JANUARY is a traditional time for making resolutions. May I suggest This year readers resolve to help others in their local community by volunteering a few hours once a week for Women's Royal Voluntary Service.

WRVS aims to help people maintain independence and dignity in their own homes and communities, particularly in later life.

Volunteers, men and women, are needed to help in hospital shops and coffee bars and also as Meals on Wheels drivers and helpers.

If any reader would like to know more about helping in these or any other WRVS projects and making a real difference to peoples lives, they should contact 0845 601 4670.

Calls are charged at local rate. Twenty per cent of WRVS volunteers are men, all out of pocket expenses are paid.

Karen Molyneux, Regional Volunteering Manager, WRVS