Claire has been a Staff Deliverer for five years alongside her role as a Regional Fundraiser for Devon and Cornwall. Seven months after joining the Alzheimer’s Society she attended an in-person training session to become a Staff Deliverer in Truro in January 2019. Here she tells us a bit more about her role.
Claire said: “We were offered the opportunity as part of the Cornwall team to become a Dementia Friends Champion (now Dementia Friends Ambassador). Although I was nervous about public speaking, I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and add to my skills. As someone who had very little knowledge of dementia before joining the Society, I had already developed a passion for the cause in my first few months in my role and saw how vital it is to raise awareness and reduce the stigma by getting people talking.
“I have to admit that I still get nervous before every single session, but I have never left a session feeling that no-one has taken away at least something, and I invariably feel that I have gained something too, especially true of the very enthusiastic Brownie group I delivered to!
“Across all sectors that I have delivered to (including GP practices, corporate partners, WI groups, other charities and schools), I love seeing those “lightbulb” moments when people hear the bookcase analogy or recognise something that they can relate to their own experiences.
“I always welcome any questions during the session and often these are a great opportunity for people to share their own stories in a safe space, ask for support or learn more about the work that the Society does.
“As a fundraiser, it is of course always great to talk about what people can do to support us – whether that is taking part or volunteering at our events, putting on a bake sale in their office or simply making a donation from their group.
“Over the past year, I have been delivering Dementia Friends Information Sessions to a chain of solicitors in my area of Devon and Cornwall as part of their Charity of the Year partnership with us. The engagement with their 13 offices has been wonderful and is continuing into a second year when we will continue to offer sessions to more of their staff.
“What I really enjoy about delivering the sessions is that it raises the profile of the Society at a community level, people can find out about the services we offer locally such as Singing for the Brain. They can hear about what research is happening in local settings and it can reinforce that we are very much a charity that has “boots on the ground” across the country. My most local session was at the local Age UK office in the street behind me, people are often pleased (and quite often surprised!) that a local person can come along and talk to them in person!”
