Art group volunteer Expand You don't need to be enormously talented at art to have an enjoyable morning helping out at one of our art groups. Volunteers are needed to help set up the room, serve refreshments and support group members and carers while creating their work under the guidance of a professional artist. Our art groups meet at: Lyneham (Monday afternoons weekly) Warminster (Monday afternoons fortnightly) Pewsey (Wednesday mornings weekly) Holt (Thursday mornings fortnightly)
Community ambassador Could you represent Alzheimer's Support in your community? Expand Do you have good connections in your town or village? Could you represent Alzheimer's Support in your community? The role involves being out and about when we cannot, for example attending cheque presentations and saying thank you on our behalf, or dropping off information leaflets to community centres and notice boards. It sounds simple, but is so useful for our small team to have local back up! The role can be shaped to you and does not require a regular weekly commitment. If you like public speaking we can support you to give short talks about our work - but this is not essential. To find out more contact Annie on 01225 776481 or email Annie.
Dav club volunteer Expand This is an enormously rewarding role working alongside experienced staff in our award-winning day clubs in Trowbridge and Devizes. From March 2018 we will also have opportunities at our new Warminster day club. Our clubs are relaxed and informal environments and volunteers of all ages are a key and valued part of the team. In the club you will be interacting with members, chatting, joining in or leading small group activities, and helping to serve refreshments. Any special talents or skills that can enrich the day will be welcomed! Day club volunteers are most useful when they can join us for a full day, on the same day of each week if possible, and we particularly value people who can give us their time on Sundays in Trowbridge. What they say Dear everyone at Mill St, I’ve had a wonderful time volunteering, and will miss you all very much. I feel so lucky to be part of the fantastic work you do. I feel so privileged to have been able to spend part of my first year at university working with everyone at Alzheimer's Support. It has been so heart-warming, humbling and inspiring to see the fantastic things you do, and to witness what a huge difference you make to the lives of people living with dementia. Volunteer sign up
Dementia Friends Champion Expand Running hour long Dementia Friends information sessions for a wide variety of groups across Wiltshire. Dementia Friends is a national initiative run by Alzheimer's Society. Dementia Friends offer free induction days for new champions to enable them to offer the information sessions in their own localities. For details of induction days see www.DementiaFriends.org.uk Once you have completed the induction day, we can help you find sessions in your area of Wiltshire.
Fundraising volunteer Expand You'll be surprised how much fun you can have as a fundraising volunteer. Whether it's helping out at our annual Fun Day in Trowbridge Park, taking part in supermarket collections, cake sales and coffee mornings, you'll be guaranteed the camaraderie of working together towards a common goal - and there is usually plenty of cake! There are also opportunities to come up with your own fundraising ideas - the more original the better! If you enjoy meeting people and can spare some time, usually at weekends, please get in touch with our fundraiser Laura on 01225 776481 or email Laura. She will be delighted to hear from you!
Helping out in the office Expand We sometimes have opportunities for people to help with a wide range of administrative tasks at our offices in Trowbridge and Devizes. Whether you love a complex spreadsheet - or are happier stuffing envelopes - we can usually find a job that's useful and satisfying.
Memory awareness volunteer Expand Our small but committed team of Memory Awareness Volunteers run one-to-one drop in sessions in GP surgeries for anyone concerned about their memory or that of a relative. They also give occasional talks to larger groups. The team has plenty of support and training, and dedicated materials including leaflets and template talks on their three key messages: When to Worry About Memory Why it's good to know: the importance of getting a diagnosis Living Well with Dementia. The memory awareness project started in 2012 as part of our Comic Relief funded Early Diagnosis Campaign. In 2015 the volunteer team won the Healthier Wiltshire Award from Wiltshire Council, and the same year the project won a Timeline Award from NHS England. What they say My volunteer role involves providing drop-in sessions at the library in Warminster. Anyone who has worries concerning their memory can come and see me and I can provide them with information regarding the differences between normal ageing and possible dementia. I can signpost them to a dementia adviser or suggest they visit their GP. Sometimes it is a case of reassuring people they are probably going through a normal ageing process. I would definitely recommend being a memory awareness volunteer for Alzheimer’s Support. The training is brilliant, the support is always there and it is just so rewarding. I’ve gained so much knowledge and it has helped me very much, not only as a volunteer but with my own mother. Andrea Pearce
Movement for the Mind volunteer Expand Alzheimer's Support founded Movement for the Mind in 2011 and we now have five groups up and running in Wiltshire. The popular meetings combine gentle exercise, known to be enormously beneficial for people living with dementia, with reminiscence and plenty of social interaction. The groups are designed for people living with dementia and family carers to enjoy together. Volunteers are essential to the smooth running of the groups. You'll be part of a small team who will get the room ready and clear away, take part alongside group members in a range of gentle exercises or dance, offer a friendly welcome, serve refreshments or chat to members during social time. A member of Alzheimer's Support staff is present at all groups, as well as the professional facilitator who leads the sessions. Our groups meet fortnightly and volunteer commitment can be as little as one session each month Calne - Tuesday mornings Devizes - Tuesday afternoons Melksham - Wednesday mornings Mere - Friday mornings (starts March 2018) Mildenhall - Tuesday mornings Westbury - Friday mornings
Music for the Mind volunteer Expand Music for the Mind is a joyful and uplifting experience for everyone present. Our groups could not run without the support of volunteers who set up the room, provide a warm welcome to members, serve refreshments at the start of the session and take an active part in the singing. Some 'singing volunteers' also lead small groups when we break into groups for harmonies or partner songs, under the direction of our professional singing teachers. A member of Alzheimer's Support staff is also present at all groups. Most of our 11 Music for the Mind groups (formerly Singing for the Brain) meet every week during term time but volunteers can opt to join the rota on a fortnightly basis if this is more convenient. Amesbury - Monday afternoons Bradford on Avon - Monday mornings Chippenham - Tuesday mornings, fortnightly Corsham - Tuesday afternoons, fortnightly Harnham - Thursday mornings Lockeridge - Thursday mornings Malmesbury - Monday afternooons, fortnightly Mildenhall - Tuesday mornings, fortnightly Seend - Wednesday afternoons Trowbridge - Monday afternoons Westbury - Tuesday mornings What they say “You leave each week knowing that you have been part of something extraordinary” Music for the Mind volunteer
Volunteer drivers Expand Sometimes the biggest barrier to people using our services is not being able to get there easily. Our volunteer drivers can be a lifeline for those for whom taking part in an activity like Singing for the Brain or an art group, can be a highlight of the week. Mileage will be paid and training provided.
Volunteer support worker Expand Visiting a person with dementia in his or her home for conversation and companionship. This is the most specialist of our unpaid roles and volunteer support workers will be fully supported, trained to a high standard and closely supervised by a care co-ordinator.