St Joseph’s Hospice has a few spaces left on their Namaste Care 2 day training course on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th March. Namaste Care offers person-centred support through meaningful activities and sensory stimulation for people living with dementia – in their own home or in care homes. Contact the Namaste team to find out more: 020 8525 3165; namaste@stjh.org.uk.
Namaste Care in East London – making a real difference to your community
The Namaste Care Service is free for people living with dementia in City of London, Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets.
What is Namaste Care?
The word ‘Namaste’ means to ‘honour the spirit within’. Namaste Care is a support programme designed to improve the quality of life for people living with advanced dementia and their families. It offers person-centred care, social and emotional support through meaningful activities and sensory stimulation.
Our trained and supervised volunteers visit people regularly to provide Namaste Care in their own homes; in nursing and care homes; in hospitals; and in the hospice. No previous experience required for this very rewarding role – full training and support will be provided.Our volunteers carry out activities such as:
- giving hand massage
- making a memory box
- playing favourite music
- reading favourite books/poems
- encouraging gentle movement
Who can be a Namaste volunteer?
We would love to hear from you if you have:
- a couple of hours per week available
- good listening, communication and empathy skills
- an interest in supporting people in your community who are living with dementia
- can commit to a minimum of six months active volunteering with the Namaste Care Service
Benefits include:
- Opportunity to make a difference to the lives of both the individual and their family
- Opportunity to learn new skills / develop existing skills
- Opportunity to be creative in developing person-centred activities
- Free training
- On-going support from your service co-ordinator and peer group
- Reimbursement of travel expenses
- Provision of a reference (after minimum 6 months of active volunteering)
Training
All Namaste volunteers need to attend a two-day training course to prepare them for their role.
The next 2-day Namaste Volunteer Training course will take place in the Education Centre at the Hospice on: Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th March.
If you are interested in attending this training – or would like to find out more – please get in touch with the Namaste team on 020 8525 3165 or by email: namaste@stjh.org.uk.
Support
We keep in regular contact with our volunteers, not least through our monthly ‘Share and Reflect’ support meetings which are held at the Hospice. These meetings are an opportunity to meet up with other volunteers – as well as with the service coordinators – to share experiences and ideas and support each other. The meetings are really valuable, and are a part of the volunteer’s role. They are currently held on a Wednesday afternoon, from 4.30pm to 6pm.
How to volunteer
To become a Namaste volunteer you must be at least 18 years of age, and will need to go through a volunteer recruitment process. To do this you will need to:
- complete an online application form
- attend a Volunteering Information Session at the Hospice
- attend the Hospice volunteers core training day
- attend a two-day Namaste Volunteer training course
- attend an interview with a Namaste Care Coordinator
- provide two referees
- complete a DBS (criminal record) check
To talk to somebody about this role, contact the Namaste Care Team on 020 8525 3165.
Read more: Namaste Care Service Volunteer » St. Joseph’s Hospice (stjh.org.uk)
