Singing for the Brain Support Volunteer - Downend

Alzheimer's Society; West of England; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity for dementia support in the UK seeks a Singing for the Brain Support Volunteer. You will assist individuals with dementia in a welcoming environment, helping them engage through music. Your role includes setting up sessions and providing support during activities. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives every Thursday morning in Bristol.

Qualifications

• Willingness to support individuals with dementia in a friendly manner.
• Ability to listen and show empathy.
• No prior experience with dementia required.

Responsibilities

• Set up and pack away the session environment.
• Provide support to attendees during the session.
• Encourage participation and interaction among attendees.

Skills

Compassion

Communication

Enthusiasm

Job description

About the Role

Our Singing for the Brain sessions offer people affected by dementia a chance to enjoy a fun activity within a supportive environment. We need you to help make this happen!

Singing for the Brain is a structured group session, designed around the principles of music therapy and singing, for people with dementia who may attend alone or with a carer. These sessions offer the people attending an enjoyable activity, as well as the chance to socialise with other people affected by dementia.

As a Singing for the Brain Support Volunteer, you’ll be welcoming and talking to people with dementia, helping them to feel at ease. You will help set up the room and tidy away at the end of the session and help prepare and distribute refreshments as well as supporting the session facilitator by distributing materials such as songbooks. Once the singing session starts, you’ll provide encouragement to participate in the activity, and support the session facilitator with the activities, either online or in person.

Downend Singing for the Brain

When: Thursday, weekly

Session time: 10:00am – 11:45am

Where: St Augustine's Church Hall, Boscombe Crescent, Downend, Bristol, BS16 6QR

Volunteer hours required: 9:30am-12:30pm, Thursday, weekly

Volunteer duties

• Helping to lift fold-up chairs down from a storage rack and carrying them into the hall to set up.
• Helping to lift fold-out tables and set them up.
• Helping to carry chairs with arms from a storage room into the hall.
• Greeting service users and providing a warm welcome.
• Chatting with service users during refreshment time.
• Encouraging service users during the singing session and supporting with finding page numbers etc.
• Handing out song sheets during the singing session.
• Helping to pack away chairs at the end of the session, including lifting them back up onto the storage rack.
• Helping to pack away tables at the end of the session.
• Staying after the session for a short debrief.

You’ll be great for the role if

• You have an interest in developing meaningful relationships and making a real difference.
• You want to enable people with dementia to find their voice through music in an incredibly rewarding role.
• You are fun and enthusiastic.
• You have the ability to listen and display compassion.
• If you are supporting our virtual sessions, you will need to be able to navigate effectively online and be able to use Zoom with confidence.
• Experience of dementia is not essential, nor is the ability to sing!

How to apply

If you find completing online applications difficult, please don't let this stop you from applying. Please call or email us and we can support you with the application process. You can contact the Volunteering Recruitment Team by emailing

[e-mail]

or call on 0300 222 5706

Minimum age 16

About Alzheimer’s Society

Please note that all of our volunteering opportunities are based in the UK and you must be living in the UK to volunteer with us. Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor visa applications but are grateful for your interest in supporting us.

About Alzheimer’s Society

Alzheimer’s Society is here for everyone affected by dementia.

By 2025, an estimated 1 million people will be living with the condition in the UK, and many millions more carers, partners, families and friends will be affected.

Dementia is a complex condition, and there’s no one-size fits all solution but until we find a cure, our aim is to transform lives today.

We do this by:

• Providing flexible support services so that people with dementia, their carers and loved ones, can access expert advice and guidance, support through their most challenging days, and a safe space to turn when they need it.
• Being a force for change - using research and influencing to push for breakthroughs that will change the lives of people affected by dementia now and in future.

Our Values

Determined to make a difference: We're passionate, we're focused and we make a lasting impact for people affected by dementia.

Trusted expert: We're listening, we're learning and we use experience and evidence.

Better together: We're open, we combine our strengths and we achieve more together.

Compassionate: We're kind, we're honest and we don't shy away from challenges.

Equal opportunities

Alzheimer’s Society is committed to equal opportunities.

Alzheimer’s Society embraces diversity, inclusion and accessibility for all of our people. We are committed to building a diverse organisation that represents the communities we serve and ensuring inclusion in everything we do. We will look at making reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition.