Health in Mind are looking
for volunteers for their Befriending Services! We all have
interests and things we like doing. When we become stressed and unwell, its easy
to forget what these things are and it can be hard to have the confidence to get
out and do them.
It's easier to take
the first step to meeting new people, rediscovering interests and trying out new
things when someone you feel safe and supported by is with
you.
Health in
Mind befriending services match people from a wide range of backgrounds,
including people who have become isolated as a result of mental health
difficulties and parents and carers who socially isolated and are lacking in
confidence.
The volunteers
support service users to gain the confidence to get out and take up old
interests or discover new ones, and help them meet and cope with the challenges
they face.
Health in mind
volunteers
Volunteers are
matched with a service user for up to one year. With the service user you decide
how you would like to spend you time together and what goals you would like to
work towards and achieve together.
People volunteer
with Health in Mind from a wide range of backgrounds and for a wide range of
reasons from looking for work experience or a change of career, to wanting to
give support to others and wanting to give something back after receiving
support from mental health services. Volunteers make a huge difference to the
people they support. As well as giving a lot volunteers also get a lot out of
being involved in the project, including a chance to gain new skills, attend
training, gain a reference for further volunteering or employment and meet new
people.
In addition to a full training
course, volunteers will also receive ongoing support and supervision.
Out of pocket expenses will be refunded. Volunteers can get involved at
any time of the day or evening and seven days a week. Health in Mind
asks that volunteers try to commit their time to the service for up to
one year for 2 or 3 hours per week.
What are the next
steps?
If you would like to
become a volunteer or use the service you can...
Phone to find out
a bit more about the service and ask us any questions you have about getting
involved with Health in Mind.
Come and meet the staff.
When you contact them, they will arrange a time to meet up and take the next
steps to getting involved.
A full training course is being run at the end of February.
Please contact:
Alison McGhee
Tel: 0131 225
8508 |
South Edinburgh News >