Mental Health Volunteer Roles in Home Based

Link Age Southwark is a vibrant local charity providing support to over 800 older people in Southwark who are feeling lonely or isolated. Our vision is for friendly local communities where older people and those living with a diagnosis of dementia can thrive in their later years.

All our volunteering opportunities are within the London Borough of Southwark, predominantly south of the borough - Camberwell, Peckham, Nunhead, Dulwich and around. 

Befriending is at the very heart of Link Age Southwark's services. Lots of the older people we work with are feeling lonely and in need of a little extra social company. Our fantastic volunteer befrienders visit an older person once a week, sharing a cup of tea and a chat together.

Demand for our befriending service continues to grow and we are looking for new people to join our existing team of volunteers so that we can support as many older people as possible. 

This role requires:

• volunteering for approximately 1 hour a week to visit an older person
• a commitment to volunteer for a minimum of 6 months
• a cheerful and friendly personality
• good communication/listening skills
• attendance at a volunteer induction and other relevant training opportunities
• completion of a full Disclosure Barring Service and character reference check
• a commitment to working within the policies of Link Age Southwark, in particular health & safety, confidentiality, safeguarding and equality and diversity

Becoming a volunteer with Link Age Southwark is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and get to know more about your local community.

We cover all reasonable expenses and we are happy to provide references for volunteers who have completed 6 months of volunteering with us.

Please note that all our volunteering opportunities are within the London Borough of Southwark, predominantly south of the borough - Camberwell, Peckham, Nunhead, Dulwich and around. 

Purpose of the Role

This volunteer role is a key part of the HFEH Mind team delivering a range of services across Hammersmith and Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow. We support clients with mental health with both clinical and non-clinical interventions.

Compass is a service designed to support adults (18 years and over) in H&F and Hounslow. The service provides support with welfare benefits, debt, housing and well-being/peer support groups/workshops.

The Ealing Pathways service is designed to support adults (18 years and over) with stable mental illness to stay well and avoid acute admission in the borough of Ealing. The service provides support with welfare benefits, debt, housing and well-being advice service.

As a part of this, we are looking for volunteers to support with both services. The role of the volunteer includes supporting with onboarding and contacting clients onto our services as well as completing administrative tasks.

Main Responsibilities

To work closely with the Compass/Pathways service team and support the services with enquiries and support the service users to access the service.

• Triage clients for the service through an onboarding process.
• Support with follow up surveys and questionnaires for those who have accessed the project and obtain their feedback to improve our services.
• Support the Compass/Pathways team to promote the service to the local community.
• Support with administrative tasks including recording information onto our database ‘Views’.
• Supporting clients by picking up ‘light touch cases’ e.g. form filling and welfare benefit checks.

Type of person we are looking for:

Essential

• An interest in supporting those with mental health needs to access Compass/Pathways services.
• Good oral and written communication skills (including listening skills); the ability to communicate in a patient, considered, and empathetic manner.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to follow administrative procedures.
• IT skills – able to update spreadsheets, use web-based applications, video-conferencing software, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Preferably have had experience working with people who experience poor mental health.

Time commitment and expenses

• 5 hours per week, during our opening hours of 10am–4pm.  Please indicate your preferred volunteering day(s) on your application
• We request a minimum commitment of 3 months of volunteering after the completion of your induction.   
• We will provide volunteers with an induction, training, and ongoing mentoring to support them in the role. 

We are an equal opportunities employer; and are proud to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

HFEH Mind are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults.

Post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Volunteers will work in PADS 4 GIRLS Program in schools .

Organize workshop in schools

Social media management 

Writing articles 

Do you have the legal expertise to support world-leading translational research with this grant-making charity empowering smaller charities to achieve their objectives?

Location: London / Hybrid

Time commitment: c.1 day per month

Application closes at 9 a.m. Monday 4th November

Who we are.

The Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust is a grant-making charity endowed by Sir Jules Thorn, who formed one of the UK’s largest electrical businesses. Since its foundation in 1964, the Trust has so far pledge £120m to support projects at many universities, hospitals and charities across the UK.

In keeping with the founder’s wishes, the Trust’s largest grants support translational medical research undertaken in the UK’s leading medical schools and NHS organisations. The Trust also supports projects to integrate and improve care for people living with physical or mental ill health and to help smaller charities provide practical and emotional support to people living with ill health or disability, and to their families and carers.

Who we are looking for.

The Board is seeking to appoint a new Trustee to contribute to the Trust’s work and the development of its strategy for 2025-29. We are looking for someone with legal expertise (ideally with knowledge of the law governing charities and foundations, although this is not a requirement).

Previous experience of operating at the Board level is desirable, and first-time Trustees are welcome to apply.

The role of the Trustees is to safeguard the Trust’s assets and to apply them to our charitable purpose. The Board must always act in the best interests of the Trust, exercising as much care as if they were dealing with their own affairs or looking after the affairs of someone for whom they are responsible. The Trustees should take advice where required to ensure they are fulfilling this duty of care.

In that context, the Board is seeking to appoint a Trustee who has:

• a commitment to the mission and values of the Trust
• strategic vision
• good, independent judgement
• a willingness to speak their mind and respect diverse views
• an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship
• a commitment to act in accordance with the seven ‘Nolan’ principles of public life, by demonstrating selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
• an ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions for the good of the Trust.

Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Application for this role closes at 9 a.m. Monday 4th November.

Chatterbox is a free telephone befriending service for socially isolated and lonely people. Our clients are carefully matched to DBS-checked volunteer befrienders, with whom they exchange supportive, friendly phone calls. They chat about their lives, families and interests.

As a volunteer telephone befriender, you will make one phone call a week to a Chatterbox client for a minimum of 6 months. You will receive 2 hours of induction training, which can be done remotely. You will be required to complete a short log following each client call.

Role Summary:

To provide peer support at resilience group sessions for expectant and new mums (pregnancy up to 1 year) at Children & Family Centres across the London Borough of Bexley, or online via Zoom.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Successfully complete a training course for Mindful Mums Peer Support Volunteer. You will be fully supported during this time and on successful completion will understand different mindfulness, wellbeing, resilience and coping techniques and be confident in leading the peer support within these groups.

2. Prepare for and lead the peer support for a minimum of three Mindful Mums groups (over 5 consecutive weeks). Group dates and times will be discussed with you in advance.

3. Liaise with the Project Coordinator regarding sessions that need volunteers.

4. Contribute to the development of the content of the Mindful Mums sessions based on your experience as a parent.

5. Report any concerns arising from the sessions to the Project Coordinator and, where appropriate, the contact at the venue.

6. Participate in catch-up meetings with the Project Coordinator, group volunteer meetings and training on Safeguarding Children and Adults.

7. Take part in some Mindfulness practise.

8. At all times work in accordance with the organisation’s policies regarding Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Safeguarding Children, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Confidentiality & Data Protection.

Person Specification

To undertake the role of Mindful Mums Peer Support Volunteer, you must be able to show that you have the following:

o Experience of having felt stressed, low, anxious or have struggled with your mental or emotional wellbeing in other ways during the perinatal period (pregnancy to 1 year).

o Ability to communicate well with other mums.

o Skills to effectively facilitate sessions.

o Good interpersonal skills.

o Ability to work well in a team.

o Understanding of the pressures and stresses facing pregnant and new mums.

o Willingness to engage in some Mindfulness practise. 

o Willingness to talk from your own experience in an appropriate way.

o Ability to maintain appropriate and professional boundaries.

o A commitment to attend training, support groups and to deliver 5-week programmes in Children & Family Centres across Bexley, or online via Zoom.

Benefits of getting involved

·Being part of a team of local mums, who have all experienced perinatal mental health issues and who want to help pregnant and new mums build skills to manage their mental health in a positive way.

· Delivering an exciting and innovative project that really makes a difference to pregnant women and new mums.

Other Information

Successful applicants will be required to provide details of two references and agree to submit details for and undertake a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check.

The majority of courses will be run during school term times.

Free crèche facilities are sometimes available at the Children & Family Centres.

Reasonable expenses will be paid. 

Induction and training will commence in August 2024. This includes Online and In-person training. 

The Structured Intervention Support (SIS) service offers support for people with high and complex needs.

You will be assisting service users who experience mental distress in one-to-one settings:
-help to resettle in the community on discharge from hospital
-help to develop strategies to improve their quality of life and reduce their dependence on statutory services
-provide personalised key work support to enable people with complex mental health needs progress and maintain independent living.

We are looking for volunteers who can support people with activities for a minimum of 1 day per week. Activities such as:

-Escorting people to appointments/outings/activities or events
-Organisational and administrative tasks – help with budgeting; understanding/applying for welfare benefits; letter writing and form filling; arranging activities/appointments; planning the use of other services such as shopping.
-Supporting people to maintain their homes – reporting/organising repairs; organising a move; signposting and referring to services and activities.
-Ad-hoc support

Trustee

Who we are:

We are a long-standing (32 years) local charity, based in Ashford, providing friendly advice, companionship and volunteering opportunities for anyone in our part of Kent who is socially isolated, lonely, or would welcome support with their mental health and wellbeing. We arrange 3 free drop-in sessions per week at Ashford Parish Rooms, at which our service users participate in a wide range of activities including crafts, singing and art therapy. We also offer food and beverages from our pop-up healthy eating café and dedicated door-to-door transport where required.

Due to an upcoming retirement we are now seeking a Trustee to join our Board.

About the Role:

General Trustee

As with all of our Trustees we warmly welcome community-minded individuals who want to make a difference and are happy to bring their personal and professional experience and expertise to the Board. If you have legal, IT or HR background that would be a bonus, but the key attributes are that you have a commitment to enhancing the health and wellbeing of the local community and want to help people live independently wherever possible. 

It is expected that all Trustees will be able to attend our Trustee meetings in Ashford, which are held at least once a quarter, as well as the AGM and ideally a small number of other functions eg fundraising events.

Skills & Experience:

Essential:

An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.

An understanding of the legal duties and responsibilities of trusteeship.

Good time management reliability.

Excellent communication skills.

Willingness to commit sufficient time to the Trustee role.

Eligible to be a Trustee.

Desirable:

Previous experience of working with/for a charity, or being a charity trustee or involved with the adult social care/health sector, would be an advantage but is by no means essential.

Why you should Apply:

You will be using your skills, knowledge and experience to help ensure Ashford & Tenterden Umbrella continues to be an important part of the local community, providing mental health and social support. Although this is a voluntary position, reasonable out of pocket expenses will be paid.

For more information, and if you would like us to call you for an informal chat about the role, please email our Chairperson, Edwin Chambers. Contact information can be found when you click on the blue "How to Apply" button above.

Join our amazing volunteer team to raise awareness of sight loss and RNIB services at local events. You’ll be making a real difference to people living with sight loss by helping to create a world without barriers. This face to face opportunity will see you providing information about RNIB services and activities to help people with sight loss live the lives they want, enabling them to hear about the support that is available, and how they can help others. What you’ll be doing • Creating a welcoming and interesting display stand. • Speaking directly to people affected by sight loss. • Being a friendly face of RNIB locally - engaging with a diverse range of people. • Providing information and demonstrations of basic independent living aids for the general public and professionals. What you’ll gain from the role: • An opportunity to give something back. • A chance to build a strong community. • A sense of achievement through the difference you make. • A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people • An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. In return for donating your time we will provide: • A supportive route to building your confidence in meeting members of the public and serving customers. • A rewarding experience. • A great Induction and training. • A supportive manager. • Regular updates and catchups. • Expenses. • An opportunity to connect with other volunteers. In applying for / signing up for this role you agree to be contacted when we are seeking volunteers to help with an event in relation to this role description. We will contact you via a communication method for which you have given consent. If you have any questions or are unsure if this role is right for you.

What skills and experience are needed?

• • An outgoing, friendly approach to meeting new people • An empathetic and professional manner. • Good communications skills with active listening. • An interest in helping people access the information they need.

Treasurer -Boxing Futures

Boxing Futures is a charity which works to improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of disadvantaged young people. It empowers young people by building positive relationships, developing core soft skills, and increasing confidence and motivation.

We are looking for two people with current or recent experience in

• Commissioning background ideally with local authority experience; experience and understanding of social care ideally in the voluntary or public sector; or
• Academic, research, policy background in the care environment; 

As a trustee, you'’ll bring broad  experience to the role, identifying strategic risks and proposing effective and practical solutions. An ability to grasp the essence of complex situations, to challenge the management team or fellow board members and to contribute constructively to their resolution are also required. 

**Contact us for an informal discussion. Closing date for formal applications 30th Sept 2024

We are passionate about improving outcomes for carers of all ages and delivering a range of services to support carers. It’s an exciting time for CIB, with an ambitious strategy to build on our achievements to date.

We were proud winners of the 2023 UK Charity Governance ‘Transforming with Digital’ award in recognition of the success of our digital transformation plan. It was a good year as we also took home the award for Breakthrough of the Year at the Third Sector Awards, in recognition of our hard work on Service Delivery Transformation.

Our Board of trustees has an important part to play in helping the charity to achieve its mission of supporting more unpaid carers to be recognised, respected and supported in their role.

If you join the Board, you can make a real impact and be part of our success story.

Our aim is to bring together a Board who are diverse in ideas, in background, in experience, in outlook and in the views they express. If you think you can make a difference and are willing to commit the time, please consider applying.

Treasurer/Trustee

Who we are:

We are a long-standing (32 years) local charity, based in Ashford, providing friendly advice, companionship and volunteering opportunities for anyone in our part of Kent who is socially isolated, lonely, or would welcome support with their mental health and wellbeing. We arrange 3 free drop-in sessions per week at Ashford Parish Rooms, at which our service users participate in a wide range of activities including crafts, singing and art therapy. We also offer food and beverages from our pop-up healthy eating café and dedicated door-to-door transport where required.

Due to a retirement we are now seeking a Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees. 

About the Role:

The Treasurer will be responsible for making sure that the charity meets its financial and governance obligations by operating within the legal and fiscal guidelines set out in current legislation. They will ensure that robust financial controls and budgeting are in place to protect the best interests of the charity and its service users, and that the charity operates within a sound framework with all monetary transactions properly monitored and accounted for. They will make certain that all necessary financial information provided to the Board, Charity Commission and other appropriate parties is timely, comprehensive and accurate, and shall advise the Board of the commercial implications of its strategy and policy objectives.

It is expected that all Trustees will be able to attend our Trustee meetings in Ashford, which are held at least once a quarter, as well as the AGM and ideally a small number of other functions eg fundraising events.

Skills & Experience:

Essential:

Highly numerate and financially aware

Experience in a financial or accounting role

Ability to communicate and explain financial information to members of the Board

Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

Willingness to commit sufficient time to the Treasurer role

Eligible to be a Trustee

Desirable:

Previous experience of working with/for a charity, or being a charity trustee or involved with the adult social care/health sector, would be an advantage but is by no means essential.

Why you should Apply:

You will be using your skills, knowledge and experience to help ensure Ashford & Tenterden Umbrella continues to be an important part of the local community, providing mental health and social support. Although this is a voluntary position, reasonable out of pocket expenses will be paid.

For more information, and if you would like us to call you for an informal chat about the role, please email our Chairperson, Edwin Chambers. Contact information can be found when you click on the blue "How to Apply" button above.

Secretary/Trustee

Who we are:

We are a long-standing (33 years) local charity, based in Ashford, providing friendly advice, companionship and volunteering opportunities for anyone in our part of Kent who is socially isolated, lonely, or would welcome support with their mental health and wellbeing. We arrange 3 free drop-in sessions per week at Ashford Parish Rooms, at which our service users participate in a wide range of activities including crafts, singing and art therapy. We also offer food and beverages from our pop-up healthy eating café and dedicated door-to-door transport where required.

Due to an upcoming retirement we are now seeking a Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees. 

About the Role:

The Secretary will be responsible for the smooth and efficient running of meetings of the Trustee Board, providing assistance and support to the Chair. They will also be involved in monitoring compliance to the legal and regulatory requirements affecting the charity and its activities, and ensuring that the Trustees’ decisions are acted upon and that all decisions made by the Trustees are in accordance with the governing document, reflect the objects of the charity, and continue to provide public benefit. They will liaise with the Chair and the charity team to ensure that events such as the AGM and Trustee Board meeting are scheduled and administered, with accurate minutes taken and circulated and agreed action points implemented.

It is expected that all Trustees will be able to attend our Trustee meetings in Ashford, which are held at least once a quarter, as well as the AGM and ideally a small number of other functions eg fundraising events.

Skills & Experience:

Essential:

Good time management and keeping to deadlines

Good level of IT skills (email, Microsoft Word)

Ability to take minutes of meetings

Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

Willingness to commit sufficient time to the Secretary role

Eligible to be a Trustee

Desirable:

Previous experience of working with/for a charity, or being a charity trustee or involved with the adult social care/health sector, would be an advantage but is by no means essential.

Why you should Apply:

You will be using your skills, knowledge and experience to help ensure Ashford & Tenterden Umbrella continues to be an important part of the local community, providing mental health and social support. Although this is a voluntary position, reasonable out of pocket expenses will be paid.

For more information, and if you would like us to call you for an informal chat about the role, please email our Chairperson, Edwin Chambers. Contact information can be found when you click on the blue "How to Apply" button above.

Join our amazing volunteer team to make a real difference to people living with sight loss. You’ll be supporting people to come together in a group setting, to benefit from each other’s company, knowledge and encouragement, leading to reduced isolation, stronger networks of support, and new friendships. You can support with either local and regional telephone groups or face-to-face groups. What you’ll be doing: • Meeting and greeting group members on arrival or joining virtually. • Creating a warm and welcoming environment. • Supporting group conversations. • Assisting with group activities (if appropriate). What you’ll gain from the role: • An opportunity to give something back. • A chance to build a strong community. • A sense of achievement through the difference you make. • A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people • An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. In return for donating your time we will provide: • A rewarding experience. • A great Induction and training. • A supportive manager. • Regular updates and catchups. • Expenses. • An opportunity to connect with other volunteers. 

What skills and experience are needed?

• • An interest in group or community work. • A sociable personality. • A commitment to working towards a society where people with sight loss are equal participants.