Alzheimer’s Society need volunteers in Westbury to help people living with dementia

Alzheimer’s Society’s Side by Side service in Wiltshire is looking for volunteers in Westbury to pair up with people affected by dementia who share a common interest, love or hobby.

The UK’s leading dementia charity aims to reconnect people living with dementia with their communities and favourite pastimes.

Side by Side, which is supported by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, uses a new approach to volunteering by matching people through their shared interests. It has proved so popular with people living with dementia that the charity is urgently calling on more volunteers to be paired up.

From joining a local club, going to the football, or just going for a stroll in the park, this innovative service pairs people with dementia and volunteers with shared interests.

Diane Jenkins, Alzheimer’s Society Side by Side co-ordinator for Wiltshire said, “Loneliness is a real problem for people with dementia, yet we know that one of the most important things for those affected is to remain part of their community and continue to do the things they love – from going shopping to enjoying a local football match.

“Our Side by Side service in Wiltshire, offering one-to-one support, is a vital step to making this a reality. By 2021, 1 million people in the UK will be living with the condition, so it’s vital that we all unite against dementia and do what we can to make a meaningful difference, such as becoming a volunteer.”

For more information about the service, or to become a Side by Side volunteer, please visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/side bysidevolunteer email side bysidewiltshire@alzheimers .org.uk or contact Diane Jenkins on 01722 326236.