Memory Lane Cafe Volunteer

Volunteer role: Memory Lane Café.

Responsible to: Dementia Activities Coordinator.

Time commitment: Weekly attendance on Fridays from 10am to 1pm. Attendance at volunteer support meetings and all our volunteer roles are from Monday to Friday, between 9am – 5pm. We are closed at weekends, on public holidays and for one week over the Christmas period.

Location: Memory Lane Café, Conference Room, Community House, South Street, Bromley BR1 1RH.

Bromley Dementia Support Hub: Age UK Bromley and Greenwich working in partnership with MindCare Dementia Support. We support people living with dementia in Bromley, and their carers, providing information, advice and help to find the most suitable services and support for their individual needs.

Memory Lane Cafe: Our volunteers are a crucial part of this café’s success, and we welcome new volunteers, joining our team, as this enables us to reach more older people living with Dementia.

Role Summary: Supporting the clients during the session, including settling in, activities set up and supporting the session.

What will I be involved in?

• Successfully complete an induction training booklet for Age UK Bromley and Greenwich volunteers
• Participate in support meetings with the staff team as required.
• At all times volunteer in accordance with the organisation’s policies regarding Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Confidentiality & Data Protection. Lone working.
• Represent the professional standards of Age UK Bromley and Greenwich and ensure that you wear your volunteer id badge whilst volunteering.

What skills and qualities will I need to have?

• Enjoy spending time with and talking with older people aged 65+ living with Dementia from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Be a good listener and have empathy with older people, being approachable and welcoming.
• Listens to the person’s tone of voice and expression as well as their words.
• Develop a non-judgmental approach. The listener may personally disagree with the client’s opinions or actions but attempts to understand the client’s point of view and shows that they still value the client.
• Being able to maintain client confidentiality, understand the importance of keeping within the parameters of the Memory Lane café role and have a good understanding of GDPR and Data Protection

Benefits of getting involved:

• Being part of a team who are passionate about helping Bromley residents 65 years + living with Dementia, to develop interests, form friendships and connect better with their local community.
• Committed to supporting the Bromley Dementia Support Hub to deliver a difference to their clients.
• Ongoing support and role training with feedback given. Including attending an Understanding Dementia course at MindCare in Beckenham.
• Opportunities for networking with other volunteers and being part of a wider volunteer team.
• Awareness of Age UK Bromley and Greenwich social events, services, and projects.

Other information: Prospective volunteers will complete a recruitment process and be required to provide details of two references and agree to submit details for and undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check. All our volunteer roles are 18+, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Age UK Bromley & Greenwich will reimburse all expenditure reasonably incurred. Receipts to be provided with expenditure claims.