ARE you an engineer, craftsman, inventor or healthcare professional?

The charity Remap is looking for volunteers in Waltham Forest to help design and make technical aids, devices and equipment for disabled people to use in their homes, workplaces, schools and play areas.

The charity's Essex West branch, which covers the borough and is one of 107 nationally, has just 14 volunteer members who help change the lives of around 80 people a year and are looking to attract more volunteers.

Each member has to have individual skills which are shared at monthly meetings to try and find the best way of building or adapting each device.

These devices are custom built to meet the specific needs of people and improve their quality of life. They range from simple household items to complex electronic control systems.

Some pieces of equipment are considered medical in nature and may need the input of an occupational therapist or some other healthcare professional.

The service is free and the panel only makes items not available commercially.

It takes referrals by telephone or in writing from disabled people, their relatives, friends and carers or from professionals such as doctors, social workers and occupational therapists.

Brief details are taken about the device needed, which is considered at a monthly meeting by the panel. Members decide on the best way to make the equipment and one or more members then visit the client to consider the matter further.

Vernon Gurtner, chairman of the Essex West panel, said: "We are trying to get people in the East London area more involved in the charity.

"We are looking for anyone who is happy to work as a team and is comfortable working with dis-abled people. It would be good if we could get some younger volunteers to join the panel. It is hard keeping younger people involved as quite often they end up moving away from the area for employment reasons.

"What we do for disabled people, no matter how small, makes a big difference to their lives."

For more details about volunteering for the service telephone 8501 4825, visit the website http://mysite.freeserve.com/remap_essexwest or the national website www.remap.org.uk