Who volunteers, and why
York and District Mind relies on the
commitment and valuable contribution made to its services by volunteers.
Individuals give their time as counsellors, advocates, information
service staff and
office-based workers.
Many volunteer workers choose to come to York and
District Mind because of their own experiences of mental and emotional
distress. Not only do they bring with them a variety of skills, but also
an empathy and understanding of mental health issues which can prove
invaluable.
Volunteering with York and District Mind
offers people a safe and supportive environment within which to build
their skills and self-confidence in whatever area interests them.
Whether they are pursuing a professional career in counselling for
example, or are looking for the first step back into employment after
being unwell, the organisation offers volunteers the chance to learn new
skills, refresh old ones or just experience what it is like to work as
part of a team.
For some people, volunteering offers them
the opportunity to contribute to the work of York and District
Mind after they have received help and support from us. It is clear that
at these times there is a feeling of wanting to ‘give something back’.
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Can you manage it?
Behind the scenes volunteers are also
crucial to the running of the organisation as they make up the Executive
Committee which has overall legal responsibility for the management of
York and District Mind. People from all sorts of walks of life chose to
help shape and guide the future of the organisation by working as a team
to support paid staff in the day-to-day running of the organisation.
Volunteers join the Committee with different skills and
experiences.
If you care about the work of York and
District Mind, can give time and energy to the role and would enjoy the
responsibility of managing a large and successful Charity, then we're
sure you could manage it!
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Personal accounts from
volunteers
MARY
joined the York Mind Advocacy project this year
‘I got involved with advocacy because I had to get
some contact time with clients for a counselling course I’m doing. At
first I resented this - I hate being told what to do! But once started
it has given me a real boost. It has given me back some confidence in
myself, confidence which I’d had before, but it was a while since I’d
done any work on behalf of others. I had spent quite a few years being
self-indulgent (if you call looking after a 3-year-old self-indulgent:
for me it was a great joy!) What has given me so much satisfaction about
advocacy is seeing people stand up that bit taller and realise their own
strength and resources to deal with truly daunting and demoralising
problems. After one or two meetings in which I offered support,
encouragement and some ideas - with a strong dose of realism and common
sense - I could see my client recovering her own belief in her ability
to find a solution. She seemed to be a different person! With another
client I have seen the same upsurge of hope and self-belief, even though
her problems are far from over and outwardly her situation still looks
much the same.’
ROBIN
started work as an advocate in July 1999
‘I have been visiting the Retreat as an advocate
for nearly a year now. Many of the residents there have been and are
likely to remain in a hospital-type environment for a long time. To
some, because of the effects of institutionalisation, the concept of
advocacy is especially hard to understand. But in fact, without a
nationally accepted definition, it seems there are various ideas of
advocacy depending on individual background or viewpoint - service user,
medical profession, Government etc. As I understand it, an advocate
should support and represent, when requested, the views held by their
client on the issue in question, empowering the client to achieve their
own aims without influencing them in any way. This problem of different
perceptions of advocacy cropped up at the Retreat when a psychiatrist
who was on a ward I was visiting asked me for my opinion about the
mental state of one of the patients. It was beneficial that this
incident happened on the ward. Other staff and residents were within
hearing distance when I explained that my role didn’t include making
this kind of comment. My relationship with one resident changed
dramatically after this when she began to trust me, and I believe this
was a result of this incident.’
ANTHONY
began working with the advocacy project earlier this year
‘I had been looking for a role in which I could be
of constructive help to fellow mental health service-users. I had
applied (in London and Belfast) to become a psychiatric nurse but met
with prejudice on the part of psychiatrists. I contacted Mind in York
and was surprised to find out that advocacy was an option as a
volunteer. The training was well structured, informative and friendly.
It inspired me to meet my first clients. The first was very worried
about some problems which had led to time in prison and wanted a
specialist examination. I accompanied him to his GP who agreed to make
referrals to a specialist and a Community Psychiatric Nurse. My second
client was bogged down in the appeal process for incapacity benefit. I
thought his original claim had probably not had enough supportive
evidence. I went to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau with him for further
advice. I look forward to more advocacy and appreciate the support of
the Co-ordinator and my fellow advocates. I hope I can continue to find
the time to help people going through the kind of distress I know only
too well!’
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Contact us
If you live in the York area and are
interested in joining our team of volunteers, please contact us for
further information.
Tel: 01904 647349 email: office@yorkmind.org.uk
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