Volunteer With Us
Be inspired…
Our staff, volunteers, and patrons champion our vision to create a community where living with, and talking about Mental Health, becomes acceptable for everyone.
Here at Dorset Mind, we welcome diverse perspectives. We value what your history and lived experiences, can bring to the charity, and the people we support.
Sharing your experience and skills could enable us to change the lives of many.
You’ll also gain from the experience of volunteering, whether it might be to give you purpose, or increase your confidence or skill set to find paid employment.
It’s worth noting that 25% of our current staff began their journey as a volunteer!
View our voluntary vacancies below and be inspired to make a real difference to people in Dorset today.
Current Opportunities
Main Purpose:
Dorset Mind’s NEW Peer Support Group Service aims to enable Adults with experience of mental health problems to set up and run peer support groups in their own communities. The groups will help people in Dorset to build on their strengths and interests, discover their own resources to support their mental health and thrive in their lives. The service has been tailored with input from Dorset Mind service participants to meet the needs of other people in Dorset that have shared living experiences of mental health.
To work with other Peer Support Group Volunteers and the Peer Support Coordinator in the design, start up and co-facilitation of special interest and activity-based groups in Dorset.
Peer support groups will aim to connect people with shared mental health lived experience or like-minded interests, while providing mutual support. The volunteer role will involve facilitating activities and peer support between group members. You will be empowering group participants to promote and support mental health recovery for themselves and others. We believe that through sharing our experiences, we can support each other to identify our strengths, gain insight into our mental health difficulties, and develop effective coping strategies.
A Peer Support Group Volunteer will ensure the successful delivery of the new Peer Support Group service and assist with the administration and development of the service where relevant.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the mission of Dorset Mind by:
- Raising awareness about mental ill health. Bringing awareness of symptoms – what they are, what to expect and how to spot them
- Challenging the stigma and inequality of mental ill health so that neither stigma nor inequality prevent people receiving information and support they need
- Promoting the ethos of recovery from mental ill health by educating people about recovery
- To co-design, start up, and co-facilitate one of five new Peer Support Groups for adults.
- To ensure that everyone attending has been accepted through the Dorset Mind’s Peer Support referral process.
- To provide a welcoming, safe and supportive environment, and work within Dorset Mind’s Group Guidelines.
- To work with your co-facilitators to enable group activity work.
- To actively listen and, in leading by example, encourage mutual peer support within the group.
- To encourage and empower participants to get involved, contribute, and share as much as they wish.
For a full list of role responsibilities, please see the role description.
Training and Supervision Offered
- Mental health Awareness Training
- Dorset Mind Staff Induction
- Adult Safeguarding Training
- Regular check-ins provided
Enhanced DBS check: Required for this role.
Main Purpose:
To support our group facilitators at one of our five Eco in Mind sites across Dorset. This service provides a safe, welcoming, non-judgemental area to deliver wellbeing ecotherapy. Eco in Mind aims to support people to develop positive mental health and improve wellbeing through meaningful and therapeutic ecotherapy.
There are a variety of hourly sessions held throughout the week where participants and volunteers will undertake the upkeep of the allotment and fruit and vegetable production as well as future planning and creation of an ecotherapy sensory garden.
All produce grown on our allotments is given to local food banks that support the nearby community.
Main Purpose:
To let people know about the work of Dorset Mind across Dorset (including: support services, training, education, partnership and volunteering opportunities). They will also be required to signpost people towards appropriate help where required.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the mission of Dorset Mind by:
- Raising awareness within general and specific communities about mental ill health. Educating people about symptoms – what they are, what to expect and how to spot them. We also help people about what they can do when they experience symptoms or know someone who does.
- Challenging the stigma and inequality of mental ill health so that neither stigma nor inequality prevent people receiving information and support they need.
- Promoting the ethos of recovery from mental ill health by educating people about recovery
- Work as part of the Events team to promote the work and profile of Dorset Mind.
- Talk knowledgeably about Dorset Mind and mental health to anyone visiting our stand at various events.
- Confidently signpost people to appropriate help.
- Distribute information leaflets when needed.
Main Purpose:
To become part of a successful team of volunteers who support individuals who are experiencing mental health problems with a view to:
- Help to improve self-confidence and self esteem
- Identify goals, based on the 5 ways to wellbeing. Working on tools and skills to help manage and maintain positive mental health
- Reduce social isolation by supporting clients to engage and interact in groups and activities within the community. Increasing social interactions
- To promote and support mental ill health recovery
- Help reduce stigma around mental health
The aim of our Mentoring Minds service is to provide weekly telephone support initially, leading to face-to-face support moving forward.
To build a professional relationship that offers one-to-one support in the community for a minimum of 6 months to maximum of 12 months.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the mission of Dorset Mind by:
- Raising awareness within general and specific communities about mental ill health. That is to say educating people about symptoms – what they are, what to expect and how to spot them. We also help people about what they can do when they experience symptoms or know someone who does.
- Challenging the stigma and inequality of mental ill health so that neither stigma nor inequality prevent people receiving information and support they need.
- Promoting the ethos of recovery from mental ill health by educating people about recovery.
- To engage with the participants in line with the agreed commitment. This begins with 30 minutes per week, then moves to 1-hour weekly face to face, then finally 2 hours per fortnight face to face to extend the activities you can do together.
- To agree with the client a range of beneficial activities to reduce social isolation
- To encourage participation, including making choices, by the participant to increase their levels of empowerment within the 5 ways to wellbeing framework.
Main Purpose:
To welcome and engage with participants attending the well-established, popular Active in Mind group in Southbourne. Responsibilities include checking in on participants’ wellbeing, assisting them with completing service paperwork and encouraging participants to take part in activities (e.g. playing board games, pool, table tennis, badminton, arts and crafts, etc.) available at the group.
A successful applicant will play an important role in the participants’ recovery and maintenance of positive mental health by providing necessary support, encouragement and sense of community.
A volunteer will help with the facilitation and development of the group.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the mission of Dorset Mind by:
- Raising awareness about mental ill health. Bringing awareness of symptoms – what they are, what to expect and how to spot them
- Challenging the stigma and inequality of mental ill health so that neither stigma nor inequality prevent people receiving information and support they need
- Promoting the ethos of recovery from mental ill health by educating people about recovery
- Assisting in creating a friendly, supportive and encouraging environment where participants feel comfortable trying new activities
- Listening and offering emotional support and appropriate signposting at the group (note that Active in Mind is not a talking group, but we encourage conversation about mental health)
- Welcoming regular and new attendees to sessions and introducing new attendees to existing members and activities available
- Improving people’s confidence by encouraging and empowering them to overcome any barriers to being active
- Encouraging participants to consider their health and wellbeing more broadly and signposting them to information and services that can help people live healthier lives
- Teaching and playing games alongside participants
- To support participants to complete all necessary service paperwork
- To offer feedback on sessions as part of ongoing group evaluation
- Provide support to group participants if they have any IT issues during online sessions
- Setting up the room half an hour before the group meets (e.g. arranging chairs, displaying leaflets, setting up refreshments)
- Helping to pack up at the end of the group session (e.g. washing up, packing away refreshments and games)
- Providing refreshments to participants, volunteers, staff and guests
- Referring any concerns about the premises or any participant to the group facilitator
Training and Supervision Offered
- Mental health Awareness Training
- Dorset Mind Staff Induction
- Adult Safeguarding Training
- Regular check-ins provided
Enhanced DBS check: Required for this role
The role is to support the Administrator and Team Leader within the team of Dorset Mind with administrative tasks relating to Volunteering service at Dorset Mind.
The role involves telephone interviewing potential volunteers, onboarding new applicants who wish to volunteer for Dorset Mind and working alongside the internal teams at Dorset Mind in their requirements around volunteers within their services.
Key Responsibilities:
To carry out a range of administrative duties to support the Volunteering service at Dorset Mind. Responsibilities may include (but are not limited to):
- Creating and modifying documents using Microsoft applications such as MS Word,
Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Performing administrative duties including but not limited to photocopying, scanning, mailing, and electronic filing.
- Monitor the Volunteer inbox and respond and follow up to emails. This also includes signposting where appropriate.
- Assist in the facilitation of the Onboarding and Exiting stage of a volunteer’s journey.
- Completing interviews with potential volunteers either face-to-face or via telephone.
Training and Supervision Offered
- Dorset Mind Induction
- Mental Health Awareness Training
- Safeguarding Training
- Boundaries and Resilience Training
- Suicide Awareness Training (optional)
- Role specific training
- Regular supervision provided
What we offer...
Our volunteers often come to us to help prevent others from experiencing what they’ve been through themselves.
They help us support people by using their lived experience and empathy.
As part of a national organisation we deliver a professional standard of training in mental health awareness and a full induction to the charity to ensure we support you in your role.
We also offer regular contact and support from our volunteer team to ensure you have a great experience with us. We offer the opportunity to gain experience, improve your life skills and develop ideas.
What we require...
In return for our investment in you and your training, we ask for at least 6 months commitment to our cause.
We require open and reliable communication at all times and respect be given to anyone connected to Dorset Mind- including Staff, Volunteers, Participants and the wider community.
Above all, we’re looking for friendly, honest, considerate and approachable people that are committed to supporting our aims and mission.
Why not volunteer for your CSR?
Do something good and feel even better about doing it – all while supporting the mental health of the people of Dorset. To find out more about this and our other Corporate Support, click below.
Do your University Placement with us
We invest in all our volunteers with several types of mental health training, inductions and lots of opportunities to learn across the company. Volunteer 30 weeks with us and contribute to helping people in Dorset live positively with their mental health. Contact us and select ‘Volunteering’ before sharing your info.
