Description: WRVS was initially formed to help civilians during the Second World War - in evacuation, emergency feeding and providing general care and support. Since then, services have evolved and the WRVS are now a major service provider giving practical help, particularly for older people, to enable choice, independence and dignity so people can enjoy an improved quality of life - all with the help of over 95,000 volunteers. As war began to look imminent in 1938, Home Secretary Sir Samuel Hoare came up with the idea of setting up a women's voluntary organisation to help in the event of air attacks. On 16 May, the Women's Voluntary Service for Air Raid Precautions was founded. The Dowager Marchioness Lady Reading was appointed chairman, and The Queen and Queen Mary, the Queen Mother became joint patrons of WVS. When war was declared on 3 September 1939 WVS had a membership of 165,000 drawn from groups who for one reason or another couldn't 'join up' or do essential war work - including the old, the young, the housebound and those with dependants. Men were not excluded and occasionally helped with jobs such as driving which at the time not many women could do. WVS work quickly diversified, and as a result the organisation changed its name to WVS for Civil Defence. New tasks included evacuating mothers and children from large cities to the country, staffing hostels, sick bays and communal feeding centres, and undertaking welfare work for the troops. WVS also provided food and clothing for over 22,000 refugees, as well as organising rest centres for those made homeless during raids. By the end of 1941, WVS had enrolled its millionth member. Throughout the war, WVS was also staffing Incident Inquiry Points, where people would go to find out information about the dead and the injured. WVS played a vital role in supporting civilians during the war - 241 members died on duty. In recognition of their achievements, the Home Office announced in September 1945 that WVS would continue for 'possibly two years' more. In the years following the war, WVS continued to help people cope in difficult circumstances. Harsh winters and a coal shortage meant that WVS was called upon to alleviate loneliness and discomfort and set up Darby and Joan clubs for older people and Residential Clubs for those with limited means. There was a growing need for support for older and housebound people, and the first Meals on Wheels were delivered by WVS in 1947 in Welwyn Garden City. At the same time, WVS was asked to provide support for women who were on remand at Holloway Gaol who had left domestic problems at home which needed immediate attention such as children finding themselves locked out when they got home from school or abandoned pets. WVS also extended its services to hospitals - offering non-nursing services like trolley rounds to patients. And, members continued to be trained to assist local communities during emergencies. When she ascended to the throne, Queen Elizabeth II agreed to become patron of WVS and in 1966, awarded WVS the honour of adding 'Royal' to its title. The 1960s and 1970s saw continued growth in work for older people, especially in Meals on Wheels deliveries and the start of lunch clubs. During this time, WRVS was also called upon to help out in a number of emergency situations, including flooding in the Home Counties and East Anglia (1968), and cyclones and tidal waves in East Pakistan (1970). WRVS also provided help to victims and families during the Lockerbie and Kegworth plane crashes, the Piper Alpha oilrig disaster and the Hillsborough football tragedy. In the last few years, WRVS has reviewed its portfolio of services via an extensive research programme that took into account the views of key stakeholders, including customers, clients in local authorities and NHS staff, plus its own volunteers and employees. In February 2002 WRVS launched its mission: 'to help people maintain independence and dignity in their homes and communities, particularly in later life' and a new look, vision and organisational values were introduced in March 2004. Today, WRVS continues to respond to the changing needs of communities and focuses on actively recruiting volunteers and promoting the benefits of supporting WRVS. WRVS continues to provide support at emergency incidents across the UK. In recent years these have included floods and foot and mouth crisis, Selby, Paddington and Potters Bar rail incidents, providing refreshments to the thousands that visited HM The Queen Mother as her body lay in state in Westminster Hall in 2002 and more recently supporting rescuers at Morecombe Bay. (information from www.wrvs.org.uk)