Becoming a volunteer

City and Hackney Mind would not be able to provide the wide range of high quality services without the invaluable contribution made by our volunteers.

We are committed to making the volunteering experience at City and Hackney Mind a rewarding and productive one.

Among our core values is the desire to effectively involve people who currently use or have used our services in the management and provision of those services. Each individual has the potential to make a unique contribution and we welcome this diversity.

A choice of Volunteering Opportunities

Appropriate Adult

Appropriate Adult volunteers support vulnerable people detained in police custody in the London Boroughs of Hackney and Newham. We aim to ensure detained persons understand their rights and police procedures during their detention.

We support Appropriate Adult volunteers by maintaining a flexible approach to working hours, training and individual needs. We also provide: regular supervision, team meetings, ongoing comprehensive training, a comprehensive volunteer pack and team development through social events.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Appropriate Adult and would like an informal chat about the role and/or an application pack, please contact the Appropriate Adult Coordinator on 020 8525 2327 or email sheila.charles@cityandhackneymind.org.uk

Befriending

Befriending is a means of providing individuals who are lonely and isolated as a result of their mental health problem with regular one to one support from a volunteer to pursue a social activity. This can include help with using public transport; walking; cycling; swimming; bowling; trip to town; going for a coffee etc.

The aim of the service is to lessen the individual’s isolation and promote development of self confidence and self esteem through this unique friendship, enabling people to live successfully and independently in the community. 

Volunteers will meet with clients once a week or once a fortnight for two to four hours. We ask volunteers for a commitment of at least one year. As a Volunteer Befriender, you will receive training, supervision, reimbursement of expenses and ongoing support.

Male and female volunteers are needed; we welcome applications from all sections of the community and are keen to recruit volunteers from black and ethnic minority communities. We have an ongoing recruitment campaign and encourage those who may be interested in working for us to contact the Befriending Co-ordinator on 020 8525 2316 or email: cyrillia.francis@cityandhackneymind.org.uk

Person specification
Volunteer Task Description
Application Form

Counselling

City and Hackney Mind offers one-to-one counselling for people living in Hackney and the City. City and Hackney Mind works within the Code of Ethics of the British Association of Counselling.

As a volunteer counsellor you will receive support, training and supervision.

Brief for applicants (PDF) >>
Application form (Word) >>

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer counsellor, please contact the Counselling Admin Assistant (Nichola Lauder) on 020 8525 2319 or email counselling@cityandhackneymind.org.uk

Peer Advocacy

Peer Advocate volunteers support service users to make informed decisions by providing impartial information on service users' rights, treatments, services and the roles and responsibilities of health care professionals. They can also help explore the consequences of pursuing different options.

Peer Advocate volunteers can also help service users express their views. This may involve helping a service user find the words to say what s/he wants, attending meetings to give the service user confidence, or representing the service user's view.

People using mental health services often have poor access to information. They are inadequately informed about their rights, treatment, services or the roles and responsibilities of health care professionals. Service users also often feel powerless, and they may find it difficult to process and communicate information due to mental distress.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer peer advocate, please contact the Peer Advocate Volunteer Co-ordinator (Mark Hunt) on 020 8525 2326 or email mark.hunt@cityandhackneymind.org.uk

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees meets every three months. It has the legal and financial responsibility for City and Hackney Mind. The Board of Trustees always welcomes new volunteer members, in particular people with skills in Housing or Human Resources as well as City and Hackney Mind service users. Members of the Board of Trustees can be co-opted until the next Annual General Meeting and would need to stand for election by the members of City and Hackney Mind.

Brief for applicants (PDF) >>
Guidelines for trustees (PDF) >>
Role description (PDF) >>
Mission and work of City and Hackney Mind (PDF) >>
Application form (Word) >>

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Board of Trustees, please contact the Office Manager (Rebecca Edenden) on 020 8525 2305 or email rebecca.edenden@cityandhackneymind.org.uk

Other volunteering opportunities

If you are interested in volunteering in an area of work not described above (for example with fundraising or administrative duties), please complete the application form and send it to the Director.

Application form (Word) >>
Equal opportunities (PDF) >>

Becoming a volunteer for City and Hackney Mind

The selection process for volunteers is based on the skills and interests of the volunteer and the current needs of City and Hackney Mind. It involves an interview, receipt of satisfactory references and (where relevant) a Criminal Records Bureau ( CRB ) check.

Volunteer Agreement

City and Hackney Mind is committed to good practice in volunteering and so we have drafted a Volunteer Agreement which summarises the mutual expectations between City and Hackney Mind and our volunteers - including how we can support you and outlining your responsibilities to City and Hackney Mind.

City and Hackney Mind principles

• We will provide appropriate induction, training and support
• We are committed to valuing diversity in relation to the recruitment, selection and involvement of volunteers
• Volunteers' contributions will be valued and they will be treated with respect
• We will actively seek volunteers' views on team and organisational issues