Volunteer Newsletter Jan 2024

TDS Volunteer Newsletter January 2024

Fiona Brown & Mary Sharples
January 23, 2024

in December’s Issue…..

Welcome Message from Mary
It’s our 10th birthday this year!
New Vacancies with Together Dementia Support
Could you be our newest Trustee?
Upcoming: Moving & Handling Training
TDS Legal Clinic
Job Opportunity: Chorlton Good Neighbours
Volunteer Recruitment for Pyaari Yaadein
A Fond Farewell to Elaine G
Our Dementia Support Co-ordinators

Welcome Message from Mary

Hi everyone!

Welcome to both the first Volunteer Newsletter of 2024, and my first Volunteer Newsletter as your new Volunteer Coordinator!

Someone asked me recently what brought me to TDS, and I thought that could be a good way of beginning this newsletter - by sharing a little of that journey with you:

I came to Manchester as a student in 2018 to study Drama, and found I was most interested in learning how drama has always been a way of bringing people together, of building community. In it’s simplest form, that’s what drama is really - it’s people gathering together to listen and share stories.

And in a way, that’s what charities like TDS do. They create space for those with a shared story to come together - a shared story of living with Dementia, or caring for those living with Dementia. I've only been here for two weeks, and I can already see how positive and powerful this community is, and how it continues to grow from this shared story.

Before starting here, I worked as part of the university chaplaincy team at St Peter’s House on Oxford Road for 2 and a half years - predominantly working alongside volunteers, and supporting students and local residents through our community café and emergency food support project. I found that I loved working with volunteers, I loved learning about people and hearing their stories, and I loved how through volunteering you find yourself surrounded by people you wouldn’t have met otherwise. I found that there is so much to learn from people like yourselves who make time amidst the busyness of life to offer up your precious time, energy and gifts for the benefit of others.

Already, I’ve had some great conversations with a fair few of you at the groups or over the phone - hearing a little of your stories, and what brought you to TDS. I’m slowly making my way through everyone so if you haven’t had a phone call from me yet, there’s one coming soon, I promise!

My contact details are below, so if you have any advice or feedback or questions for me as Volunteer Coordinator - please do get in touch! I’d love to hear from you.

Email

Phone

[email protected]

07579831790

Get in touch

In the meantime, be kind and gentle with your precious selves this January. Even as we find ourselves in the new year, with the days gradually getting longer - it’s still Winter, and the season to take things slowly.

And now, I’ll stop chatting away and leave you to the important business of this newsletter!

It’s our 10th birthday this year!

2024 marks 10 years since Together Dementia Support first came into being, and our decade year looks like it’s going to be one of our biggest and busiest yet! To celebrate this milestone, we’ll be doing all sorts of fun and fundraising throughout the the year.

If you woud like to help us celebrate, we are looking for Event Volunteers who can turn up to events and help on the day. This can include everything from welcoming guests, serving drinks, photography or helping our people with dementia have a good time.

If you’d be interested in joining our team of Event Volunteers, we’ll soon be sending out the list of events you can put your name down for. Keep an eye on your Volunteer Newsletters as you’ll hear it there first!

New Vacancies with Together Dementia Support

📛 Dementia Support Co-ordinator📜 Permanent🕛 Full time, or part time for right candidate💷 £25,994 starting salary

📅 Closes Friday 2 February 2024

We are looking for an energetic, creative and caring Dementia Support Co-ordinator to run two Friendship & Activity Groups in Manchester

Apply now

📛 Freelance Fundraiser📜 16 week contract, 1 day per week🕛 Temporary, Feb - May💷 £2,500 contract total

📅 Closes 30 January 2024

Together Dementia Support wishes to contract a suitably experienced Freelance Fundraiser for short-term cover from February until the end of May 2024.

Apply now

Could you be our newest Trustee?

Download the Recruitment Pack

Visit our website

📛 Trustee Member of the Board📜 4-6 meetings per year minimum commitment💷 Voluntary

📅 Closes Friday 16 February 2024

Together Dementia Support currently has an active Board of Trustees, and we are seeking to add to the range of skills and diversity of our Board members.

Our Trustees are experienced, caring people who want to have an impact in their local community, develop their leadership and strategy skills, and drive Together Dementia Support with ambition.

If you would like to get involved, fill in the application form or get in touch for more information.

Applications must be received no later than 5pm, Friday 16 February 2024.

Upcoming: Moving & Handling Training

We’d encourage as many of you as possible to book onto one of these free training sessions happening over the next few months. They will be really helpful in equipping and teaching you how to safely help and support members when walking, getting up and down from chairs, in and out of the minibus, etc, without injuring yourself or them.

The upcoming training dates are:

Wednesday 21st February 2024, 1:30 - 3:30pm

Oaklands Café, 8 Wilbraham Road, Fallowfield, M14 6JZ

Tuesday 19th March 2024, 1:30 - 3:30pm

The Valerie Suite, Kath Locke Centre, Moss Lane East, M15 5DD

Wednesday 27th March 2024, 1:30 - 3:30pm

St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Brownley Road, Wythenshawe, M22 0DW

Call, email or text Anna to book:

[email protected] | 07421 312 596

E-mail Anna

TDS Legal Clinic

We’re really excited to announce the launch of TDS Legal Clinics, in partnership with our sponsors, Private Client Solicitors.

On the third Thursday of each month, PCS are kindly donating their time to provide free basic Wills and deeply discounted Lasting Power of Attorney for one person or couples:

Lasting Power Of Attorney starts at just £250 for one form, or £375 for two.
Couples start at £625.

Making a Will is free, but you will be asked if you would like to make a suggested donation to TDS. This is not obligatory.

This isn’t just for volunteers! Anyone can book these appointments, so if you can think of anyone in your life who might benefit from these services…please do spread the word.

Follow this link to find more information, clinic dates and availability, and book your slot:

Book here!

Job Opportunity: Chorlton Good Neighbours

Chorlton Good Neighbours Care Group is looking to appoint a part-time Activities and Visiting Assistant:

15 hours per week
3 days a week, to be negotiated
£10,140 per annum
To apply, you must be a car driver/owner

The responsibilities of the role include:

Be responsible for organising and attending 11 monthly Sunday teas, and 7-8 coach trips per year for older members
Carry out regular home visits and odd jobs for older people
Carry out admin duties related to the post, attend training and support local volunteers

The closing date for applications is 9am, Friday 9th February.

For application forms or more information about the role, contact:

Rev Jenny King on 0161 861 0898, or email [email protected]

Click here for more information about Chorlton Good Neighbours

Volunteer Recruitment for Pyaari Yaadein

Pyaari Yaadein is our Thursday group, run by Rukaiya, specifically for those living with dementia from a South Asian background, and we’re always looking for more South Asian volunteers to join the team!

Shared cultural heritage, experiences and language(s) are a great way of building relationships with members and carers.

Pyaari Yaadein runs from 11-2 on a Thursday, at the Armani Centre.

This is a slightly longer session than our other groups, and so we ask that any volunteers are definitely available to help out between the core hours of 10:30am - 1pm. After 1pm, if necessary, volunteers can arrange with Rukaiya to leave slightly early.

If you think you might be able to help - let Mary or Rukaiya know. Mary’s contact details can be found at the top of this newsletter, and Rukaiya’s can be found at the bottom.

And if you know someone who might want to be involved - spread the word!

A Fond Farewell to Elaine G

In December we said a very fond ‘see you later’ to lovely Elaine, who has been a long-standing volunteer with Together Dementia Support.

Her final group was on Monday 18 December, and she had a great send-off with the Moss Side Group’s Christmas party, a speech from Sally, our CEO, and flowers and a card to wish her well in her retirement.

Thank you, Elaine, for everything you have done for Together Dementia Support. The time you have given us has had a profound and real impact on everyone who worked with you, and every person you supported.

You will be missed at group, but we wish you all the best for a restful retirement.