As part of annual Stroke Awareness month, we focus on an outstanding local charity with a mission to improve the lives of adults who have experienced a stroke, and their families, across the borough, and the crucial role played by its volunteers.
Strokes can lead to long term health problems and require lengthy periods of rehabilitation and support for those affected. And, for the past thirty years, the iCARE Day Centre in Orpington has been responding to this need.
Able to accommodate twenty people a day, four days a week; the centre provides a welcoming and supportive environment where stroke survivors can socialise, build friendships and regain their independence, whilst also offering family carers a chance for respite. A range of tailored activities and therapies are also offered; all aimed at helping improve client’s mobility, communication skills and well-being. These include physiotherapy as well as speech and cognitive therapies.
Tracey Parry, iCARE Centre Manager explained how the centre is able to help those affected:
“People who have experienced a stroke can become isolated, so the social interaction within the group each day is an important component of rehabilitation. Clients are able to share experiences and find mutual support and friendship. Strokes affect everyone differently, we therefore offer a client centred approach, identifying the needs of each individual.”
As with many charities, volunteers play a key role in the successful running of the centre, as Tracey told us:
“Volunteers are very important to iCARE. Volunteers support clients on a one to one basis and in small groups throughout the week. Volunteers bring new experiences, interests and hobbies to share with the clients.”
The charity is always keen to welcome new volunteer recruits and as Tracey explained, there are variety of opportunities on offer, giving volunteers the chance to do something worthwhile, whilst gaining experience as part of the team:
“Volunteers can support clients within the centre, offering one to one time with individuals or in small groups. Helping clients with many different activities, including word games, quizzes, arts and crafts, physical activities. Other volunteering opportunities include becoming a member of the fundraising committee, undertaking light behind the scenes administration tasks, or attending external awareness and fundraising events.”
As for the skills needed to be an iCARE volunteer? Tracey had this to say:
“No skills required. Friendly, kind, a good listener and willing to be challenged at scrabble!”
Jane Raynes joined iCARE as a Day Centre Volunteer in 2007, following her retirement from teaching. Her role involves interacting with clients, helping with speech therapy and word activities as well as organising a weekly quiz. She also helps with catering duties such as serving lunch and refreshments to clients. She explained what she enjoys most about her role:
“The friendly interaction of the clients with each other and the friendliness and professionalism of the staff and volunteers with clients and each other.”
And to anyone thinking of getting involved as a volunteer? Jane has this message:
“Step outside your comfort zone and give it a go!”
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“Volunteers play a crucial role in helping to ensure that Healthwatch Bromley and all services under YVHSC can raise the profile of issues that matter when it comes to improving health and social care services. Our range of volunteer roles enable volunteers to build relationships within the community thus helping the organisation to successfully engage and work with diverse communities to obtain feedback on health and social services.”
Healthwatch Bromley is always keen to hear from would-be volunteers with diverse skill sets. Community engagement is a prominent part of the service’s work and as such, volunteers with great communication skills are needed for the vital roles of gathering feedback from patients within GP surgeries and hospitals in the borough. The service also offers a variety of opportunities within marketing, communications, and web support; giving volunteers the chance to develop new skills and experience as part of the team.
As well as being of great benefit to an organisation and wider community, volunteering can also help one's career prospects as Gloria told us:
“Our volunteer opportunities can provide skills development, opportunity for social inclusion and potential routes to employment. A number of current staff members within YVHSC initially joined the organisation as volunteers and are now working within the organisation.”
Mary Oparacha has been volunteering for the organisation for eight months as an Enter and View Volunteer. Her role involves touring health providing services in the borough and reporting back to Healthwatch Bromley with her findings. She told us why she decided to get involved:
“I had experience working in the care sector before as a carer, and I saw how people were happy to talk to me. So now I want to carry on doing this.”
As Mary explained, volunteering can also be a productive way to spend her free time:
“Anytime I am out of work, I always try to volunteer because it allows others to get to know me better, and I can add the experience on my CV to demonstrate that I was attempting to do something rather than being at home.”As for advice to the would-be volunteer, Mary had this to say: “Just do it, especially if you have no other things to do.”
Gerda Loosemore-Reppen has been volunteering for the organisation for nearly ten years as an Enter and View and Community Engagement volunteer. She has been supporting the Healthwatch staff in different areas, including research projects with interviews and touring health provider facilities in the borough. She told us why she decided to get involved:
"I enjoy volunteering with Healthwatch Bromley,as it allows me to choose when to be involved and give my time to the community. Volunteering with Healthwatch Bromley has been a rewarding experience that I highly recommend to anyone looking to make a difference."
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