Join Our Charity
Could you become a trustee?
First and foremost, who are we?
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Age Concern, Sturminster Newton and North Dorset operates as Age Concern North Dorset (ACND). We are a small independent charity (registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 5th June 2015) with an 83 year history of offering services to support and enhance later life for those living in Sturminster Newton and the surrounding villages.
ACND is administered by a small board of volunteer trustees working with staff and volunteers. Our services have varied over the years as changes have occurred in our finances, our support network and the research carried out in the local area highlighting the changes of the needs in the area we support.
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Trustee Job Description
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Although trustees are responsible for the overall governance of the charity and the work carried out, becoming a trustee can be very flexible, enjoyable and fulfilling. We would like volunteers to attend the regular Executive meetings we have each year as these meetings incorporate all the work carried out by the charity on a year-to-year basis. The meetings are held approximately 4-6 times a year with a Planning Meeting in January which highlights the areas which need work over the coming year. Also, it is a chance for trustees to contribute their thoughts and suggestions for the ongoing work of the charity over the coming year.
We would love to encourage individuals to join the board from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets. A wide variety of skills assists the charity to develop, expand and support the services on offer.
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If an individual has a particular skill they would like to utilise to help support the charity, that would be welcomed but this is not essential. If you can contribute by attending our meetings and offering your experience, we would be happy to welcome you to our team.
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Mission Statement
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Our full-length Mission Statement is:
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‘Age Concern North Dorset aims to promote the well-being of all older people by providing high quality support and services designed to help alleviate rural isolation and loneliness delivered through the effective contribution of staff and volunteers'
At our Planning Meeting in January 2019, we decided to shorten our Mission Statement for use with fundraising and promotion. So, this now reads as:
‘Age Concern North Dorset provides over 60’s with local support, reducing rural isolation and enhancing health and wellbeing.’
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Would you like to volunteer for us?
Volunteering, if you've some time to spare, can be hugely rewarding, and as beneficial to the volunteer as it is to those we serve in the community. We'd love to hear from you, even if you've just a couple of hours a week to spare, every moment is valuable to us and so appreciated.
We are currently looking to fill the following roles:
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Balance Class Support
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We are looking to recruit a sociable person to help support our Balance Classes held at Stufit in Sturminster Newton on Monday and Wednesday mornings which will require approximately 3 hours of time each day. The work involves checking names of attendees as they arrive and accepting cash, setting up the coffee morning, making tea/coffee as required, liaising with office staff as required.
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​Befrienders
Are you able to devote a couple of hours each week to help us support elderly people in the community who are isolated, either through mobility issues or lack of transport? If so, we would love to hear from you as we are looking for both men and women who would be willing to befriend an elderly person by engaging in conversation, sharing a cup of tea, helping them to access services if they need to, maybe have a game of cards or chess.
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Welfare Assistance Volunteers
Many elderly people require assistance with applying for either Attendance Allowance or Pension Credit. We are looking for volunteers who are willing to visit people in their home to help them complete the forms required to apply for these benefits. If you could spare approximately 4 hours per week and are confident with form filling then could this be for you? Full training and support will be given and there is great satisfaction in helping someone apply for the help they need.
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