Skills Support Volunteer Roles

Do you use technology on a regular basis for work, study, or daily life? If so, it is likely that you have the needed skills for this role! Help people to stay connected, improve their financial health, employability, and learn how to access much needed services and resources online! You will make a positive difference to bridging the digital divide, empowering others to gain knowledge and confidence in using technology!

What you will be doing

• Supporting older people to gain digital skills and knowledge on a computer, tablet and smart phone via one to one or in small group sessions
• Supporting older people to use digital apps, emails, search the internet, online shopping and set up online accounts
• Supporting older people to learn the skills to keep in touch with family and friends, such a video call and messaging
• Support individuals to agree and aspire on the steps/ goals they would like to achieve in the sessions
• Lead on the logistics and organisation of the sessions alongside the staff team
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback, and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Confident using digital skills
• Willingness and interest in facilitating one to one and group session on basic digital skills
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• Calm and patient approach

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers living in South West London, and helps them to play their full part in the community. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives. 

We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a forced displacement background, providing them the tools they need to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for adults include currently include: ESOL classes; sports; women’s creative writing; women’s coffee morning, and casework. 

About the CARAS Adult Team: 

In the post-pandemic environment, CARAS is responding to the role of digital literacies in our programme delivery to learners of asylum-seeking and refugee background. In contrast to the UK essential Digital skills framework, we have built in language inclusion to create a participatory learning course for Essential Digital Literacies for learners who are new to reading and writing in English. The individuals joining CARAS are highly diverse, with different countries of origin, linguistic and educational backgrounds. We have observed over the last year that many CARAS community members have limited digital skills, particularly in regard to using computers. Community members have highlighted that computers are important for many individuals to achieve their educational and employment goals, whilst increasing confidence and independence. We have co-designed a digital skills program in partnership with CARAS community members to improve computer literacy and skills, focusing on basic computer literacy.

About the Role: 

We are seeking two volunteers based in London to teach our lively computer classes in Tooting every Monday 9:00-11:00. Volunteers will lead the sessions with guidance from the CARAS ESOL Teacher and will work closely with our community members to build their skills and confidence using computers. The Digital Literacies course at CARAS is built around Pre-entry to Entry 2 levels in English. Volunteers will be supporting individuals with tasks such as: getting to know how to use a computer, using the internet, setting up an email address, and using Microsoft office. We intend to fold employability sessions, including CV writing and job searching, into these sessions. 

Volunteer Tasks and responsibilities: 

· Lead on the delivery of sessions with support from CARAS’s Essential Digital Skills Teacher. 

· Assist with the logistical set up of the sessions, supporting CARAS staff where needed. 

· Work collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the project. 

· Create class registers and records as required. 

· To attend and contribute to volunteer pre- and de-briefs at each session. 

· To act as a positive role model and set standards of behaviour when volunteering. 

· Support people to develop their knowledge and skills and encourage and inspire participants to reach their full potential. 

· To assist participants to both, recognise and celebrate their achievements. 

· To challenge negative attitudes and behaviour in an appropriate manor. 

· Advocate for the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants with not for them. 

· Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant. 

Requirements: 

· To be non-judgemental, and able and willing to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. 

· To be female identifying. 

· Have a good understanding of how to use a computer. 

· To be reliable and punctual. 

· Excellent presentation and communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English. 

· Commitment to support people seeking asylum to take control of their asylum journey. 

· Ability to volunteer every Friday for a minimum of three months. 

· Current resident in the UK. 

· Ability to work in Tooting SW17. 

· To provide five years’ worth of addresses and be willing to undergo a DBS check. 

· To attend CARAS General and Safeguarding Training sessions. 

· To be 18 years or older. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

· Meet new members of your local community 

· Learn about different cultures 

· Learn about issues relating to refugee and asylum seekers 

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team 

· Develop your skills and competencies 

· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding 

To Apply: 

To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form from the CARAS website using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.

Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with a member of the CARAS staff team. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP! 

We are partnering with the Social Interest Group (‘SIG’) to appoint new Trustees to join their board.  SIG brings charities together to work under one umbrella focusing on delivering good quality social and health care services.  They support people who are in the criminal justice system, stepping down from hospital recovering from mental ill health and those moving away from periods of homelessness, recovering from substance and alcohol issues.

Their Mission is to create powerful partnerships and solutions that bridge the gaps in local health and social care so people can live happy, healthy, productive and fulfilled lives.

SIG (the parent company), their subsidiaries SIG Penrose, SIG Housing Trust, SIG Equinox, SIG Pathways to Independence and SIG Safe Ground, work to tackle social and health care inequalities and fill gaps in service provision in order to ensure that people in our society have every opportunity to live fulfilled, healthy and constructive lives.

Through their values they are committed to:

• Delivering excellence and innovation
• Promoting equality and mutual respect
• A belief that positive change is possible
• Involving and consulting service users
• Active citizenship and community involvement
• Valuing staff, harnessing their full potential

They are keen to have an inclusive board, therefore backgrounds and experience is less important as the need for the passion, ambition and interest to help SIG fulfil its mission is the primary requirement. 

As mentioned, your background is less important but if you are in IT, Public Relations & Marketing, Operations, (maybe you have or are a COO) engaged in the medical profession with an emphasis on mental health, a service user or carer is of interest to the current board.

The successful candidates will demonstrate:

• A clear commitment to the mission and values of the Group
• The capacity to participate actively and from an informed position.
• A willingness to use personal networks and resources of relevance to their charitable purpose.
• A passion for their work, and to promoting SIG and its subsidiaries as an organisation.
• A firm understanding and respect for the Nolan Principles of Public Life

Meetings are held in the evening at their head office in the Angel/Highbury & Islington area or virtually; there are 4 meetings plus one ‘away day’ each year. The total time commitment is in the region of eight hours per month.

For more information, please contact Sandra Smith, Associate Director, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Applications should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.

Closing date for applications: 6 May 2024

Interviews: TBC

Transform lives through education by coordinating impactful workshops and mentoring programs. As the Education and Skill Development Programme Manager at Barawak, you'll foster economic empowerment and skills advancement within our community.

Introduction to the Education and Skill Development Programme at Barawak

At the heart of Barawak's mission to empower and uplift the Afro-Hebrew community is our Education and Skill Development Programme. This vital service line is a direct response to our core objective of fostering economic empowerment through education and skill enhancement. By providing access to aspirational, transformative and essential learning resources, practical workshops, and mentorship opportunities, this programme aims to unlock the full potential of our community members. This programme is integral to achieving our vision of a thriving Afro-Hebrew community with access to opportunities that empower them to overcome socio-economic challenges. By offering workshops on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, job skills, mentoring, and work experience opportunities, as well as sponsoring educational resources like school supplies and private tuition, we directly support our mission to uplift those in need. This programme not only aligns with Barawak's objective to foster economic empowerment but also embodies our commitment to providing the tools and knowledge necessary for personal and community growth and success.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Plan and execute the Education & Skill Development strategy and service line:

• Workshop Coordination: Organize quarterly workshops on key topics such as financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and job skills, ensuring these sessions are informative and engaging for the community.

• Mentoring and Work Experience: Facilitate biannual mentoring events, pairing community members with experienced mentors. Arrange work experience opportunities to enhance vocational skills and job readiness.

• Resource Distribution: Oversee the annual sponsorship of educational resources, such as school supplies and private tuition, to support the educational development of community members.

2. Measure performance: Keep accurate count of the number of workshops held; the participant satisfaction rates; and the number of educational resources sponsored. Provide this data to the Governance Team and Trustees on request.

3. Collaboration with Verticals Teams: 

• Partnership Development & Collaboration Team: Coordinate with this team to identify and establish alliances and partnerships with local, regional and global organisations, businesses, councils, and thegovernment to acquire education and skill development resources, speakers or information.

• Fundraising & Financial Management Team: Collaborate with this team to conduct fundraising activities and financial planning for the Education and Skill Development service line. Identify diverse revenue streams, such as grants, donations, corporate sponsorships, fundraising events for the Education and Skill Development service.

• Volunteer Engagement Team: Work with this team to recruit, train and manage volunteers to support the Education and Skill Development service delivery.

• Marketing Outreach & Advocacy: work with this team to enhance visibility of the Education and Skill Development service across social media, press, andcommunity events. 

4. Governance Team Interaction: Provide regular updates and reports to the Governance, Secretariat & Performance Reporting team. Ensure programmealignment with Barawak policies, procedures, strategyand objectives. Collaborate on monitoring and evaluation efforts to assess Education and Skill Developmentservice impact and effectiveness.

Person Specification:

• Skills: Strong organisational and leadership skills, excellent communication abilities, and adept at working in a collaborative environment. Eagar to learn new skills.

• Attributes: Deep understanding of the challenges faced by the Afro-Hebrew community in the UK. Commitment to Barawak's values of helping out, sticking together, and staying strong. Ability to work flexibly and respond to evolving community needs.

• Commitment: Passionate about making a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and families dealing with poverty. Innovative thinker with a focus on creating sustainable, long-term solutions.

Important: This advert is for a voluntary role, which is unpaid and not subject to reimbursement of expenses. Any agreement with the successful candidate is not intended to be a legally binding contract between us and may be cancelled at any time at the discretion of either party. By applying for the role, candidates agree that neither of us intend any employment relationship to be created either now or at any time in the future.

The Role:

With an ambitious development programme up and running, we need to expand our Trustee Board. This is an exciting opportunity to join us at a crucial time of growing demand for our services.

About Us:

Evolve Counselling is a long-established charitable social enterprise, providing low cost, affordable or funded mental health counselling to adults in mainly Cambridgeshire and surrounding counties. Our counselling community is made up of 50 – 60 qualified self-employed practitioners, working part-time. We deliver talking therapies to adults – online and in person. Our service delivers around 500 counselling sessions per month to a broad range of individuals, many of whom would not otherwise be able to access counselling support. Evolve also provides supervision, reflective practice, critical incident support, and mental health awareness and related training, to organisations and businesses large and small.

What We’re Looking For:

Our Trustee Board is currently drawn from the counselling and therapies community, plus commercial and other charity backgrounds. Now, with crucial development of the CIO ahead, we are looking for new members to expand the Board to its maximum ten places and to gain skills and insight from an equal, diverse and inclusive group that takes in business skills, knowledge of charities, and experience of not-for-profit finances to make growth plans a reality.

The Board will keep us on track with good governance through oversight of our work, and will also help our keen new CEO to secure a sound financial base from which to grow our operations to meet the ever-increasing demand for our services.

We welcome applications from individuals with backgrounds in any of the following areas:

• Business strategy and planning
• Commerce/industry
• Governance
• Working within the charity/CIO sector
• Financial management
• Legal expertise
• Data protection/GDPR knowledge
• Adherence to the Nolan Principles of Public Life

Established in 1988, Nene Park Trust serves as the proud provider of Nene Park and an exciting and growing portfolio of other spaces, places, and ground-breaking regional initiatives. As a Trust, we believe that Nene Park is the Crown Jewel of the region. Our mission is to safeguard and nurture the park indefinitely. We’re proud to offer inspiring programmes within our environmentally rich spaces to connect people meaningfully with nature, culture, and heritage.

The Park is also a haven for wildlife, providing the community of the City of Peterborough with high quality green spaces and recreational venues.  

We are now looking for our next Chair to provide leadership to a substantial and committed Board, oversee the development of the organisation, and support our collaboration with partners and our vibrant Peterborough communities. Your commercial acumen and commitment to our vision will ensure we remain aligned to the big picture, whilst delivering results.

The Trust has crafted an ambitious and progressive Nene Park ‘Master Plan’, a visionary blueprint which takes us well beyond our historic boundaries. As our new Chair, you will foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability, enabling us to tackle a spectrum of challenges, identify new opportunities, and journey towards a bright and sustainable future.

You will be a credible and influential leader with well-honed strategic skills. With a deep commitment to the Trust’s mission, you will have the skills to act as critical friend, guiding and supporting us in the execution of our Master Plan and to achieve our broader priorities. A background in conservation or heritage is not strictly necessary – you may have worked in business, in public service or in the voluntary sector. Wherever you are now, you will be someone who inspires confidence quickly with funders, partners, and supporters, and who has a down to earth personal style.

Closing date: Friday 24th May 2024

SLDAS OCN Accredited Volunteer Training Programme

SLDAS is a local organisation working in South Liverpool. We support women who have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse. We are a small team and are busier than ever and we need volunteers to help us reach all the women who we support. Have you got some time to give us?

All volunteers complete our Open College Network training programme that is accredited with Open Awards. Our aim is to provide trainee volunteers with the skills, knowledge and confidence necessary to enable them to work with women who are currently experiencing domestic abuse or have experienced it in the past.

We are a volunteer-run organisation whose aim is to ensure that everybody impacted by borderline personality disorder is supported in their recovery. 

Peer support is about sharing your lived experience of mental health struggles with other people with the hope of providing, support, encouragement, and validation that you understand what they are going through, that they are not alone in their feelings and circumstance. We believe that peer support is an important part of the recovery journey, as it provides a space for support, shared understanding, helps reduce stigma and fosters motivation and hope. 

We run several online peer support groups each month for people living with borderline personality disorder and are seeking compassionate and empathetic people to co-facilitate the groups. All groups are facilitated by two peer support workers, and follow a semi-structured pattern. 

As a volunteer, you will receive comprehensive training, accessible online. We also provide ongoing supervision, support to ensure that you can effectively support others while prioritizing your own recovery. The training covers various areas such as peer support, communication, safeguarding, and facilitation skills.

Role description

• to co-facilitate a support group of 10-15 people on a fortnightly/monthly basis
• to provide support in a group peer support setting
• to share own experiences without taking away from the others persons current feelings and situation
• to use active listening and personal experiences to reassure and validate group members
• to enable and encourage service users to find out resources and local services
• to encourage wellbeing and recovery

Person specification

• Lived experience of mental health 
• Able to use own experiences openly while maintaining strong boundaries
• Access to a reliable internet connection, a computer with webcam, and a confidential space.
• Commitment to our aims and mission

Availability and Committment

We ask that you have availability 2-3 hours per month for a minimum of 6 months. Our groups are held on mid-week evenings and Sunday evenings. 

How to apply

Please submit a cover letter with your application, detailing your relevant experience. Please also indicate which specific group you are interested in co-facilitating if you have a preference. 

Diversity Statement

We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills and views. The more inclusive we are, the more people we can support. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds. 

Please note that you must be a UK resident with the right to live and work in the UK. This role is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

ABOUT THE ROLE

As part of our Community Support team, you will play a key role in ensuring the fulfilment of our users' needs by sharing information about our services, projects, and activities; this takes place in person, through our digital channels and helpline. Additionally, you will be responsible for keeping up to date information about other services and partner organisations. The primary challenge faced by the Latin American community is the language barrier, which hinders their comprehension of the UK system and their entitlements. Taking part in the Community Interpreting service, you will support service users in navigating these obstacles, enabling them to establish a more integrated life in the UK. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to better understand the challenges faced by the Latin American community in London; use their language skills in a positive and impactful way; and develop valuable administrative and customer service skills in a multicultural, fast-paced organisation.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

● Connecting service users to our services, projects and activities in person or by answering phone calls and emails

● Supporting users with general enquiries, referring them to relevant services within our organisation as well as signposting and referring to external services

● Registering users on our database and keeping accurate records of services offered

● Monitoring internal calendars and appointments

● Sharing useful, up-to-date information with users as instructed by other team members

● Ensuring internal communications, flyers and handouts are up to date

● Interpreting calls for service users and supporting with non-official translations

● Supporting community members with basic application forms

● Liaising with staff in other departments and with external contacts

PERSON SPECIFICATION

● Good verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish and/or Portuguese

● Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and with a diverse population of service users, staff and partners

● A caring, sensitive and non-judgemental approach

● Ability to cope with stressful and emotionally challenging issues

● Professionalism to handle sensitive and confidential information

● Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to multitask

● Ability to set their own work priorities, take initiatives and work with minimal supervision

Ref: V224 | Support Group Volunteer | Wolseley

We’re looking for Support Group Volunteers over the age of 18 years old, based at Wolseley Business Park, Wolseley Close, Plymouth, Devon, PL2 3BY.

You’ll be volunteering 3 out of 4 Wednesday mornings per month, from 10am until 1pm

As a support group volunteer, you will help with the running of the group.  The role is designed to suit the needs of the group, and the skills of people offering support. If you enjoy getting to know your community, working with others and making a real difference then this is the role for you.

The volunteer will be

· A people person, with good listening skills

· A great communicator who enjoys meeting new people

· Good at putting people at ease

· Reliable and organised

· Passionate about supporting people affected by stroke

· IT literate, have good administrative and record keeping skills and be able to follow relevant policies

A DBS check is required for this role.

Interested in this role?

Find out more by downloading the role description for the Support Group Volunteer role.

If you are interested in this role, please complete click apply.

About Us

Stroke Association. Rebuilding lives after stroke.

When stroke strikes, part of your brain shuts down. And so does a part of you. That’s because a stroke happens in the brain, the control centre for who we are and what we can do. It happens every five minutes in the UK and changes lives instantly. Recovery is tough, but with the right specialist support and a ton of courage and determination, the brain can adapt.

We believe everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke. And it’s a team effort to get there.

We provide specialist support, fund critical research and campaign to make sure people affected by stroke get the very best care and support to rebuild their lives.

We’re working to improve the diversity of our team.  Because we know that individuality leads to a richer experience for our people and better support for those affected by stroke. 

We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. And we’re particularly looking to increase the number of applications from those with lived experience of stroke and those from under-represented communities. 

Every five minutes, stroke destroys lives. Help us rebuild them and join our team.

To help us deliver our strategy and make a real difference, we are looking to recruit talented people to a number of new roles.

If you would like to support stroke survivors to rebuild their lives, we want to hear from you!

Ref: V225 | Support Group Volunteer | Maldon

We’re looking for Support Group Volunteers over the age of 18 years old, based at Fullbridge Church, 27 Fullbridge, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4LE.

You’ll be volunteering fortnightly on a Thursday from 10.15am-12.15pm.

As a support group volunteer, you will help with the running of the group.  The role is designed to suit the needs of the group, and the skills of people offering support. If you enjoy getting to know your community, working with others and making a real difference then this is the role for you.

The volunteer will be

· A people person, with good listening skills

· A great communicator who enjoys meeting new people

· Good at putting people at ease

· Reliable and organised

· Passionate about supporting people affected by stroke

· IT literate, have good administrative and record keeping skills and be able to follow relevant policies

A DBS check is required for this role.

Interested in this role?

Find out more by downloading the role description for the Support Group Volunteer role.

If you are interested in this role, please complete our application form on our website.

About Us

Stroke Association. Rebuilding lives after stroke.

When stroke strikes, part of your brain shuts down. And so does a part of you. That’s because a stroke happens in the brain, the control centre for who we are and what we can do. It happens every five minutes in the UK and changes lives instantly. Recovery is tough, but with the right specialist support and a ton of courage and determination, the brain can adapt.

We believe everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke. And it’s a team effort to get there.

We provide specialist support, fund critical research and campaign to make sure people affected by stroke get the very best care and support to rebuild their lives.

We’re working to improve the diversity of our team.  Because we know that individuality leads to a richer experience for our people and better support for those affected by stroke. 

We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. And we’re particularly looking to increase the number of applications from those with lived experience of stroke and those from under-represented communities. 

Every five minutes, stroke destroys lives. Help us rebuild them and join our team.

To help us deliver our strategy and make a real difference, we are looking to recruit talented people to a number of new roles.

If you would like to support stroke survivors to rebuild their lives, we want to hear from you!

Parkinson’s changes lives. From the day of diagnosis, people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones need to know we’re by their side.

By 2024 Parkinson’s UK will provide personalised information, services and opportunities, from day one, to many more people affected by the condition. But, we need your help to do this.

If you're looking to meet new people and make a real difference in your local community, this role is for you. Leading the support group in Reigate, you'll help people affected by Parkinson's to draw on invaluable support from their peers.

You'll have a chance to use and develop your administrative, leadership and communication skills - supported by local staff, to develop a programme of activities for your group.

As part of recruitment, you will be asked to provide a reference for this role. Speak to your staff contact for more information.

Why we want you

Support groups across the UK are run by volunteers and offer friendship and support to people living with Parkinson's and their families and friends. These groups need a leader, working with other staff and volunteers, to coordinate and arrange the activities the group will offer - from monthly talks, to yoga.

What you will be doing

• Act as a contact for local and UK office staff
• Arrange the group's programme of activities, including any outings
• Organise room booking and refreshments
• Working with staff and other volunteers to ensure the group runs in line with Parkinson's UK guidelines

The skills you need

• Strong administrative skills, communication and IT skills in order to ensure smooth running of the group
• Collaborative and team focused, as you will need to gather and distribute information to everyone involved
• A positive attitude to making things happen in the local community
• Motivated and reliable, with strong organisational skills in order to support the group
• Enthusiastic and friendly, as you will be representing both the local group and Parkinson's UK

What's in it for you

• You'll help people with Parkinson's in your community get connected to invaluable support from their peers
• Meet new people and make new friends, both in the group and in the local community
• Learn and develop valuable organisational, administrative and people skills

Disclaimer

It's important that people affected by Parkinson’s can trust us with their personal information. You would be handling personal or sensitive data, so by undertaking this role you'll need to complete our Advanced Data Protection training. Your Parkinson’s UK staff contact can help you do this. You will also be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

Amazing, giving, inspiring and awesome are just a few of the words we would use to describe our volunteers.

Our volunteers play an integral part in the services we provide and the people we support. If you are looking for a rewarding role where you will really make a difference whilst gaining experience along the way, then join us here at Rethink Mental Illness.

About the role

We are looking for Peer Support Volunteers to support our East Kent Peer Support service. You will be based at Ashford and, ideally, you will be able to commit 3 hours per week to volunteering.

You will receive training and regular supervision to ensure you feel confident in your role. You can read more about the benefits of volunteering on the full advert on our website.

About the service and role

The East Kent Peer Support Service currently run group sessions for service users in Ashford, Dover and Folkestone.

The role of the Peer Support Volunteer is to provide additional support at our Peer Support group sessions.  This could be, for example, by empathising with potential clients about the difficulties that having a mental health problem can create, helping to set up the room, explaining the services that are on offer and how these can be accessed, putting people who are anxious at ease by welcoming them.

Our team is dedicated to delivering a high-quality service that focuses on supporting individuals to achieve their recovery goals. The aim is to improve the lives and support independence for those living with a mental illness. The team will engage with other local providers to ensure a clear and seamless pathway for those that require support from multiple providers.

What you will be doing as a Peer Support Volunteer

Peer Volunteering is an opportunity for people who have themselves used mental health services, to volunteer and support other people currently using mental health services. 

As a Peer Volunteer you will have lived experience of mental health and support service users on a wide range of non-complex issues that can be easily and quickly resolved. You will bring added skills and experience to our service and add real value to our team.

You will support the following people and teams:

• Potential clients
• Rethink Peer Support Workers
• Volunteers
• Members of the public
• Visitors and other organisations

The role will include the following:

• Support the Peer Support Workers to run the group sessions e.g. by helping to set up the room and by welcoming people
• Help to create a safe space where people can share as much or as little as they wish to about their experiences
• Foster the principles of co-production
• Work with other volunteers who support the service
• Signpost people to services in the local area that meets their needs
• Describe and explain services that are on offer from Rethink Mental Illness and other local community assets that can provide help and advice relevant to people's needs

What will make you a great fit for this role?

• As a Peer Volunteer you will have lived experience of mental health
• Able to support service users on a wide range of non-complex issues that can be easily and quickly resolved.
• You will bring added skills and experience to our service and add real value to our team.
• Ability to empathise with others
• Good communication skills
• Reliable and punctual

Who are we?

We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”

This is a hugely exciting opportunity for the right people to be part of a new team, designed to offer guidance to our local communications volunteers.

The Local Communications Support strand is currently a small team of 4 people. We have have huge ambitions to support local teams all the way around the UK to share all the brilliant work being done in communities.

The right support could have a really significant impact on elevating how a group is perceived at a local level – and in turn help with recruitment of adults and young people and in building advocacy.

We’re looking for people who understand the power of strong, clear communication and are passionate about helping local teams with this. You’ll have experience in identifying and communicating a good story and an understanding of the processes that need to be put in place to be able to share them far and wide.