Volunteering 

Rochdale and District Mind’s Dementia Support Service provides support to people living with dementia, those experiencing memory loss, their Carers and families.

We will aim to empower and support people from all backgrounds and improve equality of access to appropriate support.

The project supports the community through outreach work, identifying those living with dementia, their carers and their families. We also reach out to those who are experiencing memory and/ or behaviour change that may indicate dementia and hidden carers.

Volunteering as a Dementia Support Volunteer at Rochdale and District Mind the tasks and activities that you will undertake are:

You will provide 1-1 and group support, engaging with communities. Ideally you will be multi-lingual (Urdu/Punjabi) and drive/have access to a car. Some awareness of dementia and its impact is also required for this post. Essentially you will be a pro-active team player with a natural ability to engage with people, compassionately. A certain amount of flexibility would also be desirable.

What are we looking for?

• Preferably male volunteer from BAME group, but not essential.
• Multi-lingual – Urdu/Punjabi speaking essential.
• Good team player – essential
• Driver – preferable due outreach nature of the role
• Awareness of dementia
• Compassionate, flexible individual
• Be proactive and use initiative.
• Help facilitate activities and help set up.
• Support, engage and communicate with Service users i.e., Assist in going for walks

In return, as a Rochdale and District Mind Volunteer, you will be provided with: 

• An organisational induction relevant to volunteering opportunity.
• Mandatory training covering areas such as Safeguarding, Data Security, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, PREVENT and other training relevant to the specific role.
• You will receive regular monthly check-ins from the service lead and formal supervision support quarterly.
• A Volunteer handbook for the organisation.
• Travel expenses, to and from the volunteering opportunity. 
• Learn about and Vacancy opportunities within the organisation.

Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (a previous conviction does not necessarily preclude employment)

Volunteer Application Form

Or fill in the application form at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]

Can you donate some of your spare time?

At our Rochdale Wellbeing Centre, we are always on the look out for volunteers who can help with general tasks such as covering reception or cleaning. If you are caring, empathetic and are passionate about mental health and helping others and can spare some free time, we’d love to hear from you! 

Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (a previous conviction does not necessarily preclude employment)

We recognise the importance and benefits of having a diverse and inclusive work force, and would therefore particularly welcome applications from the following, currently under-represented, groups:

• People from culturally diverse communities

• Disabled people

• People with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities

RDM Mind is committed to meeting the reasonable adjustments of disabled people and always welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health problems.

Download and print our application form here:

Volunteer Application Form

Or fill in the application form at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]

Rochdale and District Mind provide advice & support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness & promote understanding, we will not give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect. 
There’s no need for volunteering to be a big, time-consuming commitment, even an hour a week could make a huge difference to the people that we support. 

Volunteering as part of our Welcome Team at Rochdale and District Mind the tasks and activities that you will undertake are:

• To welcome visitors to the Wellbeing Centre, putting them at ease, and inform the appropriate member of staff.
• To ensure visitors to the centre sign in and out of the centre to ensure health & safety records are accurate.
• To deal with general enquiries for the centre and signpost to the relevant staff member or service
• To encourage visitors to complete evaluation surveys (digital, paper or other methods). 

In return, as a Rochdale and District Mind Volunteer, you will be provided with: 

• An organisational induction relevant to volunteering opportunity.
• Mandatory training covering areas such as Safeguarding, Data Security, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, PREVENT and other training relevant to the specific role.
• You will receive regular monthly check-ins from the service lead and formal supervision support quarterly.
• A Volunteer handbook for the organisation.
• Travel expenses, to and from the volunteering opportunity. 
• Learn about and Vacancy opportunities within the organisation. 
   

  If you would like to apply for this opportunity, please complete our application form or email [email protected] for more information or questions. 

Our Rochdale Wellbeing Café at Nye Bevan House are always looking for new volunteers!

Managed by our café supervisor, all our volunteers will be provided with ongoing support, training and the opportunity to gain qualifications in relation to food safety and hygiene standards. Ideally, you will have some form of food and cash handling, food preparation and/or customer service experience and knowledge, or a passion for cooking, baking and wellbeing. 

What are we looking for?

We are looking for those with lived experience of mental health, who want to support others that are experiencing similar – you must be caring, emphatic and committed to helping others. This is a lovely space for our Rochdale communities to gather and is open for eat-in or takeaway.

Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (a previous conviction does not necessarily preclude employment)

We recognise the importance and benefits of having a diverse and inclusive work force, and would therefore particularly welcome applications from the following, currently under-represented, groups:

• People from culturally diverse communities

• Disabled people

• People with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities

RDM Mind is committed to meeting the reasonable adjustments of disabled people and always welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health problems.

Volunteer Application Form

Or fill in the application form at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]

Our Middleton Café & Wellbeing Centre opened in March 2022 and brought a range of volunteering opportunities across our sites including peer support volunteers, group facilitators and assistants. 

What are we looking for?

Managed by our café supervisor, all our volunteers will be provided with ongoing support, training and the opportunity to gain qualifications in relation to food safety and hygiene standards. Ideally, you will have some form of food and cash handling, food preparation and/or customer service experience and knowledge, or a passion for cooking, baking and wellbeing. We are looking for those with lived experience of mental health, who want to support others that are experiencing similar – you must be caring, emphatic and committed to helping others.

Practical Considerations

Our group volunteers must have the ability to do more listening than talking and be comfortable listening to the experiences of others while paying attention to their own wellbeing and boundaries. You must be over 18 to apply for this role. 

Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (a previous conviction does not necessarily preclude employment)

We recognise the importance and benefits of having a diverse and inclusive work force, and would therefore particularly welcome applications from the following, currently under-represented, groups:

• People from culturally diverse communities

• Disabled people

• People with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities

RDM Mind is committed to meeting the reasonable adjustments of disabled people and always welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health problems.

Volunteer Application Form

Or fill in the application form at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]

Rochdale & District Mind run 3 social cafes across the borough, in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale. Social Cafés are open to anyone over 18 and create an opportunity for people to meet with others who have experience of mental wellbeing issues so that they can share experiences and ask questions. They meet once a week, at a set time and location.

Each Social Café is run by a team of 2 (minimum) volunteers. Between them, they facilitate the session, get the conversation started, make sure everyone has the opportunity to talk if they want to, and generally look out for people.

What we are looking for?

We are looking for those with lived experience of mental health, who want to support others that are experiencing similar. Must be caring, emphatic and committed to helping others.

Our group volunteers must have the ability to do more listening than talking and be comfortable listening to the experiences of others while paying attention to their own wellbeing and boundaries. You must be over 18 and be willing to undertake a DBS check to volunteer for these opportunities.

Practical Considerations

Please note that you must be over 18. Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (a previous conviction does not necessarily preclude employment)

We recognise the importance and benefits of having a diverse and inclusive work force, and would therefore particularly welcome applications from the following, currently under-represented, groups:

• People from culturally diverse communities

• Disabled people

• People with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities

RDM Mind is committed to meeting the reasonable adjustments of disabled people and always welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health problems.

Volunteer Application Form

Or fill in the application form at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]

Rochdale & District Mind run a Listening Lounge session three times a week. The Listening Lounge is open to anyone over 18 who needs to talk about their mental wellbeing and be around other people; when other day services are closed.  Each Listening Lounge is run by a team of 6 (3 volunteers and 3 staff members). Between them, they cover reception, facilitate a session, talk one to one and generally lookout for people to ensure the safety of everyone. 

What we are looking for?

We are looking for volunteers who have some experience of working with vulnerable adults.  Must be caring, empathetic and committed to helping others; whilst aware of boundaries and their own wellbeing. 

Training will be provided and travel expenses.   

Practical Considerations

Please note that you must be over 18 to apply. Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (a previous conviction does not necessarily preclude employment)

We recognise the importance and benefits of having a diverse and inclusive work force, and would therefore particularly welcome applications from the following, currently under-represented, groups:

• People from culturally diverse communities

• Disabled people

• People with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities

RDM Mind is committed to meeting the reasonable adjustments of disabled people and always welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health problems.

Travel home will be paid for via Taxi (local borough) 

Volunteer Application Form

Or fill in the application form at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]

You will be helping to support your local Mind by talking to local people, friends and family.  Spreading the word about the support we offer, talking to people about the awareness-raising days, range of groups and one to one work that Mind offer.  This information could be life-changing to individuals you speak with.  Do you have a favourite café you like to go to, would they display a poster?  Maybe your friend owns a beauty salon, again a great place to display information leaflets.  Help us spread the word about mental health and make a difference! 

What are we looking for?

We are looking for someone who is first and foremost passionate about mental health and driven to better their community. Ideally, we want someone who is great at making conversation whilst coming across as friendly and approachable. 

Practical Considerations

No experience required!  However, you must be over 18. Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (a previous conviction does not necessarily preclude employment)

We recognise the importance and benefits of having a diverse and inclusive work force, and would therefore particularly welcome applications from the following, currently under-represented, groups:

• People from culturally diverse communities

• Disabled people

• People with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities

RDM Mind is committed to meeting the reasonable adjustments of disabled people and always welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health problems.

Volunteer Application Form

Or fill in the application form at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]

Rochdale and District Mind provide placement opportunities to student counsellors who are looking for practical experience of working with clients as part of their training. We also offer volunteering opportunities to qualified volunteer counsellors who wish to gain additional valuable experience of working with service-users experiencing a broad range of mental health issues.

Our BACP accredited service is seen as a centre of excellence and best practice for placement experience by a multitude of training providers as the service continues to demonstrate a high degree of professionalism and a firm commitment to ethical practice.
We are currently recruiting for a limited number of volunteer counsellor positions.
We look forward to receiving your application if you are a fully qualified counsellor/therapist or are studying towards a Diploma in Counselling (Level 4 or above), Degree, MSc or MA in Counselling, Counselling Psychology or Psychotherapy with a fitness to practice certificate from your training institution.
Your counselling training must have, or have had, a therapeutic and personal development component rather than being purely theoretical or research based (as with Distance Learning courses).
Please click on the below buttons to view the volunteer counsellor job description and personal specification and download an application form. 

Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (a previous conviction does not necessarily preclude employment)

We recognise the importance and benefits of having a diverse and inclusive work force, and would therefore particularly welcome applications from the following, currently under-represented, groups:

• People from culturally diverse communities

• Disabled people

• People with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities

RDM Mind is committed to meeting the reasonable adjustments of disabled people and always welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health problems.

Volunteer Counsellor Job Description & Personal Specification

Volunteer Counsellor Application

If you are interested in any of the roles above, please see further details on how to apply or e-mail [email protected]