A Day in the Life of a Day Services Volunteer

A Day in the life of Ros a Day Services Volunteer

I feel privileged currently Volunteering at the Age UK Cambridgshire & Peterborough Orton Day Centre, for the past 16 years.

Service Users begin arriving between 9.30am - 10.30am. A word search is placed on their individual tables.

Obviously, a cuppa and biscuit is essential for all of us to prepare for a stimulating, enjoyable and fun day. There’s always a race for the fig biscuits!

This relaxing time is an opportunity to listen and respond to any concerns Service Users may have. Practical and personal needs are responded to throughout the day, when applicable.

Jenna, a Peterborough United Football  Coach visits every Wednesday morning, with much anticipation and enthusiasm. Jenna delivers an hourly, seated, age-related exercise programme. All attendees participate and are encouraged to make sure they feel comfortable and to do what they feel capable of. Resistant exercise loop-bands, often display an attitude problem, involuntarily splitting and tangling feet, much to the amusement of the group.

The fun factor features significantly during our daily sessions.

Dominoes fills the gap between exercises and lunchtime.

At 12.30pm, I assist in serving a delicious, 2 course meal to hungry Service Users.

After lunch, the tea trolley makes a welcomed second appearance.

We discourage our Service Users from having 40 winks after a large lunch, although Staff are very close!

To keep us all focused, we played a white-board word game. Service Users offered random vowels and consonants (approx.12). They then created words from these letters. A total of 50 words were produced, including a 7 letter word!

Bingo concludes the day’s session, a very popular activity, where all Service Users can individually participate. Our considerate players often help each other, something we encourage as well as inviting activity suggestions.

2.30pm - End of the day.

Another opportunity to chat whilst Service Users wait for their return home  taxis etc.

After all attendees have left, we all pack resources away and ensure we leave the room as we found it.

Footnote:

We endeavour to create a programme which strengthens and encourages interaction, stimulates, challenges and exercises body and mind, whilst enhancing language, dexterity and coordination skills and memory retention.