11 years ago I first came to Mind as a curious 18 year old who was about to embark on a journey that would transform my life for the better.

Glenn, Service User Champion

Current Volunteering Opportunities

If you have some free time, whether it’s 2 hours per week or 20 hours per week, we would love to hear from you. We are currently looking to recruit volunteers to support us with the following duties:    

• Fundraising: This will involve supporting us with our fundraising events in the community or with partnerships we are developing. For more information please contact [email protected]

Volunteer Peer Supporter

Role: Volunteer Peer Supporter  

 

Project: Volunteer – Weston-S-Mare  

 

Supervisor: Rachel Edgecombe/office lead 

 

Location: Weston Super Mare Citizens Advice – Town centre   

 

Hours/Days:  We would like you to volunteer for us for – Client support 1:1’s Thursday (10-4) Friday (10-4)  Community Day – Friday (12-2) as we will need your support at those times.  

 

Mind in Somerset have the expectation that all who Volunteer for us always live our organisations Values, we ask that you be; 

 

Collaborative – work better together 

Respectful – treat people how we like to be treated 

Accountable – are responsible for own actions 

Inclusive – respect everyone’s uniqueness 

Compassionate – empathise, care and support 

 

Main Purpose of the role: To provide a Client support service for Mind in Somerset. 

 

Key tasks: 

 

• To be the first point of contact for the Mind in Somerset in North Somerset in the Citizens Advice offices  
• To provide emotional listening support sessions on a short-term basis  
• To effectively signpost clients to longer-term support either through Mind in Somerset services or partner providers in the area  
• To be able to work within your level of capability and training, identifying opportunities to link in with other support available.  

• To maintain records on our computer system of all appointments attended  
• Answer the telephone and support general administration including responding to e-mail queries. 
• To respond to email inquiries that may come through our main website offering virtual navigation to appropriate support.  
• Providing service users with a signposting and information 
• Basic administrative support as required e.g. photocopying, scanning, and making phone calls.  

• Effectively take and distribute messages to relevant project leads 
• To attend the organisation update meeting 
• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues 
• To adhere to all volunteer policies of the organisation. 
• There may be other duties required of our volunteers from time to time. 

• To support the Community Day facilitator on a Friday afternoon in a creative session designed to reduce isolation and create opportunities for connectivity and conversation amongst Peers.    

Person Specification  

Essential: 

• Positive team-working skills 
• Flexible approach  

• Demonstrable IT knowledge/experience using Microsoft Packages 
• Willingness to learn (including independently) to extend their knowledge 
• Understanding of the need for good record keeping and GDPR  

Equal Opportunities:  

Mind in Somerset is fully committed to the principle of equal opportunities in employment and opposes all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination, direct or indirect. All employees and volunteers are expected to promote and work fully in line with the company’s Equal Opportunities Policy. Mind in Somerset is a Disability Confident employer and welcomes applications from disabled people. If disabled applicants meet the minimum criteria for the job, they can request and will be offered a guaranteed interview. Should applicants require reasonable adjustment support for the interview/Volunteer meeting, please contact the [email protected] 

 

Criminal Record:  

Due to the safeguarding nature of our work, the successful candidate/volunteer may need to complete a disclosure and barring check (DBS) prior to starting with us. A criminal record will not automatically mean withdrawal of an offer, however, to safeguard our staff, volunteers and clients, further discussion or investigation may be required so that an informed decision can be made as to your suitability to work with vulnerable people to ensure that we are not putting service users at risk. For Volunteers there are occasions when a DBS will not be required, however a risk assessment will be conducted, and the form completed and placed within the Volunteer’s electronic file.  

 

Vanessa Project (Gardening) Assistant

Supervisor: Holly Arrow

Location: Yeovil 

Hours/Days available: Tuesday between the hours of 11am and 1pm (2 hours)  

 

Mind in Somerset have the expectation that all who Volunteer for us always live our organisations Values at all times, we ask that you be; 

 Collaborative – work better together 

Respectful – treat people how we like to be treated 

Accountable – are responsible for own actions 

Inclusive – respect everyone’s uniqueness 

Compassionate – empathise, care and support 

Main Purpose of the Role: Applicant would assist with service users in gardening projects and have casual conversations. If the weather is bad, then indoor activities will be available including planning of gardening activities, colouring and nature related quizzes.

 

Personal Skills and Qualities that will be beneficial:

· Gardening Experience (not essential)

· Communication Skills

· Humour

· Willingness to help

· Positive attitude

· Compassion

· Lived experience

· Works well as part of a team

 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Providing support to service users who have different capabilities to complete gardening activities.

• Talking to service users regarding a diverse range of subjects.

 

Qualities and Skills gained or improved upon through volunteering for the Vanessa Project at Mind:

• Teamwork

• Gardening Skills

• Time Management

• Problem Solving

• Organisation

• Interpersonal Skills

 

Mind offers a range of training opportunities available to all volunteers.

If you are interested in finding out more about this volunteering role please contact [email protected].

Community Day Volunteer 

Supervisor: Holly Arrow

Location: Yeovil 

Hours/Days available: Wednesday between the hours of 10am and 4pm (6 hours)  

 

Mind in Somerset have the expectation that all who Volunteer for us always live our organisations Values at all times, we ask that you be; 

 Collaborative – work better together 

Respectful – treat people how we like to be treated 

Accountable – are responsible for own actions 

Inclusive – respect everyone’s uniqueness 

Compassionate – empathise, care and support 

 

Main Purpose of the role: Applicant would assist as part of a team with the smooth running of arts and craft activities.

 

Personal Skills and Qualities that will be beneficial:

· Creativity

· Humour

· Willingness to help

· Positive attitude

· Compassion

· Lived experience

· Works well as part of a team

 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

· Providing support to service users who have different capabilities to complete creative activities.

· Collaborating with the team of volunteers to generate ideas for upcoming arts and craft activities.

· General tiding, organisation and upkeep of both the community area and kitchen.

 

Qualities and Skills gained or improved upon through volunteering for Mind Community Day:

· Teamwork

· Creative Skills

· Time Management

· Problem Solving

· Organisation

· Interpersonal Skills

Mind offers a range of training opportunities available to all volunteers.

If you are interested in finding out more about this volunteering role please contact [email protected].

 

Volunteer Receptionist

Supervisor: Andy Pritchard/office lead 

 

Location: Yeovil with possible travel to Taunton 

 

Hours/Days available: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday morning  

 

Mind in Somerset have the expectation that all who Volunteer for us always live our organisations Values at all times, we ask that you be; 

 

Collaborative – work better together 

Respectful – treat people how we like to be treated 

Accountable – are responsible for own actions 

Inclusive – respect everyone’s uniqueness 

Compassionate – empathise, care and support 

 

Main Purpose of the role: To provide a reception service for Mind in Somerset. 

 

Key tasks: 

• To be the first point of contact for the Mind in Somerset reception function.  
• Greet all, welcome and help navigate visitors within our offices.   
• Supply refreshments if people need to wait.  
• Answer the telephone and support with general administration including responding to e-mail queries. 
• Providing service users with a signposting and information 
• Basic administrative support as required e.g. photocopying, scanning, making phone calls, booking venues for training or events, booking rooms. 
• Liaising with fellow volunteer receptionists to ensure rota is covered 
• Effectively take and distribute messages to relevant project leads 
• Dealing with Post and Deliveries 
• To attend the organisation update meeting 
• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues 
• To adhere to all volunteer policies of the organisation. 
• There may be other duties required of our volunteers from time to time. 

Person Specification  

Essential: 

• Positive team-working skills 
• Flexible approach  
• Demonstrable IT knowledge/experience using Microsoft Packages 
• Willingness to learn (including independently) to extend their knowledge 

 

Desirable: 

• Understanding of the need for good record keeping and GDPR 

If you are interested in finding out more about this volunteering role please contact [email protected].

 

Mindline Emotional Support Helpline Call Handler 

This role involves supporting people who maybe in emotional distress or simply just need somebody to talk to. This role requires you to commit to supporting the line a minimum 4x 3 hour shifts a month 

About the opportunity 

This opportunity is ideal for those wanting to improve their listening skills. All training provided including mental health awareness and telephone listening. Gain personal satisfaction and a sense of achievement by experiencing the diversity of telephone support.  

What are we looking for? 

Good listening skills,  

must be able to hold a clear conversation for up to 30 minutes at a time.  

Lived experience of mental health issues is encouraged but not essential. 

When can you do this role? 

Volunteers are expected to commit to a minimum 4x 3 hour shifts a month, including weekends, between 8pm-11pm.  

Volunteering on the Mindline Trans+

If you have lived Trans experience or are a Trans ally and you are interested in volunteering, please contact us.

• Mindline Trans+ helpline call handler: We are looking for people who either identify as Trans/non binary or are a Trans ally with a passion for supporting the Trans community This role requires you to commit to supporting the line at least two nights a month (Friday nights 8pm-Midnight). Email us at [email protected] for more information or a application pack

Hearing Voices Group Volunteer 

Reports to: Hearing Voices Project Lead

Location: Multiple locations across Somerset

Hours: 1 hour (per group, fortnightly)

Job Purpose:

The Hearing Voices project is commissioned by Open Mental Health to provide supportive peer groups for individuals who experience auditory and other hallucinations.

As a group volunteer, you will be supporting the Hearing Voices group in Yeovil. You will be responsible, alongside the group facilitator, for maintaining a safe and confidential space for the group members to be heard. You may be required to hold the group session should a group member require 1-1 support and you will liaise with the group facilitator to highlight any safeguarding concerns. You will share any ideas and thoughts for the growth and development of the project.

Lived Experience

We strongly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of mental health difficulties. The project values an understanding of mental health and encourages applicants with strong beliefs around social inclusion and recovery. 

Main Tasks:

·      To support the facilitation of groups for individuals who experience auditory and other hallucinations. This will involve delivering creative, engaging and inclusive group and activity support work that encourages and enables people to improve/maintain their mental wellbeing.

·      To support service-users in accessing the group support offer.

·      To encourage peer support within the group.

·      To adhere to our inclusive way of working and support a diverse group of individuals. This will include supporting younger and older adults. 

·      To enable service-users to have access to information and signposting to other areas of support.

·      To engage fully with the values and community of Mind in Somerset.

·      To attend regular one-to-one supervision with your line manager.

• To work in an inclusive and culturally sensitive way for all service-users; being responsive to individual needs and challenging stigma and discrimination.
• To take prompt and appropriate action in a safeguarding situation. To clearly record all information and actions taken and to escalate to the Group Facilitator and Safeguarding Lead as per procedure.
• To follow Health & Safety and Security procedures.
• To cover leave and absences where required.

For more information please contact [email protected]

Trustee Vacancies

We are particularly looking for Trustees with skills and experience in one of the following areas:

• Finance/Treasurer
• Fundraising/Marketing
• Legal

Would you like to be part of our future?  After 3 years of sustained growth Mind in Somerset are seeking to recruit further trustees and replace those trustees who have reached the end of their allotted term .

We are a local mental health charity serving the people of Somerset. We are part of the national Mind federation, and like other local Minds, we run as an independent charity with our own strategy, funds and leadership.  As a Trustee, you will be joining a charity in a strong position with a turnover of circa £3 million and with an ambition to build on our successes and growth over the last few years.  We will be looking to build on existing activities and also by bringing in innovative new projects.

Trustees are our most senior leaders. They set our strategic direction, make sure we’re using our resources effectively and ensure we’re having the greatest possible impact on our community. Trustees are expected to undertake duties in a manner that reflects Mind in Somerset’s values and ethos.

We are a friendly and welcoming organisation and are passionate about what we do. You’ll be joining our Board of Trustees at an exciting time with lots of opportunities to build on our success over the next few years. If you have the time and enthusiasm to be part of something amazing, please get in touch.

We welcome applications from those with experience of mental or emotional distress.

 

Scope: Mind in Somerset have the expectation that all who Volunteer for us always live our organisations Values, we ask that you be; 

• Collaborative – work better together 
• Respectful – treat people how we like to be treated 
• Accountable – are responsible for our own actions 
• Inclusive – respect everyone’s uniqueness 

• Compassionate – empathise, care and support 

Person Specification   

Essential: 

Skills/experience and qualifications in one of the 3 areas below: 

-Finance/ Treasury 

-Fundraising/ Marketing 

-Legal 

Desirable; 

-To have experience within Charity sector  

 

If you would like to apply and/or find out more about this position. Download our recruitment pack – MIS Trustee Recruitment Pack Mar 23 or contact the Chair, [email protected]

Peer Supporter Role

As a Peer Supporter, you will be working with individuals with emotional or mental health problems who require support from someone who understands. This connection may be made over the phone, by remote meeting or face-to-face.

Bringing your lived experience, you will have the desire to support and encourage others on their individual recovery journeys. You will be able to clearly draw upon and share, your own experiences of mental health challenge and services in order to inspire, model, and inform others in similar situations and support them in finding their own path to recovery

We will be providing a 1:1 mental health service that will support individuals with their emotional wellbeing but also with practical challenges such as joining groups and social opportunities, exploring their interests and finding ways to make those accessible for them. This may include helping them to join other support groups in their community. Our 1:1 service is currently via telephone/online support but hope to return to face-to-face when it is safe to do so. 

To find out more please visit the role listing here or email [email protected]

 

Befriender Role

As a Befriender, you will be working with individuals who are experiencing emotional and mental health problems and require support from someone who understands. This connection may be made over the phone, by remote meeting, or face-to-face. You will have empathy and the desire to support and encourage others on their individual recovery journeys. 

• Offering listening support (via telephone/online initially) to individuals who are receiving support from the project, recognising when someone may need more help and checking to make sure plans, referrals etc are happening.
• providing practical information and signposting to other agencies as appropriate
• helping to access community facilities and resources
• showing understanding, acceptance and empathy.
• supporting individuals to develop ideas for coping strategies and problem-solving skills
• help individuals identify their own hopes, dreams and aspirations and to explore opportunities and ways to realise them

To find out more please visit the role listing here or email [email protected]

IT Technician/ Engineer

This role will be supporting the provision of effective IT support across Mind in Somerset.

To view the detailed role description and find contact information for enquiries please visit the role listing here.

 

Peer Support Volunteer – Youth Matters

Youth Matters volunteers help to facilitate our weekly peer support groups for young people.

About the opportunity

This voluntary role will help you to develop your skills and experience whilst supporting young people in a group environment. You will be provided with appropriate training for the role. Applications are encouraged from people who have lived experience of mental health difficulties or from those who have an understanding of what mental health difficulties may mean for others.

What are we looking for?

An ability to listen and demonstrate empathy is essential for this voluntary role. Some experience of working with children and young people in a voluntary or paid capacity is desired.

Where and when?

We ask that volunteers commit to a minimum of 6-months with Mind in Somerset to ensure consistency for the young people who we support. We also ask that you can offer at least 2.5 hours of support every week at a regular time. Currently, we have 10 peer support groups running across the county of Somerset. Although we are currently recruiting for our Langport group, please get in touch if you are interested in supporting one of our other groups as we always welcome volunteers (Bridgwater, Taunton, Chard, Shepton Mallet, Yeovil, Frome, Minehead, Bridport & Online via Zoom).

For more information and to apply for this voluntary position, please contact: [email protected] 

 

Peer Support Volunteer – Crisis Safe Space

The Crisis Safe Space was co-designed by local people with experience of mental health difficulties, who wanted more support available in the community rather than at hospital​.

About the opportunity

As a Peer Volunteer you will be working alongside Senior staff and Crisis workers within Crisis Safe Space. The service has been designed for people experiencing acute emotional distress who need immediate and short-term crisis prevention rather than intensive support from either an emergency or inpatient service​. As an alliance member of Open Mental Health, we work in close partnership with Second Step, Somerset Foundation Trust and other OMH partners.  

Bringing your lived experience, you will have the desire to support and encourage others on their individual recovery journeys.  You will be able to clearly draw upon and share your own experiences of mental health challenges and services in order to inspire, model, and inform others in similar situations and support them in finding their own path to recovery.  

You will be providing a specialized role within the Crisis Safe Space Team in either Yeovil or Taunton. As part of the wider team, you will start to build a trusting relationship with individuals while they are accessing the Crisis Safe Space and your role will be to meet and greet, assist with any enrolment/paperwork, and offer support with signposting and feedback. You will work alongside the senior and recovery navigators, meaning you will have access to constant support and guidance.  

What tasks will be involved?

• Establishing a trusting and collaborative relationship with the service-user, working with them in Crisis Safe Space, providing sensitive, collaborative, and non-judgemental support when they first arrive. 
• Completing enrolment and feedback paperwork collaboratively with the service user.  

• Supporting family members who visit with their loved one, ensuring they feel supported and listened to whilst they wait.  
• Completing follow-up and check-in calls with previous users of the service.  
• Gathering and compiling feedback from previous users of the service.  
• To identify additional community-based support networks and implement group-based peer support events for users of the service.  
• To link people to training, and volunteering/employment activities. 

• To maintain hope and optimism for the individual with high expectations for recovery, use lived experience to positively support the individual’s recovery.  
• Listening, sharing, and valuing the process of those you work with. 
• Providing practical information and signposting. 
• Supporting the smooth and safe transfer into other services.   
• Showing understanding, acceptance, and empathy based on shared experience.

• Supporting individuals to develop ideas for coping strategies and problem-solving skills.
• Help individuals identify their own hopes, dreams, and aspirations and explore opportunities and ways to realise them.

Who should apply for this role?

We are looking for Peer Volunteers who have: 

• Lived experience of mental health. 
• Personal experience of recovery from mental health challenges. 
• The desire and ability to share personal experiences of mental health and recovery to support, empower and bring hope to others. 
• The capacity to manage their own mental health needs. 
• An awareness of self-management resources and coping strategies. 

• An ability to empathise with others and form trusting relationships. 
• A non-judgemental approach and an ability to maintain appropriate boundaries. 
• Good listening and communication skills, reliability, and good timekeeping. 
• An ability to take responsibility for your own self-care and willingness to utilise the support and supervision provided by the Senior Volunteer Coordinator.

When and where?

The Crisis Safe Space is an out of hours service open daily between the hours of 17:30 and 23:00. We welcome applications to those who can commit to a minimum of 1 evening per week. 

What support will I get?

Prior to starting your volunteer position, you will complete a comprehensive training programme with our partner agency, Watch CIC, who are specialists in developing Peer Volunteer relations.  

Once in role, you will be supported by both the Senior Crisis worker and the Project Lead who will provide support as and when needed, as well as regular discussion about your reflections (sometimes called ‘supervision’).  

Is a DBS Check required for this role? 

YES, a DBS Check (Disclosure & Barring Service) is required for this role. You will be supported by the Project Lead.  Any disclosures will be discussed on a case-by-case basis and will not automatically stop you from being involved. 

How do I apply and what happens next? 

For further information or to arrange an informal chat about Peer Volunteer opportunities please contact [email protected]

Mind in Somerset is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community and from people who have personal experience of using mental health services.  

Why volunteer? 

Being a volunteer for a charity like Mind in Somerset is a fantastic way to give something back to your local community. There are a variety of reasons that volunteering can help to benefit you: 

• Develop new skills
• Meet new people
• Enhance your CV
• Try something new
• Build your confidence
• A route back into employment
• Gain experience required for a course
• Build on existing knowledge
• Help in an area you have a passion for.