Volunteer Befriender (for a person living with dementia)

As a volunteer, you'll be providing companionship to someone who is living with dementia. Often, when people get a diagnosis of dementia, it can affect their confidence and cause social isolation due to things like family and friends, withdrawing, them no longer participating in social activities they used to enjoy or perhaps issues around communication. However social interaction is vital to someone living with dementia and it can help improve their mood and continue to live independently for as long as possible.

You will be carefully matched with a person living with dementia and they will have been referred to the project and an assessment by project staff will have been completed. You will spend up to two hours, once a week with the person you are matched with. This might be to spend time at home chatting or doing an activity such as playing a game, or if the person is able, perhaps going out to a local park or to a cafe for a coffee. Providing this companionship will be beneficial to the person living with dementia and also will provide family members, with a precious small period of respite.

You will be provided with full training on befriending and dementia awareness and you will be supported on an ongoing basis by project staff. The role is incredibly rewarding and will make a huge difference to the lives of people living with dementia and their unpaid carers.