People tell us that meeting others living with Parkinson's is the most important support they want locally. With your help, we can provide this in a relaxed, informal way at Ripley Parkinson's cafe.
As a cafe coordinator you'll meet new people, bringing them together to share experiences and support one another - you included.
From picking a venue to spreading the word, you'll be supported by Parkinson's UK staff, while developing valuable organisational and communication skills.
Why we want you
People consistently tell us that meeting others living with Parkinson's is the most important support they want locally. Volunteers run Parkinson's cafes to provide an informal way of doing just that for a couple of hours each week.
What you will be doing
* Ensure the cafe gathering takes place on a set day and time, and that those attending are warmly welcomed
* Work with the chosen venue effectively, which could include activities such as ordering, making and serving refreshments, or organising a raffle on the day
* Provide updates and feedback to relevant Parkinson's UK staff members about how the cafe session are going
* With other volunteers, think of creative ways to add interest and value to the cafe sessions, such as arranging visits from relevant local health professionals
The skills you need
* Warm and friendly; you'll be a good communicator, open to working and interacting with a range of people
* Patient and empathetic, in order to deal with sensitive issues and topics
What's in it for you
* You'll meet new people, forging friendships and connections in your area
* You'll be supporting your community, knowing that thanks to you people affected by Parkinson's have vital support
* We'll support you to learn more about Parkinson's, and you'll be able to develop your organisational and communication skills
* Disclaimer
It's important that people affected by Parkinson’s can trust us with their personal information. You would be handling personal or sensitive data, so by undertaking this role you'll need to complete our Advanced Data Protection training. Your Parkinson’s UK staff contact can help you do this. You will also be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.