Volunteer Facilitator Support Opportunity with Alzheimer Society Peel

About the Opportunity

The Alzheimer Society Peel (ASP) runs monthly support groups (CarePartner Café) for their CarePartners to provide connection, shared understanding, and peer support for those caring for a loved one living with dementia. This is offered once in person and once virtually each month. These spaces are facilitated by staff with the help of volunteer CarePartners.

As their CarePartner Café continues to grow, ASP is looking for individuals with lived experience with dementia to volunteer as peer facilitators for these virtual and in-person support groups, alongside staff on a once-per-month basis. Volunteers would allow ASP to reach and support more CarePartners in a meaningful way.

What would be expected of me?

• Lived experience or knowledge of dementia as well as services and supports in the community
• Sensitivity to the cultural/ religious nature of the community that is being served
• Maturity, professionalism and an ethical perspective
• Ability to listen, to have clear and concise communication skills, to link members with others who share something in common, to confront those who are unwilling or unable to acknowledge their difficulties and make changes
• Co-facilitate sessions, provide peer connection, and support discussion in a way that complements staff facilitation
• Able to commit to every group offered (once a month)
• Arrive at least 10 minutes before the group and stay ten minutes later to debrief. This means a time commitment of approximately 2-2.5 hours depending on the group.

How do I get involved?

If interested, contact Imane Maatallah at i.maatallah@alzheimerpeel.com or by phone at 416-886-4285. A short interview will be conducted with the volunteer coordinator and the support group staff facilitators. Training will also be provided after a successful interview. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis.