Volunteers

We continually recruit enthusiastic volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds to join our team. We're lucky to have many very skilled people who have been with us several years.

Our great team provides sensitive one-to-one support to all our members to help them engage fully in all activities.

Volunteers really enjoy being part of a happy, functional team.

We have behind-the-scenes volunteers too, who look after our finances, legal issues, fundraising and communications. Other jobs include DIY, leaf shredding, bucket-donation-collecting at events, and lots more! Without their commitment and input Chrysalis would not be able to function.

"Volunteering gives my day structure. I started on a Monday afternoon but I'm now regularly volunteering for 4 sessions a week"

"I was a little unsure, but Chrysalis provided full training for me. They are very professional."

"Chrysalis has given me a whole new lease of life, and a great new bunch of friends."

Our volunteers are a fantastic bunch of people. They devote their time to help people with ongoing memory problems or dementia and really enjoy what they do:

Some are continuing to use their professional skills and giving something back in retirement
Others are building up their work experience and getting useful skills to add to their CVs
We also welcome students joining us as part of their degree studies

We have opportunities at both Hexham, and Wylam.

Training

We provide an induction, a safeguarding course, access to dementia courses and regular training sessions on relevant subjects like visuospatial, rare dementias, and lifting and handling

Travel Expenses

Travel expenses can be claimed

Volunteer Forums

We put on a volunteer forum every few months to learn more about dementia and discuss Chrysalis activities

An open door policy

We always listen to suggestions for improvements, and love to take on new ideas

DBS Check

We complete a DBS check for you

Insurance

We provide protection from negligence through public liability insurance

No discrimination

We welcome people from diverse groups

Volunteer Treat

As a small thank you, we put on a Christmas treat where we get together in a more relaxed environment and socialise

Will I be suitable?

Our volunteers need to:

have a calm and friendly approach and an interest in getting to know our members and help them have a relaxing fun time
commit to attending a session regularly at Hexham or Wylam
listen and learn from others
attend training, provide references and have a DBS check
join in activities with members and support them to participate as fully as they are able
help organise the day, prepare materials, refreshments and enable the sessions to run smoothly, including washing up and tidying after and during the sessions

You may not be able to fulfill all our requirements, but if you are interested please come and talk to us as we can be flexible.

Interested in volunteering?

If you would like to become a volunteer please contact us to arrange a visit and a chat to get a feel for our ethos and approach. You can join in a taster session and have first-hand experience of how the sessions are run.

Case studies