Position

Volunteers talented in arts and crafts can bring their expertise to care homes by helping residents create items. Some individuals and groups may choose to go regularly, say once a month to lead a craft session. Others may attend for a single occasion, like a church outreach day. Here are some activities that volunteers might like to do:

• Create valentines and valentine cards
• Make palm crosses for Palm Sunday
• Help residents knit simple items like mittens or stuffed animals
• Paint Easter eggs, Christmas baubles
• Create origami or paper decorations
• Build with bricks or recycled materials
• Make trinket boxes out of cardboard then paint and decorate them with items like shells, seeds and beads

If a facility has a woodworking shop, then volunteers may help residents make items like toys and puzzles for grandchildren or wooden bowls.

Other volunteers may prefer to make sew quilts or crochet blankets or knit shawls for seniors. Groups may choose to do this for a period of time, then visit a care home to donate their creations.

Volunteers may need to bring and store their materials, or in some cases a facility may supply them. 

Essential Qualifications

• Experience in handling the craft materials safely
• Ability to teach people new ways to make items
• Ability to be patient and encouraging when people have difficulty with the task
• Ability to be organized when putting things out, then to be tidy and clean up afterwards

Other Qualifications

• Skill with paint and brush
• Art or craft teaching credentials

Typical Time Commitment

Some items will require time at home or in a group to make items like blankets and shawls. Others may take time at a facility.

Activities could take place on a single occasion or be held regularly, say once a month, or once a quarter.

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