Befriending
• Grass cutting, funded by Children in Need
• Transport services
• Information and advice

Our social activities include:

• Elderberries (social gathering)
• Chatter and Batter (fish and chips lunch)
• Poetry Group
• Knit one Purlwise
• Seasonal Musical Matinees
• Chairobics
• WiSE Owl Cafe for the Community
• Line Dancing

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Our Vision

WiSE aims to enable older people to live at home, whilst reducing social isolation.

We also aim to support those who care for older people in our community.

To achieve this we work independently and with community partners to provide activities, services and opportunities for volunteering.

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Meet the Team

Mark

Chief Operating Officer

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Nicola

Information & Advice Officer

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Joanna

Transport Coordinator

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Christine

Manager – WiSE Owl Café

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Jane

Telephone Befriender
Assistant Café Manager

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Melody

Communications Officer

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Mark joined WiSE as operations manager in 2016 and has recently become chief operating officer. He has had a long career in the civil service and local government including being a long-standing elected councillor at Leeds City Council. In his spare time he enjoys music, running, cycling, quizzes and walking his miniature schnauzer, Jeffrey.

Nicola has a civil service background, and started work for WiSE 2008 as Information and Advice Worker, working remotely on Behalf of Age UK. She has worked for Wise since 2014 in the same role.

Jo has been with WiSE for 2 years.  She began the role of Transport Co-ordinator in February 2020.  During the coronavirus pandemic, she has also been one of three members of the team who have been making regular wellbeing calls to the local community. Jo enjoys walking and has a black Labrador, Oscar who loves to spend time near the river in Boston Spa. She enjoys meeting up with friends and holidays in Portugal.

Christine and her wonderful volunteers run the Community Café in Boston Spa Village Hall (temporarily closed due to COVID-19). It caters for all age groups and offers a freshly prepared menu; homemade cakes and barista style coffee. On her days off, Christine enjoys walking her dog Bobbie, cycling and catching up with family and friends.

Jane helped set up and run the Wise Owl Café in Boston Spa which has temporarily closed due to COVID-19. Jane’s role changed to telephone befriender, offering weekly chats to the elderly and the vulnerable and lonely people in this area. Jane is a very proud mother to two children and has four grand-children whom she adores greatly. She enjoys cooking and sampling fine wines, walking, reading and needlework.

Melody started with WiSE at the end of last year, being brought in to raise awareness of the charity in the local print and broadcast media. In her spare time, Melody sings in a choir and enjoys being creative, she has a keen interest in interior design, and enjoys painting rocks which has been a welcome lockdown hobby.

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Partners

We’re proud to be working with:

Leeds City Council

Supporting those living with dementia

Supporting our grass cutting scheme

A network of more than 100 voluntary organisations

Doing Good Leeds

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Work For Us

We’re always looking for help from volunteers.

There are lots of interesting volunteer roles available – from befriending and transport support, to events and administration support.

We also have a small team of paid staff. Occasionally we may advertise roles in the team on this page or on the Voluntary Action Leeds website.

Contact us today if you think you can help:

• 01937 588994
• info@w-ise.org.uk

LATEST VACANCIES

Fundraising and Volunteer Coordinator

Are you a people person with a passion for improving people’s lives? Can you use your initiative to make a difference quickly?

Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) is expanding.

This small local charity with big ambitions for transforming the lives of isolated, older people in our area wants a Fundraising & Volunteer Coordinator to join our friendly team.

Starting from scratch in this brand new role, your job will be to put in place processes and implement them. Your twin goals will be to increase the charity’s revenue through fundraising and engaging and recruiting our army of volunteers throughout their journey with WiSE.

The role attracts an annual salary of £21,589 – £26,317 (NJC scale 12-22).

To be considered for interview, please email a CV and covering letter addressing key points on the job description and person specification, to Mark Dobson, Chief Operating Officer at mark@w-ise.org.uk

For more information about the role please telephone Mark on (07974) 963280.

Closing date is 3 May 2021.