We are looking for volunteers to befriend clients who have mental health issues. Comprehensive training is given and there is regular support and supervision. This volunteering can be excellent experience for people who are doing courses and looking to gain real life experience to complement their learning.

Role Purpose: Volunteer befrienders offer a unique service to their clients. They are often the only person in a client’s life that is with them because they want to be, rather than because they are paid to be. Each of our volunteers is matched to 1 client. We ask them to build a relationship with their client based on trust, honesty and hope. Befrienders are able to help their clients gain confidence in who they are and are able to help them explore what they would like to do, whether that is;  getting a job, joining a club, or meeting other people. Our service is time limited to a year and we would hope that by the end of the year our clients feel better about themselves & are linked in to their community. We hope to have helped them feel valued, resilient, empowered and equipped for their journeys in recovery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Befrienders will meet up with clients for 1-2 hours each week for a year.
• Befrienders will provide companionship and build an open, trusting connection with clients.
• Befrienders will bring hope.
• Befrienders will offer emotional support.
• Befrienders will help clients gain a better understanding of their mental health, of their diagnosis and of how these affect their lives.
• Befrienders will work with clients to think about how they would like life to be and plan how to get there.
• Befrienders will work alongside clients to help them develop their social skills and confidence.
• Befrienders will work alongside clients to help them develop ideas of how to alleviate their loneliness.
• Befrienders will encourage people to pick up old interests and discover new ones by engaging with activities in their local and wider communities.
• Befrienders will help people to find and access things in their local and wider communities.
• Befrienders will empower clients to make positive choices about what they want to do.
• Befrienders will provide written feedback to the project coordinator monthly and raise any concerns or queries with project coordinator as soon as they occur.

. . . and to stand with clients on their journeys to recovery

Personal Qualities:

• To be passionate about supporting individuals affected by mental health problems to achieve life-changing goals.
• To be inspiring, creative and motivational in your support.
• To be non-judgemental, genuine and empathic.
• To see beyond the diagnosis to the person.
• To help clients feel valued and valid.
• To enable clients to have hope in the future.
• To be a good listener.

Prospective volunteers will need to:

• provide 2 character references
• Complete an enhanced DBS check (cost covered and organised by Linked Minds). The check is carried out as part of our Safeguarding policy to protect our clients who are ‘vulnerable people’. After three years the check needs to be done again. If a new DBS check has not been completed after three years and three months, the volunteer will need to pause volunteering with us until this has been completed.
• Attend a 5 1/2 hour induction training session, followed by a 3 hours mental health and wellbeing training session
• Attend 4 volunteer meeting annually (optional)
• Attend 6 monthly reviews with the coordinator
• Be available once a week to visit their client
• No particular experience is needed for this role

Additional criteria:

We welcome applications from people with lived experience, many of our volunteers will have this and helping others can be a great part of someone's own recovery journey, as well as giving them a unique insight & empathy with others.

If someone applying to be a befriender is still under the care of psychiatric services, we would ask them to disclose this at the application stage either on the application form or in person to one of the coordinators.

The coordinators would seek a reference from a professional who's been involved in the applicants care, asking about their suitability and readiness for the role of befriender. This would help us to ensure the safety and support of both the befriender and anyone they are matched with.

Additionally we would speak to applicants about how we could best support them in their befriending role, including identifying triggers and signs of their mental ill-health.

Could you befriend and support a child in care?

We are looking for volunteers for our Independent Visitors Project in Stockport!

About the Role

Independent Visitors are volunteers who befriend and spend time with a child or young person within Local Authority care. Our volunteers enjoy the challenge of building a lasting friendship and the children benefit greatly from a consistent, fun relationship with someone outside the care system.

This is a long-term, one to one commitment. Full training and on-going support will be given, and out of pocket expenses paid for mileage and activities.

For further information about the role and the Independent Visitors Service, please see our career page

About Coram

Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.

Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

Coram Voice

Coram Voice is the leading specialist provider of advocacy and children’s rights services for children and young people in and on the edge of care. We support some of the most vulnerable children and young people in society, giving voice to the voiceless and reaching out to those who have missed out on the support they need. Join us as we work to transform the lives of children and young people by supporting them to uphold their rights of to actively participate in shaping their lives.

Coram Voice was established in 1975 and in 2013 joined the Coram group of charities which develops, delivers and promotes best practice in the support of children and young people. Coram’s vision is that every child has the best possible chance in life.

We have around 60 employed staff, 100 self-employed advocates and independent persons, and 70 volunteers deliver services to children and agencies throughout the country. Together they provide Coram Voice with a high degree of specialist expertise in the fields of advocacy, children’s rights, mental health, complaints, secure accommodation and experience of working with children in care, in custody, in need and those who have recently left care.

Every day we make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people in and on the edge of care across the UK. Our advocacy teams are based Nationwide and are made of up of experienced community advocates who work alongside our specialist advocates (who focus on direct work, supporting and developing good practice with young people who are homeless, 16+, or have a disability).

To immediately apply to become an Independent Visitor, please click on the ‘apply’ button below to be redirected to our company website to complete the application form.

Please note this is a rolling recruitment, so please make your application now and we will arrange interviews with prospective candidates as soon as possible.

Coram Voice is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We actively encourage applicants from Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds to join our teams. Whilst we have a diverse team we recognise we are a predominantly white workforce and are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from diverse communities in order to improve the services to the children and families we help.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No.312278.

Introduction:

Depaul UK offers people who are homeless and disadvantaged the opportunity to fulfill their potential and move towards an independent and positive future.  We do this by managing a range of accommodation projects for young people who are homeless across the UK whilst also providing resettlement, pre-employment and progression activities as well as other support services for those we work with.

.Service description:

Depaul UK believes that the mental health and wellbeing of our clients, volunteers and staff is fundamental in all work and activity. Supporting people to achieve positive mental health outcomes is very much part of our overall mission. We aim to develop creative and innovative initiatives that contribute to positive mental health outcomes and personal wellbeing, the offer will concentrate on crisis prevention and response whilst maintaining a creative focus on preventative and wellbeing development work.

Aim of the volunteer role:

Depaul are looking for a volunteer assistant to work alongside the mental health and well being manager to facilitate mental health awareness and training sessions for staff / volunteers and clients. Mental health training and awareness sessions will increase knowledge in mental health and wellbeing and will be delivered in line with the Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy, the strategy is at consultation stage but it is expected that the final strategy will be implemented in 2021 

Main Tasks:

Assist with administrative tasks related to training/ awareness sessions such as source venue, send out invitations, organise refreshments and collect feedback from participants.

Co - deliver training with the Mental Health and Well being manager or designated Depaul member of staff.Assist the Mental Health and Wellbeing manager to evaluate and implement changes to training / awareness sessions.  

To keep basic records of time spent and activities conducted, submit volunteer expense records

To attend one to one supervision sessions with the Mental Health and wellbeing Manager.

To attend volunteer forums

To attend the Mental Health Steering Group

To attend training and support sessions where appropriate

To adhere to the terms of Depaul UK’s policies currently in force and its Code of Practice

.To contribute positively to the continuous development of the project/team.

To observe clear professional boundaries in our relations with the young people we work with.

Necessary skills, attitudes and knowledge:

An understanding of the issues faced by disadvantaged young people. The ability to work in a non-judgemental manner is also essential.

Previous knowledge of mental health issues (desirable but not essential)

Previous experience/knowledge of delivering training/facilitating groups (desirable but not essential)

Good communication and listening skills are important to this role

Support and supervision:

The volunteer will be line managed by the Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager in the first instance and by the Volunteer Coordinator in the second instance.

Induction and training:

Volunteers Induction must be attended prior to volunteering. This is a full day course welcoming you to Depaul and exploring policies and procedures as well as Safety Framework.

Commitment:

A commitment of 2 hours a week is desirable to complete administrative tasks and prepare for sessions. Training /awareness sessions for staff and volunteers are expected to last a full working day of approximately 7 hours and it is anticipated that sessions will take place twice yearly, however this may change dependent on needs of staff and volunteers.

 Training /awareness sessions for clients are expected to last half a day of approximately 3 hours and it is envisaged these will take place four times a year. There may be some weekend and evening events However, we are flexible and appreciate that people’s circumstances do change and that it may prove impossible to adhere to this.

Benefits to the Volunteer:

• Travel expenses to and from the workplace, travel between workplaces and all genuine out-of-pocket expenses, are reimbursed.
• While working at the project, voluntary workers have full liability insurance cover.
• There are appreciation events to recognise the important contribution that voluntary workers make.
• Personal & professional development through training, support and ongoing evaluation
• Contribute to a project that really does make a difference to the lives of young people.

Equal Opportunities:

Depaul UK, as an organisation with a Vincentian ethos, believes that it is essential to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity. Depaul, as both employers and service provider, is committed to opposing discrimination and will not discriminate against any person because of their ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, responsibility for children or dependants, age, employment status, disability, HIV status, religious or political beliefs or because of unrelated criminal convictions.

   Volunteer befrienders regularly meet with a person who is experiencing mental health problems to have a chat, go for a walk, share activities of common interest – anything which makes life more enjoyable. Befriending is a means of reducing social isolation that so often accompanies the experience of mental health illness. Social skills and confidence can be rediscovered and nurtured, by building up and maintaining a close relationship. It is very rewarding to make a difference in the life of a person with mental health problems, and to experience their genuine appreciation of your help. However, the greatest reward is gaining a friend!

If you are a caring, committed and open-minded person willing to help others in need, please get in touch. No experience or prior knowledge in the mental health field is required, as sufficient training will be provided.

Our next free training course provided by mental health professionals and experienced befrienders will be held on Saturday day – 3 July and Wednesday evening – 9 July 2021 at a location near central Wimbledon, SW19.

Trinity Community Project is a small charity providing a Day Centre, Workshops and Actvities for adults with Learning Disabilties and Mental Health Concerns.  We are looking for volunteer support workers to help our members (clients) take part in actvities at our centre.  We are a low risk, warm and welcoming centre where the members are self sufficient but need a "friend" to assist them whilst they enjoy arts and crafts, board games etc.  Our Day Centre is open Monday to Thursday 9.30am until 1.30pm.  We are looking for long term volunteers to work at least one session a week (9am - 2pm helping us set up and clear away adhering to Covid 19 regulations).  If you are a kind, patient and empathetic person then why not come and give back to the community.  

New Horizons are looking for a new Treasurer to join their dedicated and friendly board of Trustees.

Role summary

• Oversee the charity’s financial risk-management process and report financial health to the board of trustees at regular intervals.
• Monitor the financial standing of the charity and reports to the Board and the Director regarding cash-flow forecasting, income streams, out-going expenses and the overarching strategic management of the organisation’s financial resources.
• Chair the Funding & Business Planning sub group in line with standing orders and terms of reference and reporting findings/developments back to the Board of trustees.
• Liaising with external auditors on financial issues and ensuring that the organisation’s finances are responsibly managed and invested for the betterment of the organisation’s work and for the beneficiaries it serves.

Person description

• Demonstrated financial/commercial awareness and knowledge
• Good communication and leadership skills
• Proven ability to communicate and explain financial information to members of the Board and other stakeholders
• Analytical and evaluation skills, demonstrating good judgement
• Competent use of IT skills
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• Strong interest in mental health issues
• Senior strategic management and leadership experience

Desirable:

• Dedicated to the organisation’s cause and objectives and willing to act as the charity’s ambassador to external bodies, charities and companies.
• An understanding of the UK charity sector, relevant legislations and statutory requirements.

What’s in it for the volunteer?

This is a fantastic opportunity for a finance professional to join a committed and experienced team. We are a small charity which makes a meaningful contribution to the community. Being a trustee is also a chance for you to give something back to your community, by using your skills and experience, you will be contributing to the strategic management of the charity, so we can continue providing activities which promote good mental health, whilst challenging the stigma around mental health issues and helping improve our services for the benefit of the residents of Cwm Taf Morgannwg.

Time commitment

• The Board meet every other month at the organisation’s office in Aberdare, CF44 7BN.
• The Treasurer would ideally step in as Chair of the Funding & Business Planning sub group which also meets bimonthly.

A few more details

Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

How to apply

Applications should be made via Reach Volunteering in the first instance. To apply please submit your CV along with a covering letter stating why you wish to join the organisation and how your skills would add value to the board. Please see the candidate pack for more details.

We are keen to further develop our outreach to the local community and grow our membership. For this, we invite a volunteer Marketing Assistant with skills to help us achieve this.

KMHCF is a small but influential charity which uniquely acts as the collective voice of the views and concerns of all unpaid Carers/Families/Friends of those experiencing Mental Health difficulties in the Royal Borough of Kingston. We are recognised in this campaigning role by statutory services who engage us as active members of decision-making committees. We also partner with other relevant organisations.

We assist individual Carers with advice, guidance and self-empowerment, also having a Peer-Support Group that meets every month. By supporting Carers’ needs, we also contribute to the wellbeing of those they care for, aiming for the best possible outcome for all.

As we have no paid staff, all our activity is carried out by home-based volunteers. Our team includes both those with professional skills and also some with life experience of being a Mental Health Carer and so we are able to assist the individual Carers who contact us.

We have a Marketer responsible for strategy, and now look for an Assistant to handle such things as routine posting to Social Media and copy-writing, plus an enthusiasm to serve and inform Carers who can often feel isolated and bewildered.

The ideal volunteer will have previous experience of working for a small charity.

It would be a benefit if the applicant had personal knowledge of mental health services, particularly in the local area.

However, we will consider any applicant who could help us achieve our goals.

As a Peer Support Volunteer, you will act as a role model using your own lived experience of mental health distress and the criminal justice system to inspire hope and support others in their own journey of recovery. You will work with service users to help them develop a belief in their own abilities to deal with various situations; the confidence to have control over their own motivation, behaviour and social environment; and the ability to achieve their goals in life.

You will support the individual throughout the pathway, with a focus on life beyond service engagement, supporting meaningful activities and social inclusion.

All volunteers must be based in London. Volunteers will be expected to work remotely with obligations to attend head office in Lambeth on occassion in future,

This volunteering opportunity is specifically for those with personal lived experience of mental health distress (a formal diagnosis is not necessary), and who have also had lived experience of the criminal justice system as service users i.e. having been arrested, cautioned, fined or imprisoned. We welcome applications from those who have completed license conditions from the national probation service.

What we are looking for?

To carry out this volunteering role, you will:

• Have personal lived experience of mental health distress.

• Have personal lived experience of contact with the criminal justice system i.e. arrested, cautioned, imprisoned.

• Be able to share personal experiences of mental health distress, the criminal justice system and recovery as/when appropriate to demonstrate empathy and share self-management techniques.

• Be passionate about service user leadership, peer support and empowering people experiencing mental distress and with experience of the criminal justice system.

• Be able to communicate and engage in a respectful and non-judgmental way with a range of people who use mental health and criminal justice services.

• Have excellent active listening and interpersonal skills: empathy, kindness, compassion and patience.

• Be able to problem-solve, be proactive and resourceful when supporting people.

• Be able to deal with all enquiries tactfully, sensitively and on a confidential basis.

• Adhere to Together policies and procedures including Equality & Diversity, Confidentiality, Safeguarding as well as Boundaries guidance and Best Practice for Peer Supporters.

Location: Oxfordshire

Hours per week: Flexible - 4 hours plus per week

Informal Interviews: To be considered

Closing Date: 9th July 2021

Would you like to gain some experience whilst really making a difference?

Are you interested in volunteering with a leading mental health charity?

If so, you may be the person we need  

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.”

We are currently seeking two Military Veterans to support our Veteran Carer Support Service in Oxfordshire.

The Volunteers will provide emotional and practical support to military veterans and their families transitioning from the armed forces into civilian life and who are struggling with their mental health.

In everything we do, we seek to demonstrate our values: Passion, Commitment, Openness, Hope, Expertise, Equity and Understanding. If these values resonate with you, we would love to hear from you.

What will you be doing?

You will be supporting the military veterans in a befriending / light advocacy role to enable the carers some time out from their caring role

• Peer Support
• Befriending
• Remote and in-person support
• Accompanying to appointments

What will you need? 

• Military experience (Veteran)
• Good Communication skills
• General ICT skills
• Driving licence

The safety and wellbeing of our service users and colleagues is our first priority, which is why it is now a condition for anyone joining us that they have either had the recommended Covid-19 vaccine or agree to have it when offered by the NHS. You can find more information on our approach and why we have made this important decision in our attached Covid-19 vaccination information document.

Why should you volunteer?

• Do something meaningful by helping others and use your own experience in a positive way
• Build confidence and self-esteem
• Receive ongoing training to develop skills in communication and teamwork
• Useful experience for your CV and personal development

Help us changes lives!

We welcome applications from everyone, applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning+ (LGBTQ+), people with a disability, or those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are actively encouraged to apply. We are proud to have also been awarded Disability Confident employer status. We have an ambition of becoming an anti-racist organisation and we recognise there is more to do in ensuring our recruitment is fair and inclusive, which is why we are recruiting new roles in helping us to achieve this. Please be mindful that we may need to close adverts early if we receive a high volume of applications, we therefore encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If a shortened closing date has a significant impact on your ability to apply, please let us know.

Do you have experience of mental health provision and/ or Autism and some time to take up an exciting volunteering role with Advocacy for All, a well-established advocacy charity?

We are looking for volunteers to work with us on a new exciting Crisis Alternatives Project to enable individuals to have bigger voices and better lives and support them to stay well and out of mainstream mental health services.

We will be offering a range of support including:

• Weekend and evening groups/special interest groups/drop in’s/wellbeing sessions, walking / music / quiz groups

• Calls and virtual support in a range of bespoke ways to signpost individuals to appropriate alternative services or enable them to take up this project’s services

• We will be working with peer supporters who are individuals with lived experience of mental health and autism.

We have a venue base in Faversham in Kent and will offer support across Kent and Medway delivery will be a mixture of face-to-face contact and virtual groups.

Full training and ongoing support provided. Expenses paid.

We have an exciting oppotunity for a volunteer to join Islington Mind to help us with Social Media and Digital Marketing. 

The role will be to support the Administrator in posting on all social media platforms and coming up with ideas to gain more of a following and open opportunities for digital fundraising. As this is a flexible, voluntary role, we encourage application from people who have a passion for supporting an interest in our communities' mental health. A person with lived experience of mental health with some of the required skills is highly encouraged to apply. We also encourage applications from people who are social media savvy and have an interest in supporting our charity.

Islington Mind is dedicated to promote the preservation and safeguarding of mental health. We support the recovery process of people who experience mental distress and provide for the relief and the wellbeing of their carers.

We want everyone to have better mental health and wellbeing, to realise their ambitions and make the most of their lives, their relationships and their communities.

As the leading independent mental health organisation in Islington we offer high-quality services to local residents seeking mental health advice and support.

Healthcare Support Volunteer

West Kent Drug and Alcohol Wellbeing Service have a rewarding opportunity to join our team as a Healthcare Support Volunteer to assist our service users to engage with health and wellbeing activities, improve their physical and mental health and assist in promoting a healthier lifestyle. We are looking for a volunteer for our Maidstone hub.

Volunteers bring a range of skills and experiences that complement the work we do. It also provides an opportunity for individuals to use existing skills to support our services, develop new skills and gain experience in the health and social care sector, specifically substance misuse treatment field. We also offer volunteers access to some high quality training as our staff in addition to ongoing support through supervision.

Our values are to be compassionate, open and bold. If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you so click apply.

Please note that we require you to be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this volunteer role.

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at enhancement level.

We are Viewpoint - a charity for people who use Mental Health and/or Drug & Alcohol services in Hertfordshire.

Viewpoint provides an independent, recovery focussed, united voice for individuals living with mental health and/or addictions challenges to share their experiences of accessing support services to help shape future provision. We believe everyone has the right to be listened to, heard and to have a voice and that every individual is at the centre of our decision making.

We offer a wide variety of support to our beneficiaries including:

1. Opportunities to develop facilitation skills through our peer development pathway;
2. Opportunities to have a voice and influence change through participation in fora, seminars, meetings etc.;
3. Coproduction sessions that influence the development of services;
4. Information, advice and guidance;

Specialist independent support; that enable beneficiaries to achieve their personal goals.

We are looking for somebody to assist the organisation with developing the data management system that we use - Salesforce - to produce management information that will help us understand and measure the impact of work. 

This is an exciting opportunity to become the Chair for Mind in Bradford and support the charity with the delivery of its ambitious strategy for continued growth.

Mind in Bradford is a thriving organisation, making a big positive difference to the mental health and wellbeing of far more people than ever before. Over the past 3 years Mind in Bradford has gone through a transformation, from surviving to thriving, winning national Mind awards for partnership, leadership, and service innovation along the way.

We are looking for a for a new dynamic new Chair, with the expertise and passion to support the CEO and help drive further growth:

• Are you a strong and inspiring leader, with long-term experience in strategy development and delivery and a sound understanding of the charity sector?
• Are you experienced in forming successful partnerships to deliver high-quality services or do you work in an environment which requires excellent stakeholder engagement?
• Are you knowledgeable about or do you have a deep interest in mental health, with the appetite to support people in our community?

Then we would absolutely love to hear from you!