Volunteer

Volunteer
Aphasia Support is a Yorkshire-based charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with Aphasia and their carers. We provide tailored speech and language therapy and long-term support to individuals who have experienced the devastating impact of a stroke or head injury, affecting their ability to speak, read, write or understand language.
Our charity delivers both 1:1 and group-based support services free of charge. Over the past year, we have proudly supported 225 people with Aphasia - improving wellbeing and independence through computer therapy, supported conversation and community-centred rehabilitation. This simply wouldn't be possible without the passion and dedication shown by our extraordinary volunteers - they are the beating heart of Aphasia Support.
A little bit of your time makes a life-changing difference. We're looking for volunteers to support communities in West Yorkshire, Harrogate, Bradford and Barnsley. If you’re interested in volunteering, we’d love to hear from you!
Roles
- Speech Support Volunteer Role: Providing home-based 1:1 speech and language therapy using bespoke apps and supported conversation.
- Aphasia Cafe Volunteer Role: Providing regular in-person support at one of our twice-monthly Aphasia Cafe group sessions located in venues across Yorkshire, delivering a range of group activities to reduce isolation and increase wellbeing.
You will receive full volunteer training. Volunteers offering in-person support are able to claim mileage.
Requirements
You'll be friendly, patient, positive and compassionate. You'll be happy to travel locally and provide in-person support with availability during the day for a few hours per month.
- Speech Support Volunteer Role: You would commit to 12 sessions per client – meeting on a fortnightly basis over a 6 month period. We ask each volunteer to support a minimum of 2 clients, which equates to 6 – 12 hours per month including report writing. You can schedule appointments with clients based on your shared availability.
- Aphasia Cafe Volunteer Role: You would commit to attending a twice-monthly Aphasia Cafe local to you. Each session is 1.5 hours, which equates to a minimum of 3 hours per month. There are currently seven Aphasia Cafe locations across Yorkshire. Please click here to view our current venues, dates and times.
Volunteers must be 18 years or above, able to provide references and complete ID and DBS checks.
Please read our volunteer FAQ's
The Process
Step 1: Interview
- A quick 15 minute chat so we can get to know you, and you can get to know us!
Step 2: DBS & References
- You’ll be asked to provide some different forms of ID.
- We can complete your DBS check online via video call.
- You must provide two references: one professional, one character.
Step 3: Induction & Training Session
- You will be invited to attend an upcoming group induction and training session. These are held via Zoom every other month.
- You will meet with a qualified Speech and Language Therapist who will develop your knowledge and understanding of aphasia.
- These sessions cover the range of communication difficulties you are likely to see in your role, how best to communicate with people with aphasia and how to engage in supported conversation and be confident in your approach.
- You will be given a toolkit of strategies, techniques and resources to use.
Step 4: Client Matching
- You will be invited to attend a matching appointment with a new client.
- The appointment will be facilitated by an Aphasia Support staff member.
- This is a ‘get to know each other’ session – the Speech and Language Therapist will then create a personalised 12 session plan for you to follow with your client, along with outcome objectives for you to work towards.
Step 5: Sessions & Reporting
- Looking at your shared availability, you will book in fortnightly in-person 1:1 sessions with your client over a 6 month period.
- You will follow the tailored plan created by our Speech and Language Therapist.
- After each session, you will complete a session report summarising the clients progress. You can use this report to ask us any questions.
- Our Speech and Language Therapist will join you and the client to complete a review half way through the programme, and an assessment will be conducted towards the end.
- A decision will be made to either extend the client’s 1:1 support, or refer the client to an Aphasia Cafe group setting.
Click here to apply today.
Closing Date: Friday 24th January 2025
Upon application, you will be invited to attend an interview. Successful volunteers will be required to attend a full-day volunteer training session on Friday 7th February 2025.