County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) are piloting a therapeutic volunteer scheme which aims to support dementia patients at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The role of the therapeutic volunteers is to help stimulate and to make the patients’ hospital stay as comfortable as possible, by particpating and interacting with the patients' through an array of activities. The CDDFT in volunteering to support the following activities with the patients’;

• Reminiscing – through music, photographs, memory boxes
• Talking and listening – have informal chats over a cup of tea
• Play games – cards, dominos and jigsaws
• Reading
• Drawing
• Crafts

Time: Flexible – minimum of one hour a week

Location: Darlington Memorial Hospital, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, DL3 6HX

Requirements: Volunteers must undergo a mandatory enhanced DBS check

All volunteers must attend Trust corporate induction and have an informal chat to ensure they understand their role and responsibilities. In addition volunteers will undertake the specific therapeutic volunteer training.
 

Discover the difference your skills can make!

Often something as simple as a couple of hours of professional advice or knowledge sharing with a charity can make a real difference and help them to operate in an efficient and effective manner.

We believe that the professional knowledge and skills that exist across the town has the possibility to up skill and provide vital support to the third sector in the town.

Previously we have matched the following skills and organisations:

• HR support to Darlington Credit Union
• Marketing advice to Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau
• Social media management to First Stop – a local homeless charity

We have created a Skills Hub in Darlington and are encouraging local businesses, their employees and the community to get involved by supporting charity organisations in Darlington.

http://www.darlingtoncares.co.uk/opportunities/skills-hub/