Dementia volunteer volunteer roles

Age UK Cheshire's Bright Memories service is a day activity group for people living with the early stages of dementia. We are looking for caring, enthusiastic, friendly volunteers to asisst our staff with running the groups and engaging our members.

At the activity groups, we have a natter and enjoy a wide range of activities that combine mental, physical and social stimulation, including arts and crafts, reminiscence therapy, quizzes, music and movement and a variety of games such as darts, dominoes and carpet bowls.

Skills/Qualifications

• You’ll have an understanding of the challenges facing people living with memory loss or the early stages of dementia and be interested to find out more
• You’ll enjoy listening and talking to people and helping them with simple activities and tasks.
• You will be comfortable preparing and serving simple meals
• You will be empathetic and kind.
• You may be looking to start a career in healthcare or social care and be looking to gain some experience.

Time Commitment

It is important for our members that there is continuity in the staff and helpers they meet at the day groups. We ask for a commitment of at least one full or half day a week, on the same day of the week. This enables relationships to be developed with our members and continuity of care and services.

Want to make a difference without breaking a sweat? Join our incredible team of Cheer Team Volunteers and help support runners taking on the Brighton Marathon to raise money for Alzheimer's Society.

You'll be part of a high energy, feel-good atmosphere, giving our runners the boost they need with your cheers, claps, and encouragement.

By joining us, you’re helping us fulfil our mission: to give help to those living with dementia today and provide hope for the future.

What’s involved:

· Stand at a designated cheer point on the race route

· Clap, shout, wave flags and motivate runners

· Work alongside a friendly, supportive team

What you’ll get:

· A fun and rewarding experience

· Branded t-shirt

· A chance to make a real impact in just a few hours

No previous experience is needed just bring your energy, your voice, and your enthusiasm!

Ready to join our Cheer Squad? Sign up today and help us celebrate every step toward a dementia-free future.

Want to make a difference without breaking a sweat? Join our incredible team of Cheer Team Volunteers and help support runners taking on the Brighton Half Marathon to raise money for Alzheimer's Society.

You'll be part of a high energy, feel-good atmosphere, giving our runners the boost they need with your cheers, claps, and encouragement.

By joining us, you’re helping us fulfil our mission: to give help to those living with dementia today and provide hope for the future.

What’s involved:

· Stand at a designated cheer point on the race route

· Clap, shout, wave flags and motivate runners

· Work alongside a friendly, supportive team

What you’ll get:

· A fun and rewarding experience

· Branded t-shirt

· A chance to make a real impact in just a few hours

No previous experience is needed just bring your energy, your voice, and your enthusiasm!

Ready to join our Cheer Squad? Sign up today and help us celebrate every step toward a dementia-free future.

Our Befriending Project supports people who are socially isolated in Ealing and Hounslow. They may have a physical or sensory disability, or they may have mild dementia, and are sometimes housebound.

This is an opportunity to become a Befriender.

On successful completion of the training, Befrienders are matched with someone who lives close to them.

They make a weekly 1-2 hour visit to the client's home, where they might stay in and chat over a cup of tea or, where possible, go out for a walk together, visit a café or undertake a local activity.

These visits make such a difference for the client, but volunteering with BEfriend not only enriches the lives of those who are isolated, it also offers immense personal rewards.

As a Befriender, you’ll get to know inspirational people with fascinating stories, develop new skills and be part of a supportive team that values compassion and connection.

Many older people in our communities face significant challenges - from loneliness, isolation, and frailty to financial hardship and managing lifechanging conditions like Dementia. The work we do is vital in ensuring they have access to the support and care they deserve.

Our team is deeply passionate about this mission. Many of us have personal experience supporting older relatives through similar challenges, and these lived experiences fuel our commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate services.

Following our successful merger in August 2023, our organisation is now moving forward with greater ambition and a renewed focus on expanding our reach. As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in shaping that future - helping us to serve more people, strengthen our services, and advocate for the needs of older people across Maidstone, Sevenoaks, and Tonbridge. 

We are looking for people from a financial background to help with oversight of our budgeting, planning, forecasting, investments, governance, reporting and financial decision-making. This is a great opportunity to work closely with organisational leaders to ensure every penny makes a difference.

Memory Lane is here for anyone living with dementia (whether they have a diagnosis, are an unpaid carer or friend or family member). Our social support cafes enable people to meet friends, get support, access information and simply have fun.

The impact of what we do can be best summed up by some quotes from our members:-

“has been of tremendous help to me personally with all the advice and encouragement they have given me”

“my husband comes alive at the cafe”

“improves the way I feel – my mental health”

We are now looking for an enthusiastic and committed volunteer to join our Trustee team as Treasurer to help us continue to grow and develop what we do. You'll need to attend meetings (quarterly plus other meetings from time to time) and also be able to work at home on managing the finances and providing reports etc to the Trustees.

This job is for you if you have:-

• good communication skills

• ability to use spreadsheets

• awareness of accounting practices

• willingness to learn - we'll provide training as necessary and there will be other opportunities for learning and personal development as part of our team.

Our accounts are currently well-managed by our present Treasurer who will be leaving us after completing the 25/26 financial year (31-3-26). She will be available to familiarise and induct the new Treasurer into the role for a seamless transfer.

With an hour of your time every other month, you could make a huge difference to the life of a person with a learning disability.

We support a charming older lady just outside Tenby who would love for you to drop by with for a friendly chat, maybe over a cup of tea and a biscuit. She loves visitors and will always be thrilled to see you!

She is a little hard of hearing, so patience would be a valuable. She also has a dementia diagnosis. Experience with this would be valuable, but we can also provide training.

Visits would likely only be around 45 minutes to an hour. She is fairly flexible around times and days of visits, so can suit your schedule.

This is such an amazing opportunity to build a friendship with a truly brilliant woman.

Do get in touch with any questions!

Art Explora is a non-profit arts organisation that aims to share arts and culture with everyone - locally, nationally and internationally - and inspire new encounters between arts and audiences.

Arts at Home supports older people to access arts and culture by encouraging conversation and connection through art. We are looking for volunteers to participate in our "Arts at Home" sessions in residential care homes. In these sessions, you will introduce works of art of your choice and facilitate conversations around the artworks with residents. No prior professional experience is needed; we will provide you with the necessary training.

You will need to be able to travel to Birmingham locations independently (pre agreed local travel expenses paid). 

Why you'll love it:

• You will meet new people & alleviate feelings of loneliness through creativity and connection.
• You will be offered spaces on trips to galleries and theatres with our care setting residents as part of our ‘Art Explorers at...’ project. 
• You will learn about art, heritage, and history, through your research and other volunteers.
• You will develop communication and public speaking skills
• You will gain experience working with vulnerable adults and build an understanding of how art can support a sense of community and wellbeing. 

If you are a confident communicator and passionate about arts, we would love to hear from you!

This is a befriending role to visit a 75-year-old die hard Watford FC fan in Borehamwood. He is looking for a man to join him at home for a cup of tea, to watch Final Score with him, and in time perhaps take him in his wheelchair to feed the ducks nearby or to Church on a Sunday.

His mobility and verbal communication are limited, so patience and a loud, clear voice are key. It may take some time to get to know one another, but soon enough you’ll find you can get an enthusiastic thumbs up for football talk and maybe even a cheeky grin if you make an impressive joke!

We offer a lifelong befriending service for adults with learning disabilities. Matching the skills and interests of passionate visitors with the specific hobbies and interests of the people we visit. Visitors visit six times a year to create a 1-2-1 connection, offer companionship, encourage people to do the things they enjoy and check-in on their wellbeing. In many cases, the visitor is the only person in someone’s life who isn’t paid to be there for them.

This will start as a Stop and Stay visit role, meaning that the person you’ll be visiting might have some verbal communication skills or they use sounds and/or facial/body expressions to communicate with you.  The person you visit might choose to take part in simple activities or watch you doing the activities.  Your volunteer manager will be happy to help you with ideas and suggestions for things you can do. Visits will vary in length but tend to be around half an hour to an hour long.

In this role you will spend quality time with the person you visit and could do a range of different activities like:

- Sitting and having a chat

- Checking in on their well- being

- A craft activity at home

- Reading a book/magazine together

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

- Friendly and approachable

- Accepting of others who might be different to yourself

- Reliable and patient

- Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability.

As a Mencap visitor you will:

- Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit

- Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training

- Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed

- Meet new people

- Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

About Mencap

Mencap is the leading learning disability charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with people with a learning disability and their families to challenge prejudice and change laws, and we directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose. We have an ambitious vision for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

Volunteering with us is YOUR opportunity to help us achieve this, whilst having the chance to develop your skills, meet new people and join a passionate and dedicated team.

If you have questions about volunteering with Mencap, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Join the Wheels for All Volunteer Team – Help Us Make Cycling Inclusive for Everyone!  

Do you want to make a difference in your local community? Are you passionate about inclusion, wellbeing, and having fun outdoors? Join Wheels for All, a national charity making cycling accessible for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. 

We believe everyone should experience the joy, freedom, and empowerment of cycling. Our inclusive cycling sessions are only possible thanks to a diverse team of dedicated volunteers—and that’s where you come in! 

 What You’ll Get Involved with: 

• Support people to use adapted cycles during sessions 

• Help with setting up and packing away equipment 

• Provide a friendly, welcoming environment for participants and families 

• Be part of a fun and supportive volunteer team 

Volunteer Benefits 

• Claim reasonable expenses in line with our Volunteer Expense Policy 

• Receive a Wheels for All branded uniform 

• Access volunteer training courses to support your development 

• Be part of an inspiring, positive, and supportive charity culture 

No experience? No problem! 

We provide full training, including disability awareness and safety, and ongoing support from our team and fellow volunteers. 

What are we looking for? 

• An approachable and friendly nature 

• Good interpersonal and communication skills 

• Empathy and an understanding of individual needs 

• Patience and an inclusive approach to engagement 

• Adaptability and flexibility in changing situations 

• A team-oriented attitude 

• Positivity, honesty, and integrity 

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to take initiative 

• Some cycling experience is helpful but not essential 

Why volunteer with us? 

“The best thing about volunteering is seeing the happy faces! The riders come back beaming—it’s amazing to be a part of that joy.” – Dave, Volunteer 

“People that aren’t normally able to get out cycling can come here and join in and enjoy the great outdoors. I really enjoy volunteering with Wheels for All because I can visibly see how the simple act of cycling brings a lot of happiness” - Vince, Volunteer 

You’ll Gain: 

• Confidence and new skills 

• Connections and friendships 

• Improved mental wellbeing 

• A chance to be part of a national movement for inclusive cycling 

• Recognition through social events, newsletters, and volunteer awards 
  
  Join us—and help make cycling accessible for all.  

Join the Wheels for All Volunteer Team – Help Us Make Cycling Inclusive for Everyone!  

Do you want to make a difference in your local community? Are you passionate about inclusion, wellbeing, and having fun outdoors? Join Wheels for All, a national charity making cycling accessible for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. 

We believe everyone should experience the joy, freedom, and empowerment of cycling. Our inclusive cycling sessions are only possible thanks to a diverse team of dedicated volunteers—and that’s where you come in! 

 What You’ll Get Involved with: 

• Support people to use adapted cycles during sessions 

• Help with setting up and packing away equipment 

• Provide a friendly, welcoming environment for participants and families 

• Be part of a fun and supportive volunteer team 

Volunteer Benefits 

• Claim reasonable expenses in line with our Volunteer Expense Policy 

• Receive a Wheels for All branded uniform 

• Access volunteer training courses to support your development 

• Be part of an inspiring, positive, and supportive charity culture 

No experience? No problem! 

We provide full training, including disability awareness and safety, and ongoing support from our team and fellow volunteers. 

What are we looking for? 

• An approachable and friendly nature 

• Good interpersonal and communication skills 

• Empathy and an understanding of individual needs 

• Patience and an inclusive approach to engagement 

• Adaptability and flexibility in changing situations 

• A team-oriented attitude 

• Positivity, honesty, and integrity 

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to take initiative 

• Some cycling experience is helpful but not essential 

Why volunteer with us? 

“The best thing about volunteering is seeing the happy faces! The riders come back beaming—it’s amazing to be a part of that joy.” – Dave, Volunteer 

“People that aren’t normally able to get out cycling can come here and join in and enjoy the great outdoors. I really enjoy volunteering with Wheels for All because I can visibly see how the simple act of cycling brings a lot of happiness” - Vince, Volunteer 

You’ll Gain: 

• Confidence and new skills 

• Connections and friendships 

• Improved mental wellbeing 

• A chance to be part of a national movement for inclusive cycling 

• Recognition through social events, newsletters, and volunteer awards 

Join the Wheels for All Volunteer Team – Help Us Make Cycling Inclusive for Everyone!  

Do you want to make a difference in your local community? Are you passionate about inclusion, wellbeing, and having fun outdoors? Join Wheels for All, a national charity making cycling accessible for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. 

We believe everyone should experience the joy, freedom, and empowerment of cycling. Our inclusive cycling sessions are only possible thanks to a diverse team of dedicated volunteers—and that’s where you come in! 

 What You’ll Get Involved with: 

• Support people to use adapted cycles during sessions 

• Help with setting up and packing away equipment 

• Provide a friendly, welcoming environment for participants and families 

• Be part of a fun and supportive volunteer team 

Volunteer Benefits 

• Claim reasonable expenses in line with our Volunteer Expense Policy 

• Receive a Wheels for All branded uniform 

• Access volunteer training courses to support your development 

• Be part of an inspiring, positive, and supportive charity culture 

No experience? No problem! 

We provide full training, including disability awareness and safety, and ongoing support from our team and fellow volunteers. 

What are we looking for? 

• An approachable and friendly nature 

• Good interpersonal and communication skills 

• Empathy and an understanding of individual needs 

• Patience and an inclusive approach to engagement 

• Adaptability and flexibility in changing situations 

• A team-oriented attitude 

• Positivity, honesty, and integrity 

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to take initiative 

• Some cycling experience is helpful but not essential 

Why volunteer with us? 

“The best thing about volunteering is seeing the happy faces! The riders come back beaming—it’s amazing to be a part of that joy.” – Dave, Volunteer 

“People that aren’t normally able to get out cycling can come here and join in and enjoy the great outdoors. I really enjoy volunteering with Wheels for All because I can visibly see how the simple act of cycling brings a lot of happiness” - Vince, Volunteer 

You’ll Gain: 

• Confidence and new skills 

• Connections and friendships 

• Improved mental wellbeing 

• A chance to be part of a national movement for inclusive cycling 

• Recognition through social events, newsletters, and volunteer awards 

Join us—and help make cycling accessible for all!

We are looking for a patient and chatty volunteer who can communicate with a clear and loud voice, to visit a lovely gentleman in his 70s in Woolwich. His love for music is something he would love to share with a visitor, enjoying the 50s, 60s and 70s through sound.

This gentleman is blind and communicates differently depending on the day. His engagement may fluctuate between quietly appreciating your company and loving a long chat. Your visit would be a gentle check-in — sharing a cuppa, a chat, and simply being present.

We offer a lifelong befriending service for adults with learning disabilities. Matching the skills and interests of passionate visitors with the specific hobbies and interests of the people we visit. Visitors visit six times a year and, in many cases, the visitor is the only person in someone’s life who isn’t paid to be there for them.

This is a Check in visit role, meaning that your visits are likely to be short - on average 30 minutes or less. Some of the people we visit may be unable to communicate with words. Sometimes the person might choose not to meet with their visitor. Your visit is however very important, and these are some of the things you could be doing on a visit:

• Checking in on their well-being and speak to support staff to get an update on how the person is doing

• You might be able to bring a treat that the person enjoys, like chocolates or fruit.

• Some people we support enjoy sensory experiences so items that will stimulate their senses can also help you create a sense of connection with the person you visit.  Your volunteer manager will be happy to help you with ideas and suggestions.                                                              

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

- Friendly and approachable

- Accepting of others who might be different to yourself

- Reliable and patient

- Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability.

As a Mencap visitor you will:

- Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit

- Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training

- Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed

- Meet new people

- Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

About Mencap 

Mencap is the leading learning disability charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with people with a learning disability and their families to challenge prejudice and change laws, and we directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose. We have an ambitious vision for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

Volunteering with us is YOUR opportunity to help us achieve this, whilst having the chance to develop your skills, meet new people and join a passionate and dedicated team.

Are you a legal expert who could use your strengths, skills or experience to make a positive difference to Age UK Hertfordshire – a successful charity with the simple, yet vital, mission: “To support older people by delivering services that help make later life fulfilling and enjoyable experience”?

Age UK Hertfordshire (AUKH) is a large charity that every year reaches thousands of older people and their carers, and has a high level of recognition across the County’s statutory authorities, voluntary sector and the public.  Our services – some developed and delivered in productive partnerships – include “active ageing” day clubs, help in the home, dementia support, befriending and in-touch telephone support, nutrition and dietetics service, hospital and community “navigation”, information and advice.

To build and grow from our current strong position, we need to expand our Trustee Board - to complement the skills of our present Trustees and broaden our Board’s diversity.

We welcome applications from all age groups and backgrounds, and we are particularly looking for legal skills.

In addition, the following areas of expertise are also welcome:

• fundraising and income generation;
• financial management;
• communications and social media;
• building local stakeholder relationships; 

Board and/or senior experience would be a valuable bonus.

Time commitment is one day per month during working hours.

This is a volunteer role, offering the opportunity to contribute actively to the lives of older people in our communities, and gain leadership and Board experience with a collaborative team of committed Trustees.

Please take a look at Age UK Hertfordshire's website for further information. 

Closing date for applications:Friday 20 February 2026.

 The selection process will be in two stages involving interviews with existing Trustees, plus a meeting with the Chair of Trustees and CEO for candidates on the final shortlist.

The provisional dates for first interviews are week commencing 2 March 2026