Volunteer therapist volunteer roles in belfast
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Al Naasih is a 1‑to‑1 mentoring programme established by Hidayah in March 2020. It seeks to support queer Muslims struggling to reconcile their faith and identity. Mentors are trained in relevant skills (emotional intelligence, active listening, managing relationships, etc.) and paired with mentees to help them achieve personal goals. Within this role you will:
· Provide empathetic, non-judgemental support for mentees working through challenges related to faith, identity and wellbeing
· Help mentees set and achieve personal goals
· Act as a positive role model and safe space
· Assist mentees in exploring reconciling their faith with their LGBTQ+ identity, supporting spiritual, emotional, and practical wellbeing
Please this role is UK based and online/virtual.
What are the key responsibilities of this role?
This role will have the following duties, but are not limited to:
· Build a trusting and respectful relationship with mentee
· Be in regular contact: at least once per month, according to what works best)
· Help mentees identify goals, hurdles, and strategies to work towards those goals
· Listen actively and empathetically; offer guidance rather than prescribing solutions
· Maintain confidentiality, boundaries, and ethical conduct
· Attend required training sessions (1‑on‑1) to develop mentoring skills (emotional intelligence, active listening, relationship management, etc.)
· Reflect on own practice; be open to feedback and possibly supervision / check‑ins
What do we expect from an Al Naasih Mentor?
Please note that you must agree with and fit the criteria below to be eligible to volunteer in this role:
Essential:
· Must be a queer Muslim
· Strong empathy, patience, and trustworthiness
· Comfortable discussing issues around faith and sexuality / identity
· Good communication skills; active listening; emotional intelligence
· Ability to set and maintain healthy boundaries
· Reliability and consistency (making time for regular sessions)
· Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding mentee’s personal information
·Ability to recognise limits of the mentoring role (e.g. not a therapist / counsellor) and refer on where needed
· Able to respect the mentee’s autonomy and pace
Desirable:
· Prior experience of mentoring, coaching, or peer‑support work
· Some understanding of LGBTQ+ issues within Muslim communities
This role will report to the Al Naasih Programme Coordinator or designated lead.
How much commitment is required?
This is a voluntary role with flexible hours subject to the agreement between you and your mentee. However, the following are vital to the success of this role:
· Minimum once per month meetings (virtual) with mentee
· Time needed to prepare, reflect, and possibly attend training or support / supervision meetings
· Duration per mentee: to be mutually agreed, depending on goals and needs
· Up to three mentees once comfortable with the role
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Our mission is to provide support and welfare for LGBTQI+ Muslims
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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About
blink blink mental health is a registered charity in England and Wales, and we are on a mission to help hundreds of thousands more people get timely, appropriate, and personalised mental health support.
We do this by:
• increasing access to support, making sure financial barriers aren’t a limitation
• providing personalised support when it’s needed, not limited by waiting lists
• normalising talking about mental health, reducing the stigma and taboo
• creating supportive and inclusive spaces at events and festivals across the UK, where people can be heard, connect with others, and reconnect with themselves.
blink is a small volunteer-powered organisation with three trustees, around 150 volunteers, and no paid staff. We’re growing, both in reach and in ambition, and we’re looking to expand our Trustee board to help guide us through this next chapter.
Our services at UK festivals:
Free, instant-access talking therapy with a fully-qualified therapist Up to 50-minutes with an experienced therapist who can support and guide people in the ways that feel most useful to them - like signposting, giving advice or simply offering an open, non-judgemental space to talk.
A calm, inclusive space to chill out and chat openly Whether festival-goers want a quiet space to switch off and nap, a place to connect with others, to explore the benefits of therapy or share the emotional weight they’re carrying, or just a safe-haven for a while – our bell tents are ready. Lined with comfortable bean bags and cosy blankets, we create the perfect environment to relax in.
Mindfulness activities facilitated by volunteers Puzzles and colouring books are available to unwind from the busy-ness outside. Our Wellbeing Support Volunteers are always available to have conversations, book therapy sessions, and signpost those who may be struggling or need some extra support.
Long term blink aims
Our work at festivals is hugely successful, and we are changing hundreds of lives a year. In the future, we hope to build on this experience and success by developing a programme of pop-up mental health workshops, events and free personalised therapy in other settings across the country.
Time Commitment
• Approx 5-10 hours per month. A greater time commitment may be required in the initial months to enable a smooth induction period
• Approx. 6–8 Board meetings per year
• Quarterly meetings with the Clinical Lead
• Additional time for reading and preparation
• Occasional involvement in urgent safeguarding matters or training.
• Optional opportunity to volunteer at festivals with blink, if that’s of interest Optional additional involvement blink is a small but growing mental health charity with huge ambition.
As we continue to develop, there is an opportunity for trustees to take a more ‘hands-on role’, if this is of interest. This could include things like, supporting volunteer recruitment, delivering training, helping with specific projects, or joining us at festivals. That said, this level of involvement is entirely optional. We know everyone’s capacity is different, and we want trustees to contribute in ways that feel sustainable and enjoyable for them.
Lead Safeguarding Trustee Purpose of the Role
The Lead Safeguarding Trustee plays a pivotal role in ensuring that blink upholds the highest standards of safeguarding for everyone it works with, including volunteers and members of the public. This trustee leads the Board's oversight of safeguarding policies, practices, and culture, ensuring that safeguarding remains a priority for the charity.
Key Responsibilities
• Strategic Oversight: Champion safeguarding in all blink’s activities, ensuring the charity maintains a proactive and preventative approach to safeguarding risks. Advise the Board on safeguarding trends, risks, and implications for strategic decision making.
• Governance & Compliance: Ensure that blink complies with all relevant legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice in safeguarding. Work closely with other trustees and key volunteers to ensure safeguarding governance arrangements are robust and effective.
• Culture & Accountability: Champion a positive culture of safety, wellbeing and inclusion, where transparency, learning, and continuous improvement in safeguarding practice is encouraged. Support the blink team to ensure safeguarding is embedded in service delivery, policy, recruitment, and training.
• Risk & Incident Management: Work closely with key volunteers to provide appropriate support, challenge and scrutiny regarding how safeguarding concerns or incidents are reported, escalated, and managed. Monitor safeguarding reports and trends, ensuring that systemic risks are identified and mitigated.
• Support & Collaboration: Act as a point of contact for other trustees on safeguarding matters. Engage with external stakeholders, regulators, or legal advisors when appropriate to ensure the charity is responding appropriately to safeguarding challenges. Person Specification This is blink’s ‘wish list’, but we don’t expect you to tick every single box in order to apply. We welcome applicants with diverse lived and learned experiences and are particularly keen to hear from individuals from marginalised and minoritised communities.
Experience:
• Direct professional senior-level experience of safeguarding for example in a charity, social care, health, education, youth work, or a related field.
• Prior experience as a trustee or non-executive board member desirable. Knowledge and understanding:
• Understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and reputational impact for safeguarding within a charity. • Commitment to blink’s vision, mission and values.
• Demonstrable commitment to social justice, anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion.
Skills:
• Able to distil complex information and bring a pragmatic approach to its application.
• Ability to engage with complex or sensitive safeguarding issues in a supportive and trauma-informed way.
• A collaborative, calm, and reflective approach to team working, with the ability to inspire trust and confidence quickly. • Empowering and coaching interpersonal style to support & develop the blink team.
• A proactive approach to CPD.
What difference will you make?
• Play a key role in ensuring blink is protecting everyone who comes into contact with the charity
• Support and influence the charity to thrive, building our reputation and impact.
• Have a direct positive impact on thousands of people’s lives
What's in it for you?
You will have the opportunity to:
• Be part of a friendly, passionate and values-driven team
• Shape and improve safeguarding practice in a grassroots mental health charity
• Guide and lead blink’s development at a time of exciting growth
• Deepen your skills and experience by applying this to a different sector and/or organisation
• Develop leadership skills in supporting and empowering both volunteers and wider trustees in a key role on the board
• Represent blink at charity sector events
• Benefit from a structured induction and ongoing support, training and networking opportunities
To Apply
If you’re interested in joining blink as a trustee, please apply through here with a short expression of interest, outlining your experience and why this role feels like a good fit for you.
We are happy to receive applications in word or PDF (no more than 2 A4 sides), or video presentation.
You are welcome to contact us for an informal chat before applying, and to let us know if you have any support or accessibility needs.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.