We are looking for a volunteer to help out at a group for people with mild to moderate dementia. The group is called Memory Connections and will run in at the Withywood Centre (Bishopsworth, South Bristol) on Wednesdays, 2.45pm – 5.15pm. We need volunteers to assist the group leader in running the session and make people feel welcomed and join in, as well as offering carers a cup of tea and a chat.

About Age UK Bristol:

At Age UK Bristol we help make sure that everyone in Bristol can love later life. We do this by supporting and empowering older people, helping other organisations to work together, and championing the interests of older people in the city.

Our organisational objectives are to:

• Provide top-quality services and support to all older people in Bristol.
• Lead and enable collaboration between other organisations working with older people in Bristol
• Influence public spending and policies in a way that benefits older people in the city
• Promote positive attitudes to ageing in Bristol

We do this by:

• Providing quality information
• Delivering quality services
• Involving older people
• Giving older people a voice
• Working in partnership
• Maintaining an effective organisation

Volunteers are important and valued members of the team at Age UK Bristol. We will do our best to make your volunteer experience enjoyable and rewarding.

Purpose of Dementia Group role

Age UK Bristol is developing Memory Connections, Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Groups (MCST) for people with mild to moderate dementia. Groups are friendly and relaxed although they have theory and structure behind them. Volunteers will:

• Assist a Project Co-ordinator to deliver weekly face-to-face groups
• Host a carers Tea and Chat Group which will run parallel to the face-to-face MCST group.

The role of a Memory Connections volunteer is to:

• help all participants be involved in the group activities and develop a sense of belonging,
• encourage an enjoyable and friendly experience
• make refreshments for the carers group and encourage sociable chat.

For the groups, each volunteer will need:

• To be able to travel to the Withywood Centre, Queens Road, Bishopsworth.

The qualities and skills required for this role are:

1. Good verbal communication skills to make everyone feel as comfortable as possible and encourage shyer participants
2. Reliability and punctuality - groups need to run to time
3. Organisation skills to help the Co-ordinator run the sessions to a schedule
4. Ability to raise concerns re risk or safeguarding issues
5. Ability to access support from the Age UK Bristol team if required, attend essential training and volunteer support sessions.

Training

We offer induction, training and other relevant training opportunities to enable you to fulfil this volunteer role.

Hours

We are currently asking for a minimum of three hours/week.

Location and timings

Wednesdays, 2.45-5.15pm. New Beginnings Day Centre, Withywood Centre, Queens Rd, Withywood, BS13 8QA.

Expenses

We reimburse all reasonable expenses associated with the role, for instance travel costs.

Further Information

For further information please contact:

Jay Wilkinson | Volunteer Coordinator

Email: jaywilkinson@ageukbristol.org.uk

Phone: 0117 440 4303

More information about Memory Connections service is available here:

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bristol/our-services/mcst/