Camellia Club Volunteer

The Camellia Club is an innovative local resource for people affected by dementia in the Newbury area. Our aim is to provide a stimulating environment for people living with the earlier stages of dementia or mild cognitive impairment, and to provide respite to their carers. Our guests will benefit from discussion and conversation, meaningful activities and connections, a hot midday meal cooked on the premises, and an opportunity to make friends and enjoy themselves for a few hours, with support from understanding and trained staff and volunteers.

As a Camellia Club Volunteer you will use your interpersonal skills to support our guests in activities throughout their day, and to nurture their confidence and sense of wellbeing.

Our Volunteers will:

• Welcome and talk with our guests
• Offer coffee/tea and biscuits
• Help to serve and clear away the midday meal
• Help to set up and tidy away
• Encourage and support our guests during activities
• Refer our guests or their family carers to Fair Close staff where there is any concern
• Attend training and engage in supervision
• Read and be aware of Fair Close policies and procedures

We want you to feel part of the Fair Close family, and we will include you and treat you with respect. You will receive training, ongoing supervision and support, and we will keep you up to date with relevant policies and procedures.

We require an enhanced DBS check (vulnerable adults) for all volunteers.

About Fair Close Centre

The Fair Close Centre is a vibrant social hub for over 65s. We are the leading local charity supporting older people many lonely and isolated. Keeping the over 65's living at home, happy and healthy, providing them with nourishing food and a friendly place to meet, eat and be entertained is at the heart of the charity's work. We cooked 2,200 delicious hot lunches last month and recently celebrated 55 years of continuous service. We have dedicated staff and a wonderful staff team of 18 and 40+ volunteers.

What skills do I need?

• Have good verbal communication and listening skills
• Are friendly, positive and approachable 
• Enjoy meeting new people and being part of a team
• Are aware of, or are willing to learn about, dementia and its impact upon people 
• Can demonstrate empathy and compassion 
• Can offer a regular time commitment

When is this role available?

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Details

The Camellia Club will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10:00 till 15:00. We would love you to volunteer for a whole day, but we understand that some people would prefer a shorter volunteering session. Shorter volunteering sessions would run from 10:00 till 12:00, 10:00 till 13:00, 12:00 till 15:00, or 13:00 till 15:00, by arrangement. If you are supporting our guests during lunch (12:00-13:00) you will not pay for your meal.

Where does this role take place?