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Meeting Centres Volunteer

Time requirement: 4 hours per week
Location: Wallsend Community First Centre
Accountability: Head of Charity Services
Required training: General Volunteer Induction, Dementia Awareness Training, Safeguarding Training, tailored training as required
DBS (prev. CRB): Yes

What is the Meeting Centre?

Meeting Centres were established by Age UK North Tyneside a number of years ago and form part of our existing Mental Health & Wellbeing provision. The Mental Health & Wellbeing team supports those living with dementia and their families and carers by providing emotional support, education, signposting and information regarding dementia and other services available locally. 

The service supports those living with dementia and their carers/families to access and engage in social activities.

This is a fantastic offer which has proved to improve and support the well-being of people living with dementia and their families/carers living in the locality.

What does the Meeting Centre Volunteer role entail?

Meeting Centres are a local resource, operating out of community buildings, providing a welcoming and friendly support to people living at home with dementia – that is people with a diagnosis of dementia alongside their family/carers and friends network.

At the heart of the Meeting Centre is a social club where people can meet to have fun, talk to others, and get support, advice and help that focuses on what makes life great. Helping everyone to continue to live well with dementia.

As a volunteer, you would be a member of a team, trained in the Meeting Centre ethos to provide an enjoyable and flexible programme to its members.

All of the activities are designed to help people adapt to the challenges that living with dementia can bring.

This Meeting Centre involves getting together socially, being creative, active and sharing lunch. The activities are tailored towards individuals’ needs and are developed in conjunction with the members. Meeting Centres are developed by the members for the members.

Duties of the volunteer

  • Supporting people living with dementia and their carers to engage and socialise with others in the group
  • Provide support and basic information on dementia to people living with dementia and their carers (training will be given)
  • Support the facilitation of the activities including helping serve refreshments
  • Supporting the team to prepare the room in advance of the event
  • Support the team with the registration of participants

Skills that are required/desirable

  • Good communication skills
  • An awareness and understanding of confidentiality
  • A sense of humour
  • Understanding of and empathy with the needs of older people
  • Patience and sensitivity
  • Reliability as you will need to commit to weekly attendance
  • To be respectful of the service user’s individuality

University of Worcester also offer Meeting Centres Training for volunteers which may be useful for this role.

To apply, please call 0191 287 7011 or email Volunteer@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk. 

Why Volunteer

Age UK North Tyneside works solely for the benefit of older people and their carers living in the Borough of North Tyneside. Through volunteering, you are helping to make a positive difference to the lives of older people in your local community. Age UK North Tyneside recognises the benefit and value of volunteering and believes volunteering is an activity that should be open to all members of the community.

Volunteers often create a friendly and caring community, they bring skills and qualities adding value and experience, and many of our services could not happen without them.

Volunteers are people who give freely their time, abilities, skills and enthusiasm, without payment, in order to contribute something to their community. 

DWP has published new guidance on volunteering and claiming benefits:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/volunteering-and-claiming-benefits

The guidance aims to help claimants make informed decisions on volunteering and explains:

  • How many hours you can volunteer
  • What happens if you get a health or disability benefit
  • What expense you can claim

Benefits of Volunteering

There are many benefits to being a volunteer:

  • Learning new skills
  • Gaining work experience
  • Building your confidence and self esteem
  • Meeting new people and making new friends
  • Trying something new
  • Developing a skill, hobby or interest
  • Working as part of a team
  • Making a difference to your own life and the lives of others
  • As a way of saying thank-you to our volunteers we arrange regular social events and presentations for them

We will provide you with travel expenses and training opportunities. Your time, skills and enthusiasm make a very big difference to the lives of older people. Without your help, most of our work would not be possible. We will help you get the most out of your voluntary work by giving you support and training.

Volunteers may also qualify for a huge range of money saving deals and vouchers, from mouth watering restaurant vouchers, discount holidays, money off fashion fixes through to deals on gym membership, mobile phones, and utilities. Find out more on the Charity Workers Discount website.

How To Get Involved

It’s easy to become a volunteer and we welcome people of all ages and from all backgrounds, who bring with them their much needed experience and support. Have a look at the roles we have on offer in the Current Volunteering Opportunities section. If you would like to volunteer, please request a registration form from our HR Team by emailing Volunteer@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk.

If you would like a registration form sent to you in the post, please call 0191 287 7011. You can return completed paper forms to the address below:

Volunteering Team
Age UK North Tyneside
Bradbury Centre
13 Saville Street West,
North Shields
NE29 6QP
Telephone: 0191 287 7011

Email: Volunteer@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk

Next Steps

On receiving your completed form we will then invite you in for an interview to discuss your form further, and talk about the current volunteer opportunities we have available which may suit you. Please be aware that the volunteer process can take up to 4-6 weeks due to the reference checks, DBS checks, and processes we have to follow before a volunteer can begin their placement.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the volunteering team on 0191 287 7011 or email Volunteer@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk.

We hope that you will find your involvement with Age UK North Tyneside rewarding and interesting and look forward to working with you in the near future.