How To Help A Parkinson's Charity

A progressive brain condition that causes involuntary shaking, slow movement and stiff, inflexible muscles, Parkinson's is a terrible disease that can have a devastating effect on whole families. According to leading charity Parkinson's UK, around 145,000 people in Britain have the disease, with this number expected to rise over the coming years.

WHY VOLUNTEER WITH A PARKINSON'S CHARITY?

Two people in the UK are told they have Parkinson's every hour. Although the disease is most commonly diagnosed in people aged over 50, it can also affect younger people. No matter how old you are, being told you have Parkinson's is always an incredibly difficult time.

There are lots of great charities in the UK that help people deal with their diagnosis, and provide ongoing support to help them live with the disease. If you decide to volunteer for a Parkinson's charity, you're likely to find you're rewarded with a hugely enriching experience that could also provide you with a pathway into a future career in the charity sector.

HOW TO HELP PARKINSON'S CHARITIES

Use Your Physio Skills

Physiotherapy can be extremely beneficial to help ease stiff and aching muscles. If you're a trained physio, your skills could be invaluable to a Parkinson's charity. Whether you're able to help out one patient a month or a raft of patients every week, you may need to learn a little more about how to treat Parkinson's sufferers, depending on your previous experience, but this shouldn't take long.

Join A Local Group

Some of the best Parkinson's charities in the UK run local groups which provide friendship and support as well as the opportunity for people to get involved with engaging activities. When you volunteer with a group like this, you could find yourself promoting events, communicating with members and arranging activities, some of which can be done from the comfort of your own home.

Become A Research Champion

If volunteering from home sounds appealing, you could also look at becoming a research champion for a Parkinson's charity. Spreading the word about the latest research opportunities, you'll also promote breakthroughs to your Parkinson's network, with the aim of eventually finding a cure for the disease.

Cook Up A Storm

Respite centres such as Leuchie House help to form a crucial support network for people with Parkinson's, as well as their families and carers. If you have an eye for a good meal and are comfortable with cooking for quite a few people at the same time, while potentially shopping on a budget too, then you could help put on meals at a centre like this.

Gardening

If you prefer green fingers to burnt ones, maybe you could help out a respite centre with a spot of gardening. Whether it's mowing the lawn, tending to flower beds or potting plants, you can make a real difference in helping to provide a pleasant, welcoming environment for guests, visitors and staff alike.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VOLUNTEER

Even if you don’t have a lot of spare time in your monthly calendar, you could still perform a valuable role for a Parkinson’s charity. As a research champion, for example, you may only be required to help out for 30 minutes to an hour each month.

WHERE TO GET STARTED

If you want to volunteer with a Parkinson's charity in the UK, you could start by taking a look at the latest opportunities available with the following:

Leuchie House

Parkinson's UK

HELPING DESERVING CAUSES

If you'd like to know more about getting involved in volunteering in your community, take a look at our Local Causes page and find opportunities near you.

Our players also help a wide range of deserving Charities. They've raised hundreds of millions of pounds for good causes to date. If you'd like to join us in supporting deserving projects, sign up today.