Fifteen dedicated volunteers gathered at Co.As.It.’s Lutwyche office on 6th September for an enriching training session that proved to be as uplifting as it was educational.
Led by Laura Panarello from the Mind Wellness Team, the session covered essential topics designed to enhance the volunteer visiting experience.
Participants explored the fundamentals of brain health, learned strategies for creating meaningful connections during visits, and discovered effective techniques for starting conversations and building trust with those they support.
The highlight of the afternoon came when volunteers participated in a laughter therapy exercise. After watching a demonstration video, the room erupted with genuine laughter as participants joined in the activity together.
The joyful moment perfectly illustrated Laura’s key message: the importance of laughter for overall wellbeing.
Laura emphasized a crucial principle that resonated throughout the session – volunteers must prioritise their own self-care to be truly effective in their roles.
By maintaining their own wellness, volunteers can bring their best selves to each visit, creating more authentic and beneficial connections with the people they serve.
The training reminded everyone that compassionate care begins with caring for oneself, and sometimes the best medicine really is laughter.