Volunteer Newsletter March 2024

Here is Your TDS Volunteer Newsletter March 2024

Mary Sharples
March 05, 2024

in March’s Issue…..

Welcome Message from Mary
Fundraising Volunteering Opportunities!
Upcoming: Moving & Handling Training
March TDS Legal Clinic
Volunteer Recruitment for Pyaari Yaadein
This Month’s Volunteer Shout-Out:
A fond farewell to Rukaiya
Our Dementia Support Co-ordinators

Welcome Message from Mary

Hi everyone!

Can you believe it’s the third month of 2024 already? Whilst it still feels cold and wet, there are signs of spring everywhere - gradually lengthening evenings, tiny new buds on the trees, and every morning as I cycle past Alexandra Park, I see more and more spring flowers…

Crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils slowly but surely pushing up through the damp ground are reminding us that the seasons are changing - longer days and brighter skies are on the way. We’ve made it through the darkest, coldest months, and now that March is here - the sun is pretty much setting at 6pm ☀

As the seasons change slowly around us, we already find ourselves in the midst of Lent, and Ramadan is fast approaching. And so on a practical note: for all you lovely volunteers preparing to observe Ramadan, please let us know in advance if there’s anything we can be doing to support you throughout the next month. Even if it’s something as simple as some flexibility around prayer times, e.g. arriving or leaving groups slightly earlier so or taking time away during group sessions - just drop me a message or email, and I can make sure we do all we can to accommodate your needs during this special time of the year.

Spring might be creeping up on us, but you’ll know that there’s no such thing as a slow month for TDS. We’ve been busy celebrating Lunar New Year and Pancake Day, and sharing the love on Valentine’s Day. We’ve also welcomed two new faces to the team - Rose and Bethany are studying for their Masters degree in Social Work, and have joined us on placement for the next few months. If you’ve been lucky enough to meet them at groups already, you’ll know that they’re absolutely lovely, and we’re excited to have them on board with us at TDS!

Anyway, enough waffle from me - read on to find out what’s coming up at TDS, and as usual, take care of your precious wonderful selves this month.

Email

Phone

[email protected]

07579831790

Get in touch

Fundraising Volunteering Opportunities!

What’s that? Some exciting upcoming opportunities for all you lovely volunteers to get involved with our fundraising over the next few months?

The Great Manchester Run: Sunday 26th May 2024

Are you a seasoned athlete? Are you looking for motivation to dust off your running trainers? Or are you up for a challenge, and want to help raise some money for Together Dementia Support?

We’re hoping to enter the Great Manchester Run this year, and our team needs you - yes, YOU. We have 10 spaces for the 10km race, and we’re looking for people to run, jog, walk or roll your way across the finish line in support of TDS, fundraising amongst your friends and family.

We are asking each runner to raise a minimum of £100 sponsorship to cover their entry fee, and you’ll each receive a medal, running vest and some other goodies for taking part.

Let Mary know you’d like to help

Crumpsall Methodist Church Spring Fair:

Saturday 27th April 2024, 11-2pm

We’re looking for volunteers to lend a hand on our stall at Crumpsall Methodist Church’s Spring Fair - if you’re based in North Manchester or have a few hours to spare, then we’d love it if you could help out.

If you’d like to help out, please get in touch with Mary.

Trafford Centre Abseil: 27, 28, 29th June 2024

Looking for an excuse to get high? We’ve got just the fundraising opportunity for you. Join Sally as she bravely goes over the edge of the 170ft Barton Square Tower at the Trafford Centre. Not for the faint hearted, or those afraid of heights…

We are asking each runner to raise a minimum of £100 sponsorship to cover their entry fee, and you’ll receive some fun perks and goodies, too!

Upcoming: Moving & Handling Training

There’s still chance to book onto one of these free training sessions happening in March, and we’d really encourage you to do so. They are 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:

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

March TDS Legal Clinic

Our first TDS Legal Clinic, in partnership with our sponsors, Private Client Solicitors was a success!

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.

Click the button below to secure your appointment today. We still have a little availability for 21 March, and good availability for 18 April and 23 May.

Book here!

Volunteer Recruitment for Pyaari Yaadein

Pyaari Yaadein is our Thursday group, 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!

This Month’s Volunteer Shout-Out:

This month’s shout-out goes to lovely Rosemary (right), who volunteers at our Trafford group on Friday:

‘Rosemary was amazing last week and lead a large table in a flower making craft. It was really beautiful, and it had something for everyone, even if members were not able to do the whole craft independently, there were parts of it all could do, there were some quite sensory parts of it such as separating parts of the tissue paper or counting and sorting the pieces as well as the craft itself.’

Thank you for all the time and energy you put into planning this activity, Rosemary - we’re so grateful for all our wonderful volunteers.

A fond farewell to Rukaiya

A message from Anna:

This week, we said goodbye to our loyal and dedicated Dementia Support Co-ordinator, Rukaiya.

Not only are the team at TDS going to miss her but all the members and carers from our PY group, who showed their love and appreciation for all her work with a lovely send off. Her smile, big heart and beautiful giggle always lights up a room and we wish her the best of luck as she moves onto a new chapter!