Male volunteers needed

from Bristol Weekly Magazine 27th Oct - 3rd Nov 2022

We need you

MALE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA IN BRISTOL

A charity in Bristol is looking for more male volunteers to help people with dementia to stay connected to their communities and keep doing the things they love. Side by Side, run by Alzheimer’s Society, matches volunteers with people with dementia who have similar hobbies and interests. Volunteers support people with the condition to maintain their independence and live a fulfilling life by continuing the things they enjoy or trying something new. This could be going along to the football, taking a stroll in the park or joining a local club together. With several female volunteers already providing valuable support, a handful of people with dementia are asking to be matched with male volunteers. Understanding and respecting what is important to the individuals who use Side by Side is central to the service so it can take time to source suitable volunteers.

David Alexander, 70, has been a Side by Side volunteer in Bristol for almost a year, “I was very appropriately paired with someone with whom I have a lot in common and as it turns out, we went to the same university and have mutual acquaintances. We live half a mile apart so I quickly built a bond with him and his wife.

“We generally meet up once a week and go for walks and sometimes visit a museum, art gallery or National Trust property. We’ve even been to see his old school.

“The person I support has mild dementia and at times I don’t notice. He walks at a great pace and his memory is pretty good; he asks about my wife and remembers conversations we’ve had.

“In terms of having a man as a volunteer, well I think he values some male company and a change of scene.” As dementia can effect day to day activities, through reassurance and support, Side by Side volunteers can help give the person with dementia confidence during the visits to complete tasks.

Sophia Simlat, Alzheimer’s Society’s Bristol Side by Side Co-ordinator said: “We try to tailor the service to the individual. Some people have asked for a male volunteer because they have lots of women caring for them and it’s nice to have some male company for a change.

I’ve also heard people say they feel they might have more in common or more to talk about with another man but, of course not everyone feels this way.” She continued “It’s estimated that 4,730 people are living with dementia in Bristol and too many are facing it alone. We support people affected by dementia through some of the hardest and most frightening times, to improve their lives and help to avoid crisis. We just couldn’t do the work we do without the support of our amazing volunteers.” David said the person with dementia he was matched with didn’t specify he wanted a male volunteer but it’s worked out well, “His wife says he’s old fashioned and would have felt responsible for a female volunteer. “I’ve learned so much from him so this volunteering has been of mutual benefit. If our walks don’t involve a pub then it’s two old blokes having coffee and brownies. “If you’re looking to volunteer with Side by Side, come along with an open mind and allow yourself to fit in with the other person. From my point of view, I’m very grateful to the friend who suggested this, and to Alzheimer’s Society for introducing me to a new group of people. “He and his wife have told me this service is ‘a wonderful gift’.”

To contact Bristol Side by Side direct, call 0787 28 66 501 or email SbSServiceBristol@alzheimers.org.uk

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CALL FOR A BACKWELL HEART

Backwell in North Somerset needs a new social heart to support village life as an increasing number of new homes are set to be built, says local property specialist Andrew Simmonds.

With hundreds of new homes given permission by North Somerset Council local people have expressed concern at the pressure on schools and the medical centre. But Mr Simmonds, a director of Parker’s Estate Agents, says a coffee shop where people can meet and chat is a priority. He said: “The village has a fantastic sporting heart with the tennis, football and bowls club and shopping heart at Rodney Road and the Post Office but there are few places where people can meet in the day, socialise and chat.

“With a major prominent unit about to become available on the crossroads it would be great if this became that heart. It is just across the road from the Village Hall and WI Hall and together the three buildings would form a village heart that would be good for existing residents and future development. “Villages need to keep the facilities that make them attractive in the first place and it is vital that Backwell is not swamped with new homes and does not become a dormitory. At Parker’s we are committed to the village and want to help people find the right homes to suit their time of life. “There is already a good mix of properties and recent planning permissions mean there are more to come. There are limited opportunities to create a social centre that would serve existing residents and newcomers alike, so it would be a shame if the opportunity at the crossroads is missed.

“The pressure on schools and doctors is real but these tend to get addressed eventually by local authorities and public bodies. Social facilities are more difficult to regulate for and invariably rely on individuals and groups to get them started.”

Mr Simonds said the crossroads café would be a place for those with young families, pensioners and business people working from home to meet and chat during the day. The unit on the crossroads, currently has previously been an Indian Restaurant and the offices of a property company.

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