Dementia Reminiscence Group volunteer

Overview

Volunteers are needed to help facilitate a monthly group for RAF veterans and their partners who are living with diagnosed or undiagnosed memory loss / dementia. The groups take place in Maidstone 1‑3 pm on the last Wednesday of every month.

The RAF Benevolent Fund runs groups in the community for RAF veterans and their partners who have diagnosed or undiagnosed memory loss with the aim of enhancing their wellbeing through social contact and reminiscence. The groups are a very relaxed and fluid environment where the volunteers will mostly find themselves talking socially with the beneficiaries as a group or individually and helping with refreshments.

To support the running of the reminiscence group, volunteers are asked to:

• Welcome beneficiaries as they arrive, helping them settle in
• Proactively start up social conversations to ensure all group members are included
• Support with the sign‑up forms for anyone who is new to the group
• Assist with refreshments for the group where needed
• Listen if beneficiaries are to talk about any welfare needs they may have and either signpost them to additional Fund services (if known) and pass the information on to staff members to follow up
• Assisting beneficiaries in wheelchairs is optional

We are looking for volunteers who are able to make a fairly long term commitment to supporting the group on the afternoon of last Wednesday of each month. Volunteers should be approachable, empathetic and flexible to the needs of others. Experience of communicating with individuals with memory loss is preferable but not essential.

Volunteers in this role are subject to two character references and a DBS (Enhanced with adults barred list) check. We provide full training ahead of a volunteer’s start, with mandatory modules on dementia awareness and safeguarding, and can reimburse volunteers for the cost of their travel to the group.

1‑3 pm on the last Wednesday of every month.

Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone ME14 1LQ

Postcode: ME14 1LQ

Number of volunteers required: 1

Application Form

References

Informal discussion (may include an interview)

Simply Connect Solutions Ltd, Company registered in England and Wales

• Approachable
• Proactive
• Empathetic and thoughtful
• Flexible to the needs of others
• Experience communicating with people living with dementia is preferable