Counselling placements volunteer volunteer roles in Croydon, greater london

Programme Support Volunteer

Mind of the Student
Ad ID: MOTS PSV 2026 01

About Us

Mind of the Student is a youth mental health charity that works with schools, young people, and families to support emotional wellbeing and improve mental health awareness.

Our programmes include EmpowerU, Empowering Young Minds, school mental health workshops, Mind of the Parent, and Ambassador Training. Through these projects, we aim to create safe spaces where young people feel heard, supported, and empowered.

The Role

We are looking for Programme Support Volunteers to support our delivery team during workshops, school sessions, and community programmes.

This is a supportive role where volunteers work alongside a Project Lead or Lead Facilitator to help sessions run smoothly. Volunteers will not be expected to deliver content, but will play an important part in supporting students, helping manage group activities, maintaining appropriate ratios, and contributing to a positive environment during sessions.

This role would suit someone interested in mental health, youth work, education, psychology, counselling, or anyone looking to gain experience working with young people.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include:

• Supporting Lead Facilitators during sessions and workshops
• Helping create a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment
• Encouraging student participation and engagement
• Providing general pastoral support to young people where appropriate
• Supporting behaviour management alongside staff
• Assisting with setting up and packing away resources
• Helping monitor student wellbeing during sessions
• Escalating any safeguarding or wellbeing concerns to senior staff
• Supporting the general organisation and smooth running of programmes

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for people who:

• Are passionate about supporting young people
• Have an interest in mental health and wellbeing
• Are approachable, reliable, and professional
• Feel comfortable working in school or youth settings
• Work well as part of a team
• Are willing to learn and take part in training

Previous experience is not essential.

We especially welcome applications from students or individuals looking for placements or practical experience within mental health, education, counselling, psychology, youth work, or related sectors.

Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be based within a 20 mile radius of Havering, Islington, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham, Croydon, or Southend on Sea
• Be willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS check
• Be able to commit to between 0 and 8 hours per week
• Share the values and mission of Mind of the Student

What We Offer

• Full training provided
• Regular supervision and support
• Travel expenses covered
• Flexible volunteering opportunities
• Valuable experience within school and mental health settings
• Opportunities to support meaningful programmes that make a difference to young people

Hours

Flexible hours available:
0 to 8 hours per week

Most sessions take place during school hours, with occasional evening workshops or events.

Safeguarding

Mind of the Student is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and safer recruitment procedures.

Job title: Grief In Pieces Honorary Therapists X 2

Responsible to: Senior Suicide Bereavement Practitioner and Clinical Services Manager

Hours: Up to 3 clients per week, 2 hours fortnightly supervision

Contract Length: 12 Months (with option to extend)

Location: Office is located 12 Orsman Road N1 5QJ/Remote

We are recruiting for a clinical placement at Mind City, Hackney and Waltham Forest in the Grief in Pieces: Support for Suicide Loss Team, Psychological Therapies & Wellbeing Department 

A placement in the Grief in Pieces: Support for Suicide Loss team is an opportunity to work in a specialist postvention service, offering 1-2-1 grief counselling to community members bereaved by suicide. This would be a highly valuable honorary placement, where, among other things, you would strengthen your working knowledge of complicated and traumatic grief, and the complexity of the loss and trauma specific to suicide loss. You would have recourse to the team’s expertise and clinical supervision in this area, and you would develop your therapeutic skills through delivering a highly impactful grief counselling model which gently facilitates a process of ‘expressing, connecting and honouring’ with the eventual aim of an individualised journey of post-traumatic growth. 

What are we looking for from our Honorary Therapists (Grief in Pieces):

· Prior experience, at least 100 hours supervised, one to one, clinical work. This placement is best suited as a second or third placement and not a first.

· Be working towards a qualification on a minimum level 5 equivalent course

· Some training in working remotely (online therapeutic work) 

· Availability for one afternoon/evening a week to see up to three clients in-person

· Flexibility to work with clients remotely as is needed, from Mind CHWF premises. It is important that you have a good working laptop from which these can be delivered.

· Availability to attend fortnightly supervision, online 

· Have lived experience of mental health and/or suicidality

· To adhere to the code of practice of their registering body, be professional, kind, compassionate, to have initiative and maintain communications with their colleagues appropriately

· To read, understand and follow the procedures and policies of Mind CHWF

· Attending personal therapy once a week, throughout their placement 

· Candidates able to commit to a minimum of a one-year placement (12 full months). 

We also welcome applications from newly qualified therapists who are seeking to expand their experience and gain clinical hours towards accreditation. We encourage applications from those who speak one or more community languages and from those who reflect the rich diversity of our clients.

DBS clearance at Enhanced (without Barring) is required for this role, for which Mind CHWF will pay.

How to apply:

To be considered for this post, we need to receive the:

1. Completed volunteer application form; and

2. Attach your CV as well.

3.  Please write a cover letter about your training and experience and touch on the below criteria:

Awareness of complicated grief and trauma

Awareness of transcultural issues in counselling 

Awareness of LGBTQI+ and what Intersectionality means to you and your practice 

Working in a time limited way and with complexity and risk

Why training and your future aspirations 

You can find the job description and application form on our website. 

The closing date is by 9th June 2026, however, please do not delay applying as this advert may close before the stated deadline if we find a suitable applicant for the role.

We are a disability confident employer. All applicants with a disability, who meet the minimum essential short-listing criteria are guaranteed an interview. If this applies to you, please let us know in your application.

Your privacy and the security of your data is our top priority. Please take a moment to read through our applicant’s privacy notice.

The closing date is by 19th June 2026, however, please do not delay applying as this advert may close before the stated deadline if we find a suitable applicant for the role.

We are looking for new volunteers who live in Hounslow, Richmond or Ealing boroughs who can take on a postcode area and deliver and collect our collection cans, and reseach and identify potential new can placement venues. Enthusiasm, local knowledge and good communication skills required.

Are you looking for a meaningful and flexible volunteering opportunity that also helps you develop valuable communication and interpersonal skills? Join the Talking Bubble Project and help tackle loneliness through the power of a simple phone call.

Since the pandemic, many befriending services have reduced or closed—but Talking Bubble remains one of the few projects continuing to provide regular, phone-based companionship to people who need it most. Demand for this support remains high, and we are currently looking for compassionate, English-speaking volunteers across the UK.

What is the Talking Bubble Project?

☎︎ Talking Bubble is a phone-based befriending service connecting volunteers with older adults and vulnerable individuals experiencing loneliness and social isolation. Through regular weekly calls, volunteers provide conversation, consistency, and human connection to those who may otherwise feel isolated.

Even a short conversation can have a lasting impact.

Why Volunteer With Us?

✔ Make a genuine difference in someone’s life
✔ Volunteer flexibly from the comfort of your own home
✔ Receive full training, ongoing support, and a reference upon completion
✔ Gain experience in active listening, communication, empathy, and relationship-building
✔ Opportunity for reflective learning and experience relevant to helping professions

This role may particularly appeal to students or graduates interested in psychology, counselling, mental health, social care, or related fields who are seeking meaningful experience alongside their studies or professional development.

Where appropriate, we are also happy to provide feedback, complete placement documentation, or support reports/forms required by universities or training providers.

What You’ll Need

✅ No previous experience required—just empathy, reliability, and a willingness to listen
✅ Volunteers must complete Safeguarding Adults Level 2 training and undergo a DBS check (both provided free of charge)
✅ Must be a UK resident

How to Get Involved

Apply now via the CharityJob website or contact us directly for more information.

Together, we can keep connection alive—one call at a time.