Volunteering at Assist.

Volunteering is very rewarding and people of all ages and backgrounds can take part. As well as gaining new skills, volunteers can make new friends and become part of a thriving community.

We are really keen to hear from anyone interested in being a volunteer befriender, driver, or someone to help at social activities. If you are interested, please contact us to talk more, or fill out one of our volunteering forms and email it to Amelia at withingtonassist@gmail.com

 

Currently we are looking for volunteers for

 

• Giving lifts to & from activities as a Volunteer driver. Just a couple of hours a week/month makes a really big difference to people who are stuck at home. If you have access to a car and can spare a bit of time, please do consider becoming a volunteer driver!
   

• Volunteers to visit people in their own home for a friendly chat and much needed company for people who may be housebound or lonely as a Volunteer befriender.

 

• Serving refreshments and taking
  the register at our Monday groups
   

• Delivering newsletters
   
• Gardening
   
• Something new! If you have an idea
  or a skill that you think would benefit
  our older members, please do get in touch.

 

  What Volunteers say:

 

  "I feel Assist is like coming to a happy family and I get a lot of satisifaction from seeing that what we do matters ".

 

  "I changed career because of Assist as I enjoyed working with older people and now work in a facilitated living scheme for older adults with additional needs, which I really love"

 

"Assist is very beneficial to me; I have been volunteering since May 24th,1984. I feel relaxed here and I enjoy my free meal on Tuesday and cups of tea and help from the staff. On a regular basis I do peoples gardens and every week I set rooms for lunch, coffee group and exercise classes. I occasionally shred papers and get the shopping in, deliver newsletters or put a letter in the post box."

 

“I’m not under any pressure as a volunteer. I take it seriously and try to be consistent yet flexible but it’s good to feel that I can say “I won’t be in”. I might have drifted into it but now Assist feels like my second home. I’ve made friendships with the people I phone - even though we may not visit each other, we’ve been talking for years and have grown old together.” 

Volunteers do not need any formal qualifications, just time to spare, a caring nature, and an interest in the work we do in supporting older people in the community. A few hours a week can be very rewarding for volunteers and can make a big difference in someone’s life.  

 

In order to comply with our safeguarding procedures, we ask volunteers to give the contact details of two references - someone they have known for at least two years and who is not related to them, and depending on the role we may apply for a DBS check. We provide lots of different types of training and support for each role, and hold regular support/social groups for volunteers to get together.