Discover our Volunteer Roles

Our small charity simply wouldn’t exist without the passion and dedication shown by our extraordinary volunteers. Whether it’s attending home-visits to provide one-to-one support, being part of our Aphasia Cafe group sessions, or helping to deliver speech and language therapy online.

Our volunteers are the beating heart of Aphasia Support, and it’s so special to hear from the people and families they’ve touched. Khalid recently shared some heartfelt words dedicated to Alex, their Speech Support Volunteer.

“Alex is truly an amazing person who came into Craig’s life when he was getting zero support from NHS speech therapy and was stuck on a waiting list. Alex has helped to bridge that gap for Craig, and without her, his speech would never have improved. Alex has been so central to his long road to some sort of recovery and we will be forever grateful.” – Carer

A little bit of your time makes a life-changing difference. If you’re interested in volunteering for Aphasia Support, we’d love to hear from you!

Scroll down to view the answers to some of our frequently asked questions, including:

• Are you currently recruiting for volunteers?
• What roles are you recruiting for?
• How much time do I need to volunteer?
• Do I need a particular skillset or qualification?
• What do I need to know about aphasia?
• What age do I need to be to volunteer?
• I’m currently studying. Would this be a good opportunity for me? 
• Do you accept applicants from across the UK?
• What is the recruitment process? 
• What does the DBS check involve? 
• Will I need to provide references? 
• Will I get my expenses paid?
• What support will I receive as a volunteer? 
• How do I register to become a volunteer?

Volunteer FAQ’s

Q: Are you currently recruiting for volunteers?

A: Yes. We actively recruit for volunteers year-round. We have over 130 dedicated volunteers who play a central role in delivering support to people with aphasia, and their carers. Upon application, you will be invited to attend an interview, induction and training session (hosted every other month).

Q: What roles are you recruiting for?

A: We currently have two positions available:

• Speech Support Volunteer Role: Providing either home-based or online one-to-one 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.

Q: How much time do I need to volunteer?

A: You’ll need to be available during the day for a few hours per month. The amount of time you commit will depend upon your role. 

• 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. 

Q: Do I need a particular skillset or qualification?

A: No. You just need to be IT literate, but most importantly – friendly, patient, positive and compassionate!

Q: What do I need to know about aphasia?

A: Aphasia is a language disorder which affects a person’s ability to speak, read, write and understand language. There are an estimated 350,000 people living with a diagnosis of aphasia in the UK. It’s most often as a result of a stroke, but the condition can also be caused by a head injury, brain tumour or dementia. The disability can have a devastating impact on people’s lives – many live in isolation and find it challenging to navigate daily life. At Aphasia Support, our mission is to improve the wellbeing of people with aphasia and their carers by providing tailored speech and language therapy and long-term support. Our charity aims to improve the quality of life for people with aphasia, helping them to regain control, confidence and independence. 

Q: What age do I need to be to volunteer?

A: You must be 18 years of age, or above.

Q: I’m currently studying. Would this be a good opportunity for me? 

A: Yes. Our volunteer roles are ideal for undergraduate or postgraduate speech and language therapy students, or anyone studying a related qualification but interested in pursuing a career in speech and language therapy. You can fit this role around your studies, working flexibly to gain practical experience supporting people with aphasia and their carers. You will also gain valuable transferable skills such as communication, organisation, time management and adaptability.

Q: Do you accept applicants from across the UK?

A: Yes, but this is role specific. We accept Speech Support Volunteer applicants wishing to offer their support via Zoom remotely from anywhere in the UK. However, we are unable to accept Aphasia Cafe Volunteer applicants who are not within a commutable distance to one of our seven venue locations across Yorkshire.

Q: What is the recruitment process? 

A: We kindly ask for your patience during the volunteer process, as this can take a few weeks to complete.

Step 1: Interview (All Roles)

• A quick 15 minute chat so we can get to know you, and you can get to know us!

Step 2: DBS & References (All Roles)

• 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 (All Roles)

• 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 (Speech Support Volunteer Role)

• 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 (Speech Support Volunteer Role)

• Looking at your shared availability, you will book in fortnightly one-to-one 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 one-to-one support, or refer the client into Stage 3 (the Aphasia Cafe group setting).

Q: What does the DBS check involve? 

A: Aphasia Support will pay for your DBS check.

• You’ll be asked to provide three forms of ID. 
• We will send you a list of ID we can accept. We follow government guidelines which can be found here.
• We can complete your DBS check online via video call. You must show the original documents. You must have a strong and reliable internet connection to ensure visibility is clear and legible. 

Q: Will I need to provide references?

A: Yes. You will need to provide two references. This includes a professional reference (from an employer or educational establishment) and a character reference.

Q: Will I get my expenses paid?

A: Yes. Volunteers offering in-person support are able to claim mileage. 

Q: What support will I receive as a volunteer?

A: You will be supported by the charity’s Speech & Language Therapy Assistant throughout your volunteering and will also have contact with a qualified Speech and Language Therapist at specific points along the 12 sessions support journey. This included being invited to attend a Q&A session on Zoom with a Speech and Language Therapist.

Q: How do I register to become a volunteer?

A: Thank you for expressing your interest! Please click here to complete our online registration form. A member of our team will contact you shortly afterwards. We look forward to welcoming you to Aphasia Support!