Volunteer Jobs

The Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is legally responsible for the Abbeyfield Wessex Society. The Committee consists of a small group of local volunteers which meets regularly, usually every four weeks. Some members are co-opted for their skills.

Relatives of residents are very welcome to become friends of the Society, but they cannot become members of a House Committee or Trustees.

The members of the Executive Committee are Abbeyfield's charity trustees and must ensure that the society uses its resources for the benefit of the older people it was set up to serve. They are ultimately responsible, under law, for the society and its services and are the resident's landlord and employer of the society's staff. They must:

Give the society purpose and direction
Ensure that the society is a responsible landlord and employer
Ensure that the society keeps to the law
Ensure that the society's finances are sound and well managed
Ensure that the staff and volunteers are managed so that they work to best effect
Make the society accountable to others
Ensure that it is effective and up to strength
Report the society's progress

The committee sets and reviews the purpose and direction of the society. It is responsible for ensuring that the society responds to the needs of its residents now and in the future. The committee makes overall policy and plans, monitors progress towards them and fosters the Abbeyfield spirit, ethos and values. It makes sure that the society's work and all its resources are managed to good effect.

Committee members

One of the roles of the administration office to ensure that a cost effective approach for running the houses is developed and maintained and that all the regulatory requirements are fulfilled. For volunteers, some or all of the following roles may be appropriate to a house committee.

All committee members are responsible for recruiting new residents and filling vacancies quickly, in liaison with the Administration office
Taking minutes of house committee meetings and distributing them appropriately
Liaising with the sponsor if a resident needs help with removals
Liaising with a resident and their sponsor if a resident needs personal care
Establishing a short-stay facility
Encouraging potential residents to try Abbeyfield's services
Encouraging residents to have short stay overnight visitors in the guest room
Working with the House Manager to ensure that the following records are maintained, menus, stock rotation, recording fridge temperatures, testing fire alarms
Ensuring that a high standard in all areas is maintained throughout the house
Establishing priorities for improvement
Ensuring rooms are prepared for new arrivals after previous residents have moved on

Friends of the Society

The following practical roles may be carried out by volunteers who are Friends of the Society but not members of the House Committee

House Visitors - Regularly visit the house and ensure, when appropriate, that issues are passed on to relevant members of the house committee
Gardener - Liaise with the House Manager, to ensure that the garden is kept in good order
Transport - Arrange transport for Doctor's appointments, hospital visits and shopping
Librarian - Liaise with the local library over borrowing and return of books
Birthday/Anniversary Organiser - a birthday card is sent to each resident
Outings/Events Organiser - Organises parties, celebrations and outings
Flower Organiser - agrees a rota of volunteers to supply and arrange flowers for communual areas
Fundraising - Assists in organising events to raise funds for the house