Volunteer News

A very Happy New Year to you all. Welcome to the first 2021 issue of Volunteer News. 

We've started the year with some lovely feedback from our befriending matches. One of our Befrienders shares her journey as a volunteer and a carer shares what having a Befriender has meant for them. Thank you for your contributions. We have another lovely poem from Teresa and as its our first issue this year Susan has put together a New Year quiz. 

We also have updates about new volunteer opportunities and exciting news about what's coming up later this year with Carers Week and plans for Gateshead Carers 25th Anniversary.

So grab a cupper, enjoy and take care.


Claire Parker - Volunteer Coordinator

Telephone befriending
Its been a great start to the year for our befriending service. We now have 8 befriending matches in place with positive feedback from both befrienders and clients. Thank you to all of our Telephone befrienders for all your commitment and time, particularly for continuing to make calls over the Christmas period to those that were separated from their family and feeling very lonely and isolated. One call can make a big difference.

"I'm very grateful for her ringing, she's kept me going....Its a lifeline for me I haven't anyone here while my loved one is in the care home".

You can also read about one of our Befrienders journey as a volunteer with Gateshead Carers below.

I was introduced to Gateshead Carers during a meeting between my Mam and Dad and a Carer Wellbeing Faciliator. My Mam had been diagnosed with Alzhiemers and Dad was contacted by Gateshead Carers to ensure he had all the information he would need. Information about any financial and community help that was available to a person caring for someone living with Dementia. I sat in on the meeting as I usually did, as Dad's memory wasn't too good either. During the meeting the Carer Wellbeing Facilitator told me as a carer I could access services from Gateshead Carers, until that moment I hadn't classed myself as a carer. They went on to list services available e.g. training, benefits etc. I asked if there were any volunteering opportunities, as I had volunteered for the AIzheimers Society, before the Gateshead office closed. I was given a contact number, so I contacted the office and that's where my volunteering journey began with Gatehead Carers.
 
Gateshead Carers were about to employ a new Volunteer Coordinator and when Claire Parker was in post she contacted me for a face to face meeting to set up the admin side and to discuss what I would like to do. I had been volunteering as a befriender with  Alzhiemers so I decided to stick with what I knew. I completed induction training and a DBS clearance and I met other volunteers. I was then paired with a client. I've always enjoyed listening to peoples life stories and experiences and their worries, to act as the sounding board that everyone needs to stay sane. After a few weeks we became comfortable in each others company, we began to laugh together at our shared childhood antics.
 
Then Corona Virus raised it's ugly head. I had to stop my visits due to the lockdown. Claire asked if I would be interested in telephone Befriending. I said yes and although its vastly different from face to face, as my specialty was with the older generations and the person I was visiting was hard of hearing and wouldn't be able to manage on the phone. Which was a shame as we had built up a good relationship, but she had a good family and would have plenty of company. However I have now got two other telephone clients and we are getting to know each other. I call them once a week. Both clients, due to the lockdown, are feeling a bit isolated and lonely. Loneliness, as we all know, can affect our mental health. So its so important to have someone to off load to, to laugh with and lets face it, moan to. Someone to listen. Listening is such strong medicine and so rewarding to the listener. That's what I do and I love it.
 
As for the Gateshead Carers volunteer community, because that's what we are, we are a little community who talk to each other via WhatsApp and Zoom meetings. We support each other and share what we are up to, whether it is baking or exercise. We also have such a laugh with each other. I would definitely recommend volunteering with Gateshead Carers; it is rewarding and a great social network. We even had a virtual Christmas party and how we laughed. If anyone is thinking about volunteering, just contact Gateshead Carers and see what is available. I'm sure you will find it as rewarding as I do.

New Volunteer Opportunities

Virtual Carer Cafe Community Connector 
We are looking for volunteers to help us build and maintain relationships with different carer groups across Gateshead. To help us ensure that all communities, regardless of ethnicity, faith, religion, culture or background, have access to our services. A Carer Cafe is where carers can attend to chat and receive information and updates about our services. Due to covid-19 restrictions this will currently be done online. The volunteer role will involve facilitating the group by hosting a zoom session once a month and communicating with the group via WhatsApp once a week, with support available from the volunteer coordinator. The aim is to have a team of volunteers to cover different areas in Gateshead, example, a Bensham Carer Cafe. If you like meeting and chatting to people you may be interested in helping with an English speaking group for your local area. If you can speak another language such as Urdu, Arabic, polish, Chinese etc. you may like to help to communicate and translate information for one of the BAME community groups.

Admin - Taking notes
We are seeking a volunteer who can attend a zoom meeting every couplie of months to take notes of what is said during the meeting. The volunteer would just need to join the meeting to take notes and not be expected to take part in the meeting. The notes would need to be sent to the volunteer coordinator to be shared with attendees of the meeting. This would be idea for anyone wanting to keep up their admin skills or wanting to gain more admin experience.

If you are interested in either of these roles or would like to know more about what is involved please contact Claire at claire.parker@gatesheadcarers.com

Carers Week 2021: 7^th-13^th June

We have pledged our support once again to the campaign!  This years’ theme is Make Caring Visible and Valued. More information on the 2021 Carers Week will be coming very soon and will be available on the Carers Week Website. Keep an eye out on our website and social media pages too for news of our own events and opportunities currently being planned.
 
As part of our celebrations for both Carers Week and our 25^th Anniversary, we will be inviting 25 walkers to join us in a fundraising challenge! Fancy getting out for a walk with us!
 
Hadrian's Wall Walk Challenge: Sunday 13^th June

We have a date pencilled in for Sunday 13th June which is the last official day of Carers Week. The event will be subject to government guidelines around the date of the event (it is subject to possible postponement or cancellation) however, we are very much hoping that it will be going ahead. So, please do sign up to express your interest and share this news with others who love walking or a bit of challenge!!  There is no obligation at this stage and no money will be asked for or taken until very near to the event.  Check out our website next week for further information on the walk.

It’s our 25^th Anniversary!!!
Would you like to help us to pull together stories, anecdotes and milestones from our 25 Years of Progress for carers in Gateshead?  If you have a flair or interest in researching, editing or maybe interviewing, please let Claire know. This project is being lead by Nikki McCann our Communications Team Leader.

This is where you can share anything new and interesting you have recently discovered in your local community or online.
 

If you are looking for something to do during lockdown, Gateshead Libary have some interesting online events and activities. These include an online reading room for book discussions and recommendations, weekly online tours and guides about local history and there's also activities for children. One of our volunteers commented that she enjoyed watching a live video about victorian Gateshead. To find out more go to What's on online - Gateshead Council

1. In 2021 the Chinese New Year is the year of which animal?
 
a. Year of the Ox​​  b. Year of the Pig  ​​c. Year of the Dragon
 
2. In which European country is it a tradition to jump from a chair at the stroke of midnight and smash plates against friend’s doors?
 
a. Norway​​​  b. Denmark​​​  c. Sweden
  
3. In Scotland ‘first footing’ is a tradition which involves visiting homes with a selection of gifts for the household, made up of whisky, a silver coin, shortbread, salt and which other item?
 
a. A lump of coal​​  b. A loaf of bread  ​​c. A pint of milk
  
4. In which English county is it an old tradition to say “black rabbits, black rabbits, black rabbits” just as the clock is about to strike midnight on New Year’s Eve?
 
a. Northumberland  ​​b. Yorkshire ​​​ c. Cumbria
  
5. ‘New Year’ is a song released in December 2000 by which British pop group?
 
a. Atomic Kitten  ​​b. All Saints  ​​​c. Sugababes
  
6. True or False, in Spain people celebrate the New Year by eating 12 olives?
      
a. True  ​​​b. False​​ 
 
7. The Dutch believe eating what on New Year’s Day will bring good luck?
 
a. Doughnuts  ​​b. Hamburgers​​  c. Sausages

8. What is traditionally dropped in Times Square, New York to celebrate New Year’s Eve?
 
a. A ball​  b. A star  ​​​c. A giant orange
  
9. What is traditionally tossed into rivers at New Year in Romania?
 
a. Salt​​​  b. Rice​​​  c. Coins
  
10. Wearing what colour underwear on New Year’s Eve in Colombia will assure you wealth and good fortune in the coming year?
 
a. White  ​​​b. Yellow​​​  c. Red 
 

1.  a - Year of the Ox
 2.  b - Denmark
 3. a - A lump of coal
 4.  b - Yorkshire
 5.  c - Sugababes
 6.  b - False
 7.  a - Doughnuts
 8. a - A ball
 9.  c - Coins
10. b - Yellow