Befriending Volunteer

Purpose of the role: To ensure that all participants feel welcome, included, and have an enjoyable time when they attend an Age UK Barnet Lunch Club. Our Lunch Club welcomes local people to come and have a cooked two course lunch, meet with others living in the area and enjoy some social activities. Our volunteer team support the preparation, running and clearing up after the session.

What an activity volunteer might do:
- Help to set up the tables and room in preparation for participants arriving
- Welcome people to the session, ensure they are comfortable and, take note of any specific dietary needs
- Chat to participants in groups or individually
- Help serve meals and drinks to participants, and clear away dirty plates etc
- Assist with stacking the dishwasher and keeping the kitchen clean and tidy
- Assist with running some activities after lunch and encourage people to take part
- Provide practical assistance such as getting participants in and out of coats, opening doors and getting people safely seated
- Assist with clearing down the room after the session has finished
- Volunteers with particular skills and interests may lead on small group activities such as crafts, games etc if they would like to
- Ensure that all participants have all of their belongings and leave the building safely at the end of the session., What you can expect from us: Age UK Barnet will cover agreed out of pocket expenses for volunteers (e.g. travel costs). We will also insure you for personal and public liability for the time you are volunteering with us providing what you do is risk assessed and agreed. We are happy to provide references for our volunteers., To provide companionship to older people to combat loneliness and isolation and to assist these individuals …

Friendly and approachable
- Ability to work as part of a team
- An interest in helping with activities for older people
- Patience, empathy with issues affecting older people and good listening skills
- Chatty, a good conversation starter
- An awareness of dementia and understanding of the needs and behaviours of people living with dementia
- Reliable, trustworthy and non judgemental
- Flexible and willing to get stuck in with what's needed
- Ability to show initiative

older people charity Age UK Barnet volunteering Wellbeing

You must be over 18 years old Expenses Paid

This is a flexible opportunity and you will be required to agree when you can attend directly with the provider of the opportunity.