Your Voice Counts

27/05/2026

Come along next week to find out more our services and the support we can offer 😀

Join us on Wednesday 3rd June at Jarrow Mindset with guests Your Voice Counts 10.30am-12pm

27/05/2026

We’ll be at the Newcastle Opportunities Fair next week alongside lots of other organisations sharing information about volunteering and ways to get involved in your community.

If you’re interested in volunteering, want to learn more about what’s available or just fancy a chat, come along and say hello 👋

📍 Newcastle Cathedral
📅 Tuesday 2 June
🕙 10am – 1.30pm

Drop in anytime!

Volunteer Centre Newcastle

25/05/2026

Come and help our garden grow! 🌱

To celebrate next week, we’re creating a wellbeing garden at our head office in Gateshead and we’d love your help! 💚

We’re looking for volunteers to join us on:

📅 27 May
📅 29 May
📅 1 June

There are opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people to get involved, and we’re also looking for volunteers to support people who use our services to take part.

We’d also really appreciate any donations of plants, pots, compost or gardening tools to help bring the space to life 🌼

For more info about this or our gardening project in South Tyneside, please email our Volunteer Coordinator Ann at [email protected].

25/05/2026

We’d like to say a huge thank you and goodbye to three of our fantastic volunteers: Katie, Alice and Emma 💚

Katie, one of our Communities volunteers, supported people with learning disabilities and autistic people to travel more independently on public transport as a Travel Buddy.

🗣️ She said the highlight of her time volunteering was “meeting so many lovely people and learning so many new skills. I have developed my communication skills and confidence, whilst also building a rapport with others.”

Our Advocacy volunteers Alice and Emma supported older people in care homes to feel less isolated and helped ensure their voices were heard.

🗣️ Alice said: “My volunteering has helped me gain experience working with individuals with specific needs, but it has also helped me gain confidence massively.

“Thank you for my opportunities at YVC. It has been a pleasure volunteering here and I am especially grateful for the help and support received from Ann Henderson. She is amazing!”

We’re incredibly proud of everything they’ve achieved during their time with us and wish them all the very best as they move on to new opportunities and careers 🌟

22/05/2026

What’s a Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR)? 💙

An RPR is an independent advocate who supports people who are subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisation and don’t have a family member or friend to represent them.

People living with dementia may need an RPR, so during we’re raising awareness of this vital role and the support available to ensure people’s voices are heard even when communication is difficult 🗣️

Learn more about RPRs and how they help at www.yvc.org.uk/rpr

21/05/2026

During we’re highlighting the important role advocacy volunteers play in supporting people living with dementia 💙

Our volunteers help ensure people’s voices, wishes and feelings are heard when important decisions are being made about their lives.

🗣️ Roisin, a law student and advocacy volunteer at Your Voice Counts, said:

“Through volunteering at YVC I’ve helped advocates make sure that clients with dementia have their wishes taken into account when important decisions are being made about their lives.”

🗣️ Emma, a psychology student and advocacy volunteer, told us:

“I feel that through advocacy volunteering I have helped people with dementia feel listened to and respected. Making sure their voice is heard can make a real difference to their confidence and wellbeing.”

Read more on our website 👇

Volunteers play an important role in supporting wellbeing and improving quality of life for people living in care settings. Their time, kindness and commitment help ensure people feel listened to, respected and included.

21/05/2026

This Week is Dementia Action Week (18-22 May)
Adult Social Care, Commissioning and Public Health are hosting free drop in dementia awareness sessions across the borough.

Pop in for a chat to learn more about:
• Understanding dementia
• Support available for individuals and families
• Small lifestyle changes that may help protect brain health

Drop in events are running all week at different locations.

For lots more details visit: http://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/dementiaactionweek

21/05/2026

21/05/2026

What do carers of people with developmental disabilities need from yoga? 🧘

Researchers from Northumbria University are looking for carers of people with a developmental disability to take part in an online focus group on Friday 12 June.

If you're a carer and interested in taking part, please email [email protected] or [email protected] - you will receive a £25 ‘love to shop’ voucher as a thank you.

20/05/2026

"This was a complex case, but so worthwhile in getting results for John"

It’s so we’re raising awareness of our Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR) service which supports many people living with dementia in our area.

In this blog, our advocate Alan shares an example from his caseload, explaining how we supported John and the importance of always seeing the person, and not just the processes around them, when supporting people with dementia 💙

Read more on our website👇

During we’re sharing a story from Alan’s caseload, showing the importance of seeing the person and not just the processes around them.

19/05/2026

We recently signed the Alzheimer's Society petition calling on the Government to improve services and funding for people living with dementia.

With this week marking , it’s an important time to raise awareness and encourage the Government to prioritise dementia diagnosis, care and support.

At Your Voice Counts, our advocacy service supports many people living with dementia and we see first hand how much need there is for investment in this area.

If you would like to support the campaign and sign the petition, please visit https://action.alzheimers.org.uk/page/187651/petition/

Diagnosis and treatment for dementia is falling far behind other major conditions — and it shouldn’t be.

For conditions like cancer and heart disease, there are national targets, clear pathways and expectations around diagnosis, treatment and follow‑up.

For dementia, that kind of joined‑up system simply isn’t in place — and people are paying the price.

People with dementia face a frustrating experience at every stage: symptoms are missed, diagnosis often takes years, and too many are left without the support and treatment they need.

On average, people wait 3.5 years from first symptoms to a diagnosis, missing vital opportunities for early help

Nearly 250,000 people in England are diagnosed with early memory problems, yet there’s no national system in place to monitor progression to dementia

After diagnosis, 20% of people receive no support at all, with families describing the experience as being “released into the wild”

Access to treatment is inconsistent, and where you live or who you are can still determine the care you receive

This Dementia Action Week, we're calling for urgent government action to treat dementia on a par with other conditions — including clear national targets for early diagnosis and guaranteed access to treatment and post‑diagnosis support, without delay.