Dementia Reminiscence Group volunteer

Kentvolunteers; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A local community organization in Maidstone is seeking volunteers to support RAF veterans and their partners dealing with memory loss or dementia. Volunteers will facilitate social interactions, assist with refreshments, and provide a welcoming environment. This role requires commitment on the last Wednesday of each month from 1-3 PM. Ideal candidates should be empathetic, approachable, and flexible. Full training is provided, and travel expenses can be reimbursed.

Benefits

Full training provided

Travel cost reimbursement

Meaningful community impact

Qualifications

• Volunteers should be approachable, empathetic, and flexible to others' needs.
• Experience with individuals with memory loss is preferable but not essential.
• Commitment to support on the last Wednesday afternoon of each month.

Responsibilities

• Welcome beneficiaries and help them settle in.
• Proactively start social conversations to include all group members.
• Assist with refreshments for the group.

Skills

Teamwork

Talking To Others

Listening

Job description

Volunteers are needed to help facilitate a monthly group for RAF veterans and their partners who are living with diagnosed or undiagnosed memory loss / dementia. The groups take place in Maidstone 1-3pm on the last Wednesday of every month.

Detailed Description

The RAF Benevolent Fund runs groups in the community for RAF veterans and their partners who have diagnosed or undiagnosed memory loss with the aim of enhancing their wellbeing through social contact and reminiscence. The groups are a very relaxed and fluid environment where the volunteers will mostly find themselves talking socially with the beneficiaries as a group or individually and helping with refreshments.

To support the running of the reminiscence group, volunteers are asked to:

• Welcome beneficiaries as they arrive, helping them settle in
• Proactively start up social conversations to ensure all group members are included.
• Support with the sign up forms for anyone who is new to the group.
• Assist with refreshments for the group where needed.
• Listen if beneficiaries are to talk about any welfare needs they may have and either signpost them to additional Fund services (if known) and pass the information on to staff members to follow up.
• Assisting beneficiaries in wheelchairs is optional.

We are looking for volunteers who are able to make a fairly long term commitment to supporting the group on the afternoon of last Wednesday of each month. Volunteers should be approachable, empathetic and flexible to the needs of others. Experience of communicating with individuals with memory loss is preferable but not essential. Volunteers in this role are subject to two character references and a DBS (Enhanced with adults barred list) check. We provide full training ahead of a volunteer's start, with mandatory modules on dementia awareness and safeguarding, and can reimburse volunteers for the cost of their travel to the group.

Activities you will be doing

Caring, Community Work

What skills are required for this role

Teamwork, Talking To Others, Listening

Why these skills are required

• Approachable
• Proactive
• Empathetic and thoughtful
• Flexible to the needs of others
• Experience communicating with people living with dementia is preferable

What is in it for you

This is is a highly meaningful opportunity in which the volunteer will be able to directly see the impact of their time and effort and the difference they are making supporting group members. Volunteers can also build their skills in adapting their communication with people with varying needs.

Time Commitment

This is a monthly commitment to volunteer 1-3pm on the last Wednesday of every month.

Location

Postcode: ME14 1LQ

Role Address: Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, ME14 1LQ

Other Details

• Directions: N/A
• Number of volunteers required: 1
• Application Process:
• Application Form
• ID Check
• References
• Informal Discussion (may include an interview)

Simply Connect Solutions Ltd, Company registered in England and Wales