IT is Volunteers’ Week and Scottish charity, Health in Mind, wants to thank all its volunteers for making a big difference to people’s lives.
Wendy Bates is the organisation’s interim depute chief executive and she stressed that we could not help nearly as many people without our volunteers alongside us.
Wendy said: “Health in Mind has 120 members of staff who are ably supported by our 298 amazing volunteers and, to each and every one of them, a huge ‘thank you’ for all you do.
“Health in Mind volunteers help in so many ways: in the office, out and about with our fundraising events, updating the Edspace, Midspace, Eastspace, Westspace mental health and wellbeing information websites, which we manage, and in specific roles with the individual services we deliver.
“Some train to become trained befrienders and supporters; some who use our services benefit from volunteering as part of their recovery plan.
“Others train to become volunteer peer supporters, where their experience of past mental ill health can help support people still going through these difficulties.
“Other volunteers are involved with us through Project Scotland and other fixed-term volunteer programmes.”
Health in Mind is committed to its volunteers and has twice been awarded the Investing in Volunteers (IiV) accreditation which is the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management and in Scotland, is managed by Volunteer Development Scotland.
Wendy Bates continued: “As an organisation, Health in Mind is committed to its volunteering programme it’s important to us that we return the effort put in by volunteers by making sure they have a positive experience with us and get what they are looking for from the time they give us.
“Our Volunteer Forum is open to all Health in Mind volunteers and our annual Volunteer Satisfaction Survey sits alongside it.
“Forum meetings are facilitated by a member of staff for our volunteers and the feedback is essential to make the time our volunteers give us, both enjoyable and fulfilling.”
This year, Volunteers’ Week runs until 12 June and to find out more about volunteering for Health in Mind ‘phone 0131 225 8508.
ENDS
Photo caption: Health in Mind Orchard Centre Services volunteers and staff attended the recent Volunteer Midlothian Awards at Newbattle Abbey College. L to R: Ann Sutherland, John McVeigh, Mark Scott, Michelle Moran, Provost Joe Wallace, Lisa Hodkinson, Emily Steedman, Phil Morris and Margaret Fox.
Notes for editors:
Health in Mind is a Scottish charity with almost 35 years’ experience delivering specialist mental health and wellbeing services including support services; talking therapies; information and a range of self-management and preventative services.
Last year, we worked with nearly 2,500 people in Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders, dealing with over 1,300 enquiries in our Information Service.
Our training programme offers a wide range of courses to Health in Mind staff and volunteers as well as externally and includes Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid course (SMHFA).
We employ around 120 staff, supported by around 298 volunteers. We are accredited with both Investors in People and Investors in Volunteers.
Health in Mind is governed by a board of directors, who are trustees of the charity and the day-to-day running is delegated to our chief executive, Gwenn McCreath.
Our vision is of supportive communities where all people are resilient; experience positive mental health and wellbeing; realise their potential and can participate equally.
Our values are important to us and include compassion, respect, realising potential, integrity and inclusion.
We believe in recovery and strive to help people lead the lives they want to live.
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Health in Mind contact details…
Contact: Doreen Graham
Phone: 09590009953
Email: doreen@health-in-mind.org.uk
Website: http://www.health-in-mind.org.uk
