Carers Break Service in South Gloucestershire
In South Gloucestershire, a regular volunteer sitter keeps the looked-after person company so that you can take a break.
About the service
This is a free service for carers living in South Gloucestershire, which is provided by volunteers, all of whom are supported and managed by Carers Support Centre. This service enables carers to take a 2/3 hours break on a regular basis – usually weekly or fortnightly.
Our volunteers go through a robust recruitment and selection process and receive comprehensive induction and ongoing training. Our service coordinator carefully matches volunteers with the carer and cared for person. Many volunteers have been carers themselves.
What is so wonderful about this service is that it benefits the carer, the cared-for person and the volunteers.
“The volunteer is absolutely wonderful, my husband has got on really well and she has lots of patience. It enables me to go to my club and I meet up with friends and have a good chat. This gives me something to talk to my husband about when I get home.”
For carers, it obviously provides a much-needed break. Many carers use this time to meet friends, go shopping, attend a fitness class or even get a pedicure! For many carers who use this service, this is the only chance they get to take a break from their caring responsibilities, giving them an important opportunity to recharge their batteries.
Ray and Irene’s story
After 2 years of doctors’ appointments and deteriorating health Irene was finally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It was then that Ray found out about Carers Support and the Carers Break service.
For the cared-for person, it offers an opportunity to talk to someone new, in the comfort of their own home environment. At some ‘sits’, the volunteers and the cared-for person they are sitting with play board games, read together, watch TV or look at old photographs.
“The volunteer is such a lovely person. In the time that she sits, I go and paint for a couple of hours. This is something that I have not managed to do in five years and I find it very relaxing.”
Volunteer with Carers Break
We’re looking for volunteers to join our team of ‘sitters’ to support the Carers Breaks Service in South Gloucestershire. If you or someone you know lives in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire or Bath and could give up 2 to 3 hours per week (during a weekday, daytime) and can commit to volunteering for at least one year, then this opportunity could be for you!
You don’t need to have experience as a carer, or working in the health or social sector for this role as we provide training for all our new volunteers and offer workshops on various topics throughout the year.
For more information, please contact Pauline Edwards-Samuels, Volunteer Development and Carers Time Team Manager:
Telephone: 0117 939 2562
Email: volunteering@carersbsg.org.uk
You might also be interested in
Short breaks, respite, and day services.
Get help with keeping yourself well, courses and groups, and life after caring.
Safe, confidential spaces to meet with other carers face-to-face and online – to share information and provide support to each other.
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