We are looking for individuals who are passionate about mental wellbeing and supporting others to help us to provide support meetings for those experiencing difficulties with their mental health or wellbeing.
Our groups are run using the peer support model which has many benefits including helping individuals to feel less alone, to express their feelings, to reduce stigma, to feel empowered to manage their own wellbeing and to gain hope.
We welcome individuals with lived experiences of mental health difficulties and/or those who have supported others who have experienced mental health difficulties.
We are looking for good listeners and empathetic communicators who can help to create confidential, safe, inclusive spaces where members can come and support each other.
About the opportunity
You would be facilitating a weekly group meeting alongside at least one other volunteer facilitator. You will not be expected to facilitate a group alone.
You would talk with and get to know members as they arrive at the group, helping to make them feel welcome and safe.
Our weekly groups are free, ongoing, have no waiting list, there is no need for a mental health issue or diagnosis to attend and are open to all (18+). They provide an opportunity for individuals to come and share anything that is happening for them in their lives, to receive reflections and support from the group and to have an opportunity to think about what steps they can take to improve their wellbeing. Members who have attended our wellbeing groups have said it has helped them to feel empowered, build resilience, connection and work towards their goals.
We ask that our volunteers commit to co-facilitating a weekly group for at least four months. Being a facilitator is a responsible position, vulnerable adults rely on our service, therefore we need volunteers to be dependable and committed when taking on the role.
We are aware that being a volunteer is a two way relationship. Alongside the positive impact it can make to the lives of others, it is also an opportunity to develop new skills, build confidence, meet new people and to be part of a community. Our groups are non-hierarchical and everyone attending is encouraged to share and receive support if they feel comfortable doing so. We welcome a discussion to find out what you are hoping to gain from this opportunity, and what it means to you.
We offer comprehensive training and supervision for volunteers
● Training consists of 3 one hour evening online training sessions.
● Additionally we offer a session on the relationship between money and mental
wellbeing and the opportunity to attend live Q+A sessions.
We highly recommend that throughout the training process (and, if possible, before you start training), you attend a Changes Bristol group/ groups so you can get used to being part of them and understand how facilitation works.
Time required:
• Commitment to one group (2.5 hours each) every week.
• 3 hours for supervision and reflective practice 1x quarter
• We are a small charity and training new volunteers roughly costs us £300 so we ask that facilitators commit to volunteering for at least 4 months.
Our groups run Monday-Friday with most groups running during the daytime or early evening.
What we offer:
● Induction training for the role
● Continuous support in form of supervision and reflective practice. Senior staff members always available for on call.
● Reasonable Travel expenses reimbursed (Public transport, fuel mileage).
The application process involves the completion of our application form (returned to us via email- details on the application form). We require two references and we will carry out a DBS check before you start facilitating groups.
If you would like to find out more information please email us at service@changesbristol.org.uk. We would also be very happy to arrange a commitment free chat to discuss the role in more details so you get a better idea if it feels right for you before applying.