Ways to volunteer
Volunteering with Rochdale and District Mind
We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect. We are always looking for volunteers to help.
Volunteers are provided with an induction, safeguarding, ASIST and Mental Health First Aid training and support through their volunteering activities. If you have a skill that might be useful and time to spare, please contact us – see below for full details.
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We currently have the following volunteering opportunities within the organisation.
Community Outreach Volunteer
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 and be willing to undertake a DBS check to volunteer for this opportunity.
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact Alice Astley on 07766 140 904 or [email protected] who will be happy to help.
Social Café Facilitators
Rochdale & District Mind run 3 social cafes across the borough, one at 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 lookout 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.
Great group volunteers do more listening than talking and are comfortable listening to the experiences of others while paying attention to their own wellbeing and boundaries.
Practical Considerations
Please note that you must be over 18 and be willing to undertake a DBS check to a volunteer for this role.
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact Alice Astley on 07766 140 904 or [email protected] who will be happy to help.
Listening Lounge Facilitators
Rochdale & District Mind run a Listening Lounge 3 evenings a week 6pm -9pm at our Wellbeing Centre in the centre of Rochdale. 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 and be willing to undertake a DBS check to a volunteer for this role.
Travel home will be paid for via Taxi (local borough)
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact Alice Astley on 07766 140 904 or [email protected] who will be happy to help.
Become a Volunteer Counsellor
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).
- The deadline for receipt of completed applications is 30 September 2021.
Please click on the below buttons to view the volunteer counsellor job description and personal specification and download an application form.
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]
