Volunteer at Peckover House Wisbech to support people with dementia
Are you passionate about your local community? Would you like to make a difference to people who are living with dementia and their loved ones?
The National Trust is looking to recruit volunteers to support Damsons, a new twice weekly community support group at Peckover House and Gardens in Wisbech, for people living with mild to moderate dementia and their loved ones.
Damsons meet every Tuesday morning 9.30am - 12.30pm and Wednesday afternoon from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
Damsons has been created as part of MONUMENT (MOre NUrturing and More Empowerment Nested in Technology), an EU funded pilot project which sees the National Trust working with colleagues from across Europe. The aim of the project is to provide information, advice and a meeting place, as well as somewhere people can spend time relaxing and socialising with those in similar situations.
At Peckover, there is an added focus on nature by making the garden a central part of the experience.
From supporting and leading activities in the Reed Barn, to leading sensory walks through the beautiful gardens and building local community connections to help raise the profile and support of the service, volunteers play an integral part in the Damsons team.
Damsons volunteer, Ian Drury, said: “I love volunteering as you get to meet some great people – there’s not a session that goes by when I haven’t had an interesting conversation and everyone is so friendly. It’s great to have the opportunity to learn new skills and give something back to the local community.”
Volunteers will help people living with dementia keep doing the things they love and build their confidence to stay active and engaged in social activities and living in their own homes for longer.
The National Trust is Europe’s largest conservation charity, founded so that everyone can benefit from nature, beauty and history. By supporting the local community, volunteers will help make a difference to people’s lives, giving them quality time together in the beautiful surroundings of Peckover House and Gardens.
Sarah Dyer, senior visitor programming officer at Peckover, said: “Our Damsons sessions are built on mutual respect and open communication between people living with dementia, their loved ones and our trained volunteers. By spending time together in the beautiful grounds of Peckover House, our volunteers are able to offer wonderful support to our service users and help to enhance their wellbeing”.
If you would like to find out more, please email damsonvolunteer@nationaltrust.org.uk for an information pack, including application form, role profile, information booklet, along with an invitation to a Taster session (optional) to meet the team, see Damsons up and running and ask any questions.
Please note the closing date for completed applications is September 22. Then there will be a selection process. Successful applicants will be given the required training, taken through an induction process and it is hoped volunteers will start with Damsons in late October.
