Description
Our tea party hosts are a vital part of the Re-engage team.
Tea parties provide a lifeline of friendship for our older people, and the regular, warm, friendly chats and companionship provide a vital link with the outside world from which they have become isolated. Re-engage needs enthusiastic volunteers to work as tea party hosts.
This is a flexible, voluntary role that can easily be fitted in around your own lifestyle and availability. As a volunteer host you will run a local Re-engage tea party one to two times a year. You will host a group made up of volunteer drivers, the group coordinator and older guests in either your home or a community venue. The tea parties will last around two hours and will usually take place on a Sunday afternoon. You must be comfortable socialising with people and providing guests and other volunteers with refreshments.
You will need one reference and to complete an ID check for this role.
Tasks include:
• Welcoming a group of older guests and volunteer drivers into your home or to the community venue.
• Providing and serving refreshments for your group – usually food and drinks for afternoon tea.
• Liaising with your group coordinator to ensure dietary requirements and the older guests' needs are met prior to the tea party.
• Informing the group coordinator of any safeguarding concerns or issues you might have.
• Following all guidance in your host training modules to ensure that the tea parties are enjoyable, appropriate, and in line with our charitable aims.
The number of older guests attending your tea party will be confirmed by the group coordinator prior to the group meeting so you have plenty of time to plan. It is important for the older guests to have access to a downstairs toilet. They will also require seating; a combination of lounge chairs and hard back chairs is fine. Don’t worry if you don’t have chairs for all the drivers as they will be circulating and helping you if required, so you can enjoy the afternoon too. A lot of stairs can present problems, although just a few steps are usually manageable.
Experience required: No experience necessary however we are looking for hosts with the following skills and attributes:
• Organised
• Good conversational skills
• An enthusiasm for making genuine connections with older people in your community
• A friendly, patient, and empathetic approach
• Passion for entertaining, providing food and refreshments
• Basic understanding of food hygiene
• Basic computer literacy (including the ability to use email)
Organisation aims and objectives
Re-engage is committed to older people being heard, valued and engaged. Our vision is a world where no one is ever too old to make friends and enjoy social interaction and our mission is to work within communities to end social isolation and loneliness in older people. WHAT WE DO? We exist to provide social connections for older people at a time in their lives when their social circles are diminishing. Our tea parties are monthly social groups open to people aged 75 and over. They are a chance for a change of scenery and regular afternoons of conversation and laughter with friends of all ages. Call companions is our telephone befriending service ensuring older people remain connected to the outside world. Call companions is available to anyone aged 75 and over who would benefit from a regular chat over the phone with a friendly volunteer. Our activity groups give those 75 and over the chance to participate in gentle exercise as they make connections with others. Community Christmas provides a free online directory of local festive events and activities taking place across the UK, which are open to local older people who would otherwise be spending Christmas alone. All our services are free to older people.
Availability
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2 afternoons a year, 2-4pm.
Frequency and commitment details
2 afternoons a year, 2-4pm.
Restrictions
Experience required: Friendly with a big heart!
Enjoys the company of older people, empathy, welcoming. Helping older people in/out of car and into your home. A large teapot!
Travel details: Takes place in your own home or possibly a organisation/business may like to help.
Minimum age: 18
Support
Expenses details: No expenses paid.
Training details: Training not certified, meeting with area organiser, alone or with group of new volunteers, volunteer manual given to all volunteers.
Support:
Named Contact For Volunteer