Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer with Age UK NSWD. We use this platform to ask you information that will provide us with details of your skills, interest, and abilities. We will also ask you for two independent referees that can vouch for you. These do not have to be employer references but just people who know you well.
As much of our work involves dealing with members of the public who may be vulnerable, therefore we may have to undertake a Disclosure and Baring Service check on you prior to the commencement of any work with the public. The details you provide and the interest that you select will help us carry out the appropriate checks and assessment and place you appropriately.
Are you friendly and organised? Could you spare one morning or afternoon per week?
This role involves answering telephone calls at our Poundbury office and transferring the client to the appropriate team member. You will also be asked to record the information from each call. You will be working in a friendly, supportive environment and receive full training.
Ever fancied wing-walking or skydiving. No!
How about joining our small team of volunteers who help come up with, organise and publicise these crazy events. It's just as much fun but not quite so scary.You might also help out at Summer Fayre's, coffee mornings and cream teas.
We are looking for confident, empathetic, patient people who are willing to undertake a Welfare Benefits training programme. The primary focus of the training will be disability benefits for older people. When training and shadowing is complete, we would like people to carry out home visits across Dorset ( in particular North Dorset and / or Purbeck) to complete benefit applications with vulnerable clients and return completed forms to our office in Poundbury.
Full training offered- all travel expenses paid.
Can you help us create a warm, friendly community hub for older people at our offices in Poundbury?
Do you have skills or interests you would like to share with a small group? For example, do you like to make things, paint, read, write or play board games? Can you show other people how to use their phone or computer? Could you lead a music or singing group? Can you discuss local history? If you have an idea, we would love to hear from you. We can offer a friendly team, staff support, basic materials and a hot drink and a biscuit.
Each year we help 1000's of people and ensure that they can remain independent and happy within their own homes and communities. We need to tell people about this and other aspects of our work. Do you have a flare for social media or public relations? We could use your help getting the message out to the general public not only about what we do but how they can support us.
Are you green- fingered? Have you got a couple of hours to spare? Help us turn our new allotment in Hawthorne Road into a peaceful and welcoming space for older people in our community. We are looking for volunteers with gardening skills to plan, prepare and plant the allotment ready to open in the Spring of 2024.
Home Support is an area of targeted growth, and by expanding, it will enable the Charity to support even more local older people in need. As a result of increased demand, we need some additional support with speaking to our clients, scheduling, and general administrative duties such as updating client files, sending out information packs, and taking payments. You’ll be working with our home support manager and coordinator and supported by the wider team. Training will be provided, work patterns and duties can be tailored, and we would really appreciate the support!
The world is a ever more complex place to be. Help people make sense of this by training to become an Advice and Information worker. For example, you might help with care options, welfare benefits, housing, family matters and issues around Power of Attorney applications.
This role is delivered largely by telephone and from our hub locations in Dorchester and Weymouth. We are looking for people to work across the week so there is always someone on hand to provide the listening ear that our callers need. This role offers a specific training programme and the chance to attend bi-monthly meeting with the Advice and Information team.
Our Good Neighbour team help out with one off ad-hoc tasks where there is no one else able to assist.
For example, you might change a light bulb or the batteries in a fire alarm, help someone pack to move house or even identifying specialised engineering tools long lost at the back of a garage.
Being a Good Neighbour is interesting and varied work that is vital to help maintain the independence of some older residents. This role would suit someone who wants to help but is not able to offer a regular, weekly commitment.
A great many older people across Dorset live alone. Our befrienders stay in touch with people to help combat isolation and loneliness. From just 30 minutes to make a friendly phone call to a couple of hours to visit someone in a comfortable setting and learn about their lives, your time can make all the difference. Befriending calls and visits take place to suit you and the needs of the person. All our befrienders are fully trained and supported by our skilled Independent Living Coordinators.
Part of the Information and Advice team, our Welfare benefits advisers undertake additional training to help identify client needs and relevant support. Learn to advise on a range of benefits for older people and help them make applications. This is a vital role that can transform older people's everyday lives.
Carried out in our Hub locations and via Home visits when needed. This role requires a DBS check.
Behind every successful charity are a dedicated group of charity trustees whose role it is to ensure the quality standards are met and strategic direction is maintained.
Trustees have many skills and experiences that they bring to the role. Not least is a genuine passion for supporting the work of the organisation and helping us meet our goals.
Trustees meet every two months to monitor the organisation, but are also called upon to carry out other governance roles between meetings.
Social Media is a fantastic way to let people know about our services and to let them know how they can help. Could you help us to maintain our presence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Youtube? Could you monitor, engage and respond to customer interaction and help us increase social media participation? You would be working alongside our Community Engagement Manager.
More and more of our lives now take place online. For some older people this can lead to an increasing sense of isolation and make everyday tasks difficult. Are you familiar with IT? Could you help an older person to set up and use technology safely? If you have a couple of hours a week to spare, we would like to hear from you.
Wellbeing services include our coffee mornings, balance and seated exercise sessions and cognitive stimulation services.
If you want to work directly with older people this is the role for you. Full DBS check will be needed and support is always available from our experienced wellbeing manager.
Are you friendly and welcoming? Do you enjoy meeting new people? Our Cognitive Stimulation Therapy groups support people with mild to moderate memory issues. CST volunteers assist the group leader by welcoming and helping to engage clients as well as offering teas and coffees. Volunteers receive full training and support from our highly experienced CST team.
Age UK North, South and West Dorset is an independent and local charity which exists to enable older people across rural Dorset to maintain physical and mental wellbeing in later life.
