Volunteering

Bath Mind offers a number of volunteering opportunities, with paid staff and volunteers working together towards a better life for people experiencing mental ill health.

Strategic direction and representation

Bath Mind is managed by a small committee of volunteer Trustees, providing guidance and direction to the charity. Trustees have a range of skills including knowledge of the mental health services as a user or carer, financial, fundraising and business skills. If you are thinking about becoming a Trustee further general information and an informative leaflet 'Thinking about becoming a charity trustee' can be obtained from the Charity Commission telephone 0870 3330123 or visit www.charitycommission.gov.uk.

Volunteer Advocate/Befriender

If you are concerned about the rights of people with mental or emotional difficulties, respect other people's views, are a good listener, reliable and can commit to 2-4 hours per week find out more about becoming and advocate/befriender.

Bath Mind Advocacy offers a free, confidential and independent service for anyone who has experienced mental and emotional distress and their carers.

Many of our advocates will bring with them relevant life experiences, a degree of expertise and relevant qualifications in legal and social care areas, although all our volunteer advocates have to complete an in-house training course before they can work for Bath Mind. This course is 3 days long and is usually completed over 3-4 weeks. Once trained, advocates are assigned individual cases with regular individual and group supervision meetings for support.

The next Advocacy/befriending training course is expected to be mid-2012.

How to get involved

There are many ways you can tell us about how to make the things we do better. Bath Mind is seeking users of metal health services to join its Mind Readers and Active Minds groups.

Mind Readers help us review policies and information leaflets. You can do this in the comfort of your own home and in your own good time. We will send you six mailings each year by post or email. Each will contain two or three policies or leaflets. We ask you to read what we send you and return your comments and suggestions. For further information on joining Mind Readers contact Jackie Parrington phone 01225 316199 or email admin@bathmind.org.uk.

Active Mind is a group that meets every few weeks over a cup of tea to share personal experiences of mental health services in the local area and if an issue is identified, decide what action they would like to take. Some of the things Active Minds might do include plan campaigns and events, tell local commissioners about the services they want, write to the local MP and set up other activity groups. You don’t have to come to every Active Mind meeting and are welcome to come when you can. For information on the next meeting contact Chris Hailstone phone 01225 316356 or email manager@bathmind.org.uk.