Creative Befriender

Resonate Arts produces a unique programme of creative activities and experiences for and with people living with dementia in the London boroughs of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea.

The programme includes a choir in partnership with Wigmore Hall, creative dance and movement sessions, an art class, and a concert series in partnership with the Royal Academy of Music.

Alongside its activities in the community, Resonate Arts also runs an award-winning Creative Befriending service for people who are isolated at home. Could you be one of our amazing volunteer Creative Befrienders?

The role

We will pair you with a resident of Westminster or Kensington & Chelsea who is living with dementia. Responding to the interests and needs of the individual, you will meet in their home environment for creative activities or support them to attend exhibitions, concerts or arts events in the community.

Drawing on your love of using/sharing ‘art’ to prompt creative moments and enjoyment with others, you will devise fun, creative activities to engage your befriendee and help boost their mood, confidence and motivation. Over time, you will build a strong social bond with them, helping to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. 

Responsibilities

·       Arranging visits/trips with your befriendee and booking them in with Resonate Arts

·       Planning fun creative arts activities to do together and supporting your befriendee to achieve their creative goals

·       Monitoring and evaluating the impact of your activities and reporting outcomes to Resonate Arts 

Commitment

·       Minimum of 15 sessions

·       Frequency of visits: weekly, fortnightly or monthly (depending on your availability)

·       Duration of visits: 1-2 hours per session for home visits; trips out may take longer

·       Days/times: Monday – Friday (days & times flexible)

·       Location: Westminster or Kensington & Chelsea (depending on where the befriendee lives)

What do we offer?

As a volunteer with Resonate Arts, you will have the chance to make a real difference to a person living with dementia, as well as develop your creative and social skills, access training opportunities and meet new people.

·       Free Enhanced DBS check

·       A full induction with supporting materials

·       Ongoing training, mentoring and support (in person and online), including dementia awareness and safeguarding adults training

·       A dedicated Projects Manager to support you on your Creative Befriending journey

·       As a minimum, your first home visit will be supervised and supported. Telephone support is available for all visits and trips out

·       We cover out-of-pocket expenses for travel, art materials and refreshments for befriending visits

·       Fun quarterly catch-up sessions to meet other Creative Befrienders (in person)

This role is for you if you are…

·       Aged 18 or over

·       Flexible, reliable and willing to build a meaningful relationship with a person living with dementia

·       A clear and confident communicator on the phone and in person with good conversational skills

·       Friendly, empathetic, patient and a good listener

·       Able to work with others to create an artistic output. This could be creating a picture, writing a poem, playing music, taking photographs…

·       An arts enthusiast (this could be creative arts, music, dance, writing, theatre, etc.)

·       Willing to make notes and help Resonate Arts with its evaluation processes (with full support)

·       Living in Westminster or Kensington & Chelsea, or able to travel easily to these boroughs

Personal experience of supporting older people or people living with dementia would be useful for this role, but is not essential.

We proudly serve wonderfully diverse communities across the boroughs of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea. We are therefore committed to creating a diverse team and strongly encourage applicants of every race, ethnicity, belief, sexuality, gender identity, disability, age and culture to apply.