A MASSIVE shortfall in volunteers is putting the future of the Haslemere Volunteer Bureau in jeopardy.

This was the stark warning outlined at the agm last Friday when members were told that the current crisis is the result of fewer older volunteers coming forward.

Fundraiser John Espen said that on average only two people are approaching the bureau each week, a figure which is well down on previous years.

He believes this could be in response to the more rigorous checks which potential volunteers are sometimes subjected to before being offered a placement.

The shortage could spell disaster for the 120 local organisations which rely heavily on people giving up their time to assist with tasks such a transporting people to hospital, helping with shopping, or just providing company.

Addressing the meeting, chairman David Patrick said it had been a difficult year for the partly Waverley Borough Council-funded bureau, and one which he did not wish to repeat.

"If we filled 170 volunteering vacancies tomorrow, we would have another 170 to fill the next week, such is the demand for these services among many of the local groups.

"We can't stress enough how much we need people to keep coming forward. And we need to get across to people that volunteering really is one of the most rewarding things you can do with your time and that you can get just as much from it as the clients."

Local groups particularly in need of volunteers include Care In Haslemere. and Age Concern.

By contrast, the youth volunteer scheme, Waverley Youth Action, has made considerable progress with more than 100 youngsters involved in a variety of projects, including conservation work at Winkworth Arboretum and helping out at Lockwood Donkey Sanctuary.

Measures which could soon be implemented to consolidate the scheme's progress include a youth action website and a radio station.

Speaking at the meeting, town mayor Michael Foster stressed the importance of this scheme in securing the bureau's future.

"Many of us are getting a little long in the tooth now, so we do need to start thinking about how the work can continue and who will do it.

"It's a shame that these city high-fliers we're always hearing about, who have been made redundant with golden handshake deals, don't offer their services.

"With time on their hands, their skills could be put to good use.

"When you hear about problems such as the local CCTV camera not working, it shows us that more than ever that we require men not machines, and have become increasingly reliant on volunteers to make things happen."

The chairman added that problems in recruiting volunteers were exacerbated by the location of the bureau at the end of the High Street. He said the bureau failed to attract the public because they did not know it was there.

The meeting also tackled another acute problem facing local voluntary groups, the lack of transport and resources.

The mayoress, Fay Foster, suggested producing a full list of all voluntary groups so that they could be contacted more easily and could pool their resources.