Songs & Smiles Group Welcomer (volunteer)
Meet and greet everyone with a smile and bring fun and happiness to all ages at our intergenerational music group
About Songs & Smiles
Songs & Smiles is an intergenerational music group for 0-4 year olds, their grownups and older people living in care homes and assisted living schemes. It brings an incredible amount of joy to people, many of whom are unable to get out and about and can often feel isolated.
It also fulfils a vital role by introducing children to a generation that they might not otherwise regularly come into contact with. And parents/guardians benefit too, by meeting new friends and knowing they're making a positive impact in their community - all while having lots of fun.
Songs & Smiles follows a format that includes a mixture of singing, playing percussion instruments and moving to music. Afterwards we have Meet & Mingle time, where everyone can get to know each other over toys, drinks and a tasty snack or two.
You can read more about the sessions here.
what you'll be doing
You’ll be the person who welcomes older people and their carers, parents/guardians and their children, helping things run smoothly. You’ll be writing out name badges so everyone can get to know each other, making sure everyone has a musical instrument and delighting young and old with the bubble machine!
Then after the session you’ll be chatting with everyone. You’ll be partnered with a Songs & Smiles Group Leader, who’ll be there to lead the session.
In a wider sense, you’ll be creating happiness for lots of people: many older people tell us it’s the highlight of their week.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for an enthusiastic, cheerful and welcoming person who’s happy to help. No previous experience is required.
This role would greatly suit a student, a retired person or perhaps someone who is currently not working or works part-time and has a few hours to spare. Some of our volunteers are parents who bring their young children with them.
Due to the nature of the role, we need someone who is comfortable around both very young children and older people, some of whom may have conditions such as dementia. Some of the care/retirement homes or assisted living schemes we work with will require a DBS check for volunteers.
benefits
New skills and experiences
Comprehensive training
References provided after six months
Fun and sociability
Health and social care-related work experience
Meeting different people from your local community
Knowing you’ve made a real difference to people’s lives
location & commitment
You’ll be helping to run a one hour session, plus set-up and pack-down time, once a week (term time) at a care home, assisted living scheme/retirement home.
Our current vacancies are in:
London
Westgate House, Forest Gate E7 9HY - Mondays at 11.00am
Appleby Blue, Southwark SE16 3RD - Tuesdays at 11.00am position now filled
George Mason Lodge, Leytonstone E11 1BS - Tuesdays at 11.00am
Roseberry Mansions, near Kings Cross N1C 4AQ - Tuesdays at 11.00am
Silk Court, Bethnal Green E2 6LR - Tuesdays at 11.00am position now filled
Windmill Lodge, Brixton SW2 5PY - Tuesdays at 11.00am
Ivy Grove Care Home, Chingford E4 6LP - Wednesdays at 11.00am
Little Sisters of the Poor, Stoke Newington N16 5BL - Wednesdays at 11.30am
Sue Starkey House, Stepney Green E1 0FB - Wednesdays at 11.00am
St Ives Lodge, Chingford E4 7AJ - Thursdays at 11.00am position now filled
Beaumont Court Care Home, Stepney Green E1 4NA - Thursdays at 11.00am
Aspen Court, Poplar E14 7EG - Thursdays at 11.00am
Other London areas TBC - you decide - thanks to a generous grant from City Bridge Foundation
Other areas
Haslingden Hall , Rossendale BB4 4HP - Tuesdays at 11.00am
Holme Lea, Stalybridge SK15 1RA - Thursdays at 11.00am
Olive House, Bacup, Rossendale OL13 0BT - Thursdays at 11.00am
Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed if agreed in advance.