Every year people from all walks of life around the UK take time to volunteer and make a huge difference to their communities. To learn more and get inspired, read Ava’s story below.
Ava* is a young woman who has been on long term sick from work due to severe anxiety and depression. She was referred to CAVA by her Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Job Coach. She moved to England with her family as a young teenager.
We met and discussed the type of role she might like and her aims for the future which was to move into care work eventually.
One of the suggestions was to try volunteering at the local Memory Café. It takes place every Wednesday morning and offers a variety of volunteer roles. Volunteers can start by helping with the room set up, making tea, washing up, etc. to help build up some confidence and get used to the set up.
Other roles involve welcoming and engaging with the carers who use the session to relax and have a cup of tea. The role of a carer for someone with dementia can often be very isolating so this simple break and chat can be a huge help to the carer. Some volunteers support the people with dementia themselves, such as taking part in crafts, singing, physical exercise etc.
The Memory Café volunteering roles allow people to build confidence and engage at their own pace and find a role that is most comfortable for them. There is also the opportunity to engage with the other volunteers, some of whom have been attending for over a year, so volunteers support each other as well.
Ava has provided the following feedback:
“I have been going to the Memory café; it has been 3 weeks now and I love it. I get to meet lovely people and talk to them and help them out. Every week there are different activities, and I really enjoy it.”
*not her real name.
