Volunteer Role Description
Role Title: Activities Volunteer
Location: St. Anne’s Nursing Home Lawn Road Southampton Hampshire SO17 2EZ
Time Commitment: To be discussed and agreed at interview
Reporting To: Activities Coordinator
About St. Anne’s Nursing Home:
St. Anne’s is a welcoming nursing home in Southampton, dedicated to providing compassionate support and enriching the lives of our elderly residents. We believe in fostering a warm, engaging environment where every individual feels valued and connected. Volunteers play a vital role in helping us achieve this through meaningful interactions and activities.
Role Purpose
As an activities volunteer you will help enhance residents’ wellbeing by providing social interaction, assisting with recreational activities, and supporting residents to engage with the community.
Key Responsibilities
Support the activities team, carers, nurses and senior management team with planning and providing social interaction and meaningful activities including trips out into the community.
Individual activities
- Spend one-on-one time chatting with residents, listening to their stories, and offering your time
- Read along with residents any books, newspapers, or letters encouraging social interaction and stimulation
- Assist with letter writing or phone calls/video calls to family members
- Communicate with residents and engage them in reminiscence activities
- Assist with reminiscence therapy (e.g., old photos, music, memory boxes).
Group Activities
- Help organise and participate in games (e.g. bingo, puzzles, card games etc).
- Support arts and crafts sessions, music sessions, or gentle exercise classes under the appropriate direction of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists or nursing staff.
- Join in themed events (birthday parties, seasonal celebrations, afternoon tea)
- Support visiting entertainers and any local community groups who may visit St Annes for the benefit of residents
Practical Support
- Assist residents during mealtimes including social encouragement offering light help if requested by St Annes care staff
- Support outdoor activities e.g. garden walks, flower potting, light outdoor activities
- Support with any trips out in the local community
- Help set up and tidy activity areas
What we expect from you:
- You must have awarm, patient, and empathetic nature.
- Be a good comminciator and able to listen
- You must be reliable, always act with integrity and respectful of confidentiality
- You must have enthusiasm for working with older adults
We will ask what hours you can commit to and for how long you plan to volunteer and will expect you to be able to honour this arrangement. This helps us with planning and arranging activities etc for our residents
What you can expect from us:
- A rewarding role making a real difference in residents’ lives
- Full induction, training, and ongoing support
- Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses which will be discussed at interview
- Friendly, inclusive and supportive team environment
- References provided after 3 months of volunteering with us
- No prior experience needed, full training provided
Further Requirements
Enhanced DBS Check which we will undertake for you (please note that if you stop volunteering with us within 3 months of starting we will request the cost of the DBS check to be reimbursed to us)
Safeguarding and Infection, Prevention Control Training which we will provide, must be completed as soon as practicable after starting your volunteer role
Two character references from people that have known you for over 2 years
Please note that to volunteer with St Annes you must not have lost a relative or close friend within a care home for at least six months prior to volunteering. This policy is in place to protect you and our residents. We recognise that it is necessary for anyone to have time to grieve and be able to come to terms with any loss before offering their time as a volunteer.