Volunteering
What is Volunteering?
Volunteering means:
- Giving your time without expecting to be paid for it (apart from out of pocket expenses) to help either an organisation or someone who is not a family member;
It can be a way of:
- Meeting new people, making new friends
- Learning new skills whilst using existing ones;
- Gaining confidence & increasing self-esteem
What is the Supported Volunteering Scheme?
The Supported Volunteering Scheme aims to:
- Increase the opportunity for people with mental health issues to become volunteers;
- Recruit people as 'buddies' who can mentor people with mental health issues in their volunteering;
- Signpost & support people into worthwhile volunteering activity
How do I become involved?
Its quite simple really! You can get in touch with us yourself or if you have a keyworker or care co-ordinator you might want them to refer you. Just call Redbridge Concern for Mental Health on and speak with the Volunteer Co Ordinator.
What is Volclub?
Volclub is a new initiative that has been developed by the Supported Volunteering Scheme as a means of assisting people to identify volunteering opportunities for themselves.
Volclub provides access to websites and other resources to help find the appropriate placement for each individual.
Volclub Mentors will be here to assist you to complete application forms, contact organisations directly, and provide advice on interview techniques.
Mentors will aim to:
- Get to know you and help you work through your personal activity log
- Help you to identify where your interests are
- Assist you in undertaking a search for suitable volunteering or vocational opportunities
- Help to follow up enquiries with you
- Give one to one advice and guidance about volunteering
- Assist if you need to compile CVs or complete application forms
- Help with pre-interview preparation
Some questions you might wish to ask:
- What do I want to gain from being a volunteer?
- What can I offer as a volunteer?
- How much time can I give to being a volunteer?
- Is there anything I really do not want to do?
- Will I receive expenses
- What type of volunteering is there to do?
- Is there any training provided?
- What is going to be expected of me?
- What support will I get
- How quickly can I get going?
- Will being a volunteer affect any of my benefits?
- Do I have to give references?
- Will I need a CRB check?
Redbridge Concern for Mental Health is a unique voluntary sector organisation that serves people with mental health problems in the London Borough of Redbridge. Established over nine years ago, Redbridge Concern is a user driven organisation committed to creating a better life for people experiencing and recovering from mental health problems.
For further information about volunteering opportunities please contact:
|
Sharon, Volunteer Co-ordinator |
|
|
Tel: |
|
|
Fax: |
|
|
Email: |
