A supportive environment and colleagues you know you can trust aren’t always guaranteed in a work environment, but they\u2019re always available to volunteers.<\/p>\n
There are organisations![\"group-coaching\"](\"http:\/\/vanel.org.uk\/va\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/group-coaching-300x199.jpg\")
that offer volunteers support and \u00a0space to talk about anything \u2013 whether it\u2019s connected with a volunteer\u2019s role or not.\u00a0 Volunteers are essential to Mind Works.\u00a0 We run an information centre and a mentoring programme for people experiencing mental health problems, as well as their families, friends and carers.<\/p>\n
Volunteers often listen to service users who need to talk about issues they\u2019re currently experiencing, which can include thoughts of suicide, worries about loved ones and fears about long-term mental illness.\u00a0 This means that for volunteers, support is essential.<\/p>\n
The volunteers\u2019 roles sound tough, and some of the situations they work with are distressing but with one in four adults suffering from a mental health problem at any one time, many of the issues volunteers deal with are close to home.<\/p>\n
A caring atmosphere is just one of the many elements of the role that attracts volunteers.\u00a0 The sense of teamwork can bring a real reward.\u00a0 You have to really work as a team: there are no right or wrong answers to the service user\u2019s questions and concerns, volunteers often talk through the issues together and share each other\u2019s ideas.<\/p>\n
Building Skills<\/strong><\/p>\n Developing the life skills required for the role is part of what attracts new volunteers.\u00a0 For example, volunteers for Mind Works based at the Volunteer Centre provide potential volunteers with one to one mentoring and group Life Skills Training to support those experiencing mental health problems.<\/p>\n We do ask for our volunteers to have prior knowledge and personal experience with mental wellbeing\u00a0 and they don\u2019t need any professional experience or training, but they do need listening skills\u00a0 and to be able to project empathy, it\u2019s about connecting with people \u2013 being able to be there for them in situations that are difficult and isolating.<\/p>\n Mind Works volunteers are well supported in their roles.\u00a0 As well as receiving training, each volunteer is assigned a mentor and can speak to paid members of staff and experienced volunteers about any difficult situations they come across during their shifts.<\/p>\n Voluntary Action are currently recruiting volunteers for the Mind Works Programme, a new initiative offering Life Skills Training, mentoring, information and advice, a team of voluntary mentors based at the volunteer \u00a0here in Grimsby.\u00a0 Aimed particularly at those who want to use volunteering as a pathway to mainstream employment.\u00a0 Potential volunteers can be of any age and will receive full training.<\/p>\n Breaking down Barriers<\/strong><\/p>\n Volunteering can also be a way for former service users to build their confidence and fight the stigma that can still be attached to mental health problems.<\/p>\n Many of Mind Works volunteers are former service users, and we believe that their involvement with the organisation is vital, as they have a unique insight into the mental health system.<\/p>\n Giving Voice<\/strong><\/p>\n There are plenty of other ways of volunteering, depending on your own experience and the way you can commit.\u00a0 Many organisations offer voluntary placements in their offices, helping with administration, and some \u2013 including research projects that need input from volunteers.<\/p>\n If you want to be surrounded by interesting people, I\u2019d definitely suggest working or volunteering within mental health, we come across so many different viewpoints on life and it\u2019s never dull.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n A supportive environment and colleagues you know you can trust aren’t always guaranteed in a work environment, but they\u2019re always available to volunteers. There are organisations that offer volunteers support and \u00a0space to talk about anything \u2013 whether it\u2019s connected with a volunteer\u2019s role or not.\u00a0 Volunteers are essential to Mind Works.\u00a0 We run an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"xn-wppe-expiration":[],"xn-wppe-expiration-action":[],"xn-wppe-expiration-prefix":[],"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[4,32],"tags":[95,172,310],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3cThd-WU","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/vanel.org.uk\/va\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3652"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/vanel.org.uk\/va\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/vanel.org.uk\/va\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/vanel.org.uk\/va\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/vanel.org.uk\/va\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3652"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/vanel.org.uk\/va\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3652\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3654,"href":"http:\/\/vanel.org.uk\/va\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3652\/revisions\/3654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/vanel.org.uk\/va\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/vanel.org.uk\/va\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/vanel.org.uk\/va\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"