Volunteering is often used as a stepping stone to paid employment, and we’re delighted to share the good news that Alex has used her time at the Hospice to help her get into the world of work and now has a full-time job!
Alex is blind and was kind enough to chat with us about her time volunteering at the Hospice, how she’s found the experience and what she has learned.
She told us:
“I volunteered in the Living Well Centre as a Massage Therapist for a year. I came along on Fridays with my guide dog Nina and volunteered with the Dementia Services Team in their sessions for people with Dementia.
Everyone was extremely friendly and accommodating in helping me to access volunteering. I applied via Durham Enable and St Cuthbert’s Hospice were the first people to call me back. They wanted to have me join them. I have a guide dog Nina who attended my volunteering with me so there was some extra paperwork to fill out, but the Hospice made it really easy for me. They were very health and safety conscious and helped produce all of the forms I would need, in a way I could access.
When I volunteered, I would give the guests in the Friday group hand massages, we’d do some dancing in the sessions, have a cake and a cuppa and have a good natter.
With the hand massages, I used unscented wax, and it was put into smaller pots by the staff, so I knew the right amounts to use, and used one pot per person. A hand massage for someone with Dementia usually lasts a few minutes, just as long as people are comfortable.
Holding someone’s hand while performing a hand massage is special. It’s really lovely when guests say thank you in their own way, it might not be verbal, you pick up on different cues.
There was so much camaraderie in the group and it was a safe space for people to express themselves.”
I’ve now got a job with a company that runs a blog about accessibility and get to visit locations around the country reviewing places, so I’m not able to commit to coming along to the sessions at the Hospice, but I’ve so enjoyed my time here, and the time I’ve spent with those in the sessions.”
David McLoughlin, Day Services Manager reflects on Alex’s journey:
“In October 2022 we received a CV from Alex, and I could immediately see that there was an opportunity here to benefit from Alex’s experience. It was great to receive Alex’s application and see how she had worked to break down barriers for herself and wanted to make a difference to others as well as herself.
To enable us to welcome Alex as a volunteer we needed to look at our recruitment process because as we needed to ensure our application form was accessible to her. Alex informed us of the read aloud software that she used and with help from our Communications team we were able to produce the paperwork that we required in an accessible format for Alex to complete. This was just the beginning…
The teams adapted procedures in the Living Well Centre and with our Dementia Services Team to support Alex’s time with us:
- We adapted our induction with a mobility induction, walking with Alex around the department for her to become familiar and feel safe in it.
- We adapted how Alex completed her training – our training system wasn’t the easiest fit for Alex, so we sat down and completed this with Alex in person and gave verbal explanations of anything she was unsure of.
- We created accessible documents for Alex and increased our use of email correspondence so Alex could use the read-aloud software on her iPhone.
- We adapted our risk assessments to support the inclusion of Nina the guide dog too.
- We adapted our Dementia training and service delivery to meet Alex’s needs in the sessions.
Alex is certainly a huge miss and knows that the door is always open for her to return if she finds that she has the time available. Thank you for everything Alex and we wish you well!”
Pictured : Alex pictured on the left sitting at a table with LesleyAnn, Namaste Coordinator, smiling at the camera.
