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Volunteer Befriender

Role Location Brent
Location {Advertised Location}
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This is a voluntary, Flexible, minimum of 2 hours per week vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.

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 Volunteer Befrienders to support our Brent Mental Health service in the London Borough of Brent. Volunteers must be based within this area to take part in face-to-face befriending activities.

As a Volunteer Befriender, you will be required to travel across Brent to meet with service users and carry out your role. Ideally, you will be able to commit a minimum of 2 hour per week to volunteering. 

There will also be opportunities for you to support staff who deliver wellbeing and recovery workshops to service users e.g. managing anxiety or confidence and self-esteem, if this is something you would like to get involved with.

You will be supported by Befriending Volunteer Coordinators who will provide 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

Our Brent Mental Health service provides support to people aged 18 and above, who live in the Borough of Brent, and who have a mental illness and are known to the local NHS trust Central and North West London (CNWL).

 

The aim of the Befriending Service is to;

  • Reduce social isolation of service users
  • Increase the confidence of service users in accessing community resources independently
  • Provide meaningful activities and peer support for service users 
  • Help service users to live happier, healthier, independent lives
  • Provide volunteering opportunities for people with mental health issues
  • Reduce stigma and raise mental health awareness

 

What you will be doing as a Volunteer Befriender:

  • Meeting with service users in locations and times which meet their needs (including evenings and weekends)
  • Provide befriending support to a maximum of 2 services users at any one time
  • Provide emotional support based on your own lived experience
  • Support service users to access and build social and community networks and activities
  • Act as a community connector to local services

 

What will make you a great fit for this role?

  • You will have lived experience of mental illness, either as a carer or as a person who has experience your own mental health need
  • You will have good communication skills
  • You will be flexible in order to meet the needs of the service users
  • You will live within the London Borough of Brent

 

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact melrose.richards@rethink.org or seena.cuffley@rethink.org

If would like to express an interest for this opportunity, please complete an application as soon as possible as the advert may close early if we receive a high level of interest.

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.”

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.

The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country.

Passion

We are passionate about leading the way to a better quality of life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.

Commitment

We work tirelessly to provide support for everyone severely affected by mental illness.

Openness

We are open and transparent in all our work with beneficiaries, supporters, partners and the public to achieve change for people severely affected by mental illness.

Hope

We offer hope of a better quality of life for all those severely affected by mental illness.

Expertise

We constantly use our expertise to provide practical and personal support for people who are severely affected by mental illness.

Understanding

People who are severely affected by mental illness are at the heart of everything we do in our organisation – our membership, our governance and our workforce.

Equity

We believe that in a world where discrimination and disadvantage exist, treating people with equity is critical to ensure justice and fairness for all.

Openness

We are open and transparent in all our work with beneficiaries, supporters, partners and the public to achieve change for people severely affected by mental illness.

We understand that people volunteer for many different reasons and whatever your reason is for volunteering we’ll be there to support you every step of the way. You will receive an induction to ensure you feel confident in your role as well as regular supervision. Other benefits of volunteering include:

"If I could highlight the best part of being a Volunteer Bereavement Counsellor, I would mention it is because I idolise being part of Rethinks fantastic caring support team. I love being able to make a positive, life changing difference to all those effected by mental health, bereavement, and suicide and at Rethink Mental Illness I get to do exactly that. I enjoy conducting my sessions virtually, as-well working face to face with my clients. I also like the flexibility and professionalism of the organisation."

"As a Volunteer Mentor I have been given the opportunity to co-facilitate mental health awareness workshops for young people and professionals. My tasks include discussing sensitive topics, supporting the wellbeing and development of young people and regularly reporting back to the project manager. Volunteering with Rethink Mental Illness is extremely rewarding; I have learned many new aspects of mental health and improved my communication skills. I’m also very grateful for the insightful training I received, such as First Aid Youth Mental Health Awareness and Public Speaking training."

"I am currently completing my training for my volunteer advisory role. The training I have received over the last three months has been fantastic. I have learnt so much which I can use to help friends and family too who are experiencing problems associated with their mental health. The support I have received from my trainer has been faultless. I know this great support will continue beyond my training when I start my new advisory role soon. I highly recommend joining Rethink."

"I lead one of Rethink's Carers Support Groups. Connecting with the carers that attend the Carers Support Group is rewarding and educating. Listening to group members as they share their experiences, in the safe, supportive environment provided is a positive cycle. We learn from each other. We support each other. The group and I have the constant and ongoing support of the kind, caring and experienced Rethink team. Volunteering for and contributing to the wellbeing of others is something that to me, feels meaningful. I value that."

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.

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