Volunteer involvement at the heart of dementia care: case studies in practice from Dementia Adventure

Purpose This practice-based paper aims to explore the contribution of volunteers within Dementia Adventure, a UK charity delivering supported breaks, days out and outdoor-based activities for people living with dementia and their carers. It also examines how volunteering contributes to personal and professional development. Design/methodology/approach A practice-based case study approach was used to explore volunteer experiences within the organisational context. Three cases were purposively selected from 125 active volunteers to reflect different volunteer pathways, roles and levels of engagement. The case accounts drew on organisational records, volunteer feedback and reflections and one semi-structured Zoom interview. These materials were reviewed inductively to identify recurring practice themes. The cases are presented as illustrative examples within a structured volunteer programme. Findings Volunteers support people living with dementia and their carers in accessing meaningful outdoor experiences. Their involvement supports personal development, professional skills and a sense of purpose, while also strengthening service delivery, relational support and organisational advocacy. The cases also illustrate how some volunteers’ involvement may develop over time into additional service, community and governance roles. Originality/value This paper offers practice-based insight into a flexible, episodic volunteering model within a national dementia charity. It illustrates how time-limited supported breaks and day activities can provide accessible routes into volunteering and how structured opportunities may enable volunteers to progress from direct service support into advocacy, community engagement and governance. By bringing together accounts shaped by professional training, lived experience of caring and retirement from health care, this paper shows how different motivations and life circumstances can be accommodated within one volunteer programme.