As a tea party driver, you’ll collect older guests from their homes, accompany them to the monthly tea party and drive them home again afterwards. The tea party will be at a different volunteer host’s home each month and will include older guests, other volunteer drivers and the tea party group coordinator.
Each tea party group usually last for around two hours and take place on a Sunday afternoon.
Tea parties provide a lifeline of friendship for socially isolated or lonely older people. The warm, regular, and friendly companionship provides a vital link with the outside world from which they’ve become isolated.
To become a tea party driver you’ll need to:
- Attend a 30-minute online volunteer group induction
- Complete an ID check
- Provide a reference
- Complete online volunteer training modules
Tasks include:
- Calling the older guests to remind them about the tea party and to check that they’re still able to attend.
- Keeping in regular contact with the tea party group coordinator so they know when you’re available to drive, and so you know which older guests you’re driving.
- Planning your route so you can safely collect the older guests and drive them to and from the tea party in good time.
- Collecting one or two older guests, driving them to the tea party and driving them home again afterwards.
- Staying at the tea party to help serve refreshments and to socialise with the older guests and other volunteers.
- Following the guidance in the online volunteer training so that the tea parties are safe, enjoyable, appropriate and in line with our charitable aims.
- Reporting any concerns to the tea party group coordinator.
- Keeping your knowledge and training up to date by reading our monthly volunteer newsletter – Re-engage Matters.