The post WANTED: Volunteer Befrienders appeared first on Changes Bristol.

The post WANTED: Volunteer Befrienders appeared first on Changes Bristol.

Could you facilitate?

Are you a people person? Do you have an ear to lend? If you are able to commit to 2.5 hours per week, this might be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you. Changes Bristol is recruiting volunteers to support the running of our groups as we start opening more up.

Facilitating is an extremely rewarding role in which you help to run our peer support meetings. We will provide full training and supervision. After a full training you will be expected to commit approximately 2.5 hours of your time, the same time every week. We need volunteers to be dependable and committed when taking on the role.

As we operate from a model of peer support, we value lived experiences of mental health challenges, so while this is not a requirement for the role, it can be to your advantage when running the groups.

We are looking for volunteers to support a range of groups. Our availability form below lists these.

The training for facilitators will be run online via Zoom from 6-9pm on:

• Wednesday 26th January
• Wednesday 2nd February
• Wednesday 9th February

If you have availability at the above times and can reliably commit to facilitating a group, please fill out our application form and availability form  (below) and return it to service@changesbristol.org no later than 2pm on Friday 21st January.

Meeting Facilitator Role Information

Meeting Facilitator Application Form

The post NEEDED: Meeting Facilitator Volunteers appeared first on Changes Bristol.

Could you facilitate?

Are you a people person? Do you have an ear to lend? If you are able to commit to three hours per week, this might be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you. Changes Bristol is recruiting volunteers to support the running of our groups as we start opening more up.

Facilitating is an extremely rewarding role in which you help to run our peer support meetings. We will provide full training and supervision. After a full training you will be expected to commit approximately 3 hours of your time, the same time every week. We need volunteers to be dependable and committed when taking on the role.

As we operate from a model of peer support, we value lived experiences of mental health challenges, so while this is not a requirement for the role, it can be to your advantage when running the groups.

We are looking for volunteers to support a range of groups. Our availability form lists these.

The training for facilitators will be run online via Zoom:

• Wednesday 17th November
• Wednesday 24th November
• Wednesday 1st December
• During w/c 6th December week you will be able to attend a meeting of your choice
• Wednesday 15th December

If you have availability at the above times and can reliably commit to facilitating a group, please fill out our application form and availability form  (below) and return it to service@changesbristol.org no later than 9am on Monday 8th November (but please apply as soon as you can – we cannot train everyone that applies so there will be an informal phone interview).

We will process applications and conduct brief telephone interviews with those that meet our criteria ahead of the training.

Meeting Facilitator Information

Meeting Facilitator Application Form

The post NEEDED: Meeting Facilitator Volunteers appeared first on Changes Bristol.

Fancy joining a growing mental health charity that works directly with Bristol communities?

Changes Bristol offer a telephone befriending service to meet the needs of people who are in mental health distress and need one-to-one support. We have just won funding to continue running our befriending service for the next 4 years and need a volunteer coordinator to help!

Your main responsibility will be to help the Befriending Service Manager deliver the service ensuring that it operates effectively and smoothly. You will match up befrienders with befriendees, supervise volunteers, promote the service and help deliver training.

Due to the diverse nature of the projects we run, we particularly welcome people to apply who see themselves as being a part of the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic community (BAME), or a person of colour, and/or a part of the LGBTQ+ community. As a peer support charity, we welcome applications from those with disabilities and who have lived experience of mental ill health.

About Changes Bristol mental health charity

Changes Bristol is a mental health charity that provides a service to those suffering mental distress in greater Bristol. Our core services provide weekly peer support meetings that run every week that are open access with no referral necessary, and where the support is there for as long as people need it. We also run a befriending service for those who need one-to-one support.

We’re a small vibrant team, and we consider our service to be essential to the population of Bristol and wish to maintain, improve and expand our service in the coming years.

The recruitment process

Please complete the Application form and Equalities form to be considered for the role. These can be found by clicking on the links below. The equalities form is anonymous and is completed online. The application form can be downloaded and when completed emailed to recruitment@changesbristol.org.

Please ensure you read and understand the Guidance Notes and the requirements of the Job Description and Person Specification before completing the application form (links to all of these can be found below). A Curriculum Vitae will not be accepted as an application for the role.

After the closing date on Monday 18th October at 12pm we will assess all the applications received and compile a shortlist of candidates. If you are chosen on the shortlist you will be invited for an interview in our offices within the following 14 days.

We are an equal opportunities employer, but more than that we are a charity that cares passionately about diversity and inclusion. We are committed to making our team better reflect the diverse communities that we serve in Bristol. This means that we welcome your application regardless of your gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes you unique.

Job Description

Person Specification

Application Letter

Guidance Notes

Application Form

Equalities Form (anonymous – please fill in online)

The post WE’RE HIRING: Volunteer Coordinator – Befriending Service appeared first on Changes Bristol.

Could you facilitate?

Are you a people person? Do you have an ear to lend? If you are able to commit to three hours per week, this might be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you. Changes Bristol is recruiting volunteers to support the running of our groups as we start opening more up.

Facilitating is an extremely rewarding role in which you help to run our peer support meetings. We will provide full training and supervision. After a full training you will be expected to commit approximately 3 hours of your time, the same time every week. We need volunteers to be dependable and committed when taking on the role.

As we operate from a model of peer support, we value lived experiences of mental health challenges, so while this is not a requirement for the role, it can be to your advantage when running the groups.

We are looking for volunteers to support a range of groups. Our availability form lists these.

The training for facilitators will run in person on:

• Sat 11 September 10-4pm
• Wed 15 September 6-9pm
• Sat 18 Sept 10-4pm.  Attendance at all these sessions is mandatory.

If you have availability at the above times and can reliably commit to facilitating a group, please fill out our application form and availability form  (below) and return it to service@changesbristol.org no later than 9am on Monday 6th September (but please apply as soon as you can – we cannot train everyone that applies so there will be an informal phone interview).

We will process applications and conduct brief telephone interviews with those that meet our criteria ahead of the training.

Meeting Facilitator Information

Meeting Facilitator Application Form

The post NEEDED: Meeting Facilitator Volunteers appeared first on Changes Bristol.

Are you a interested in supporting a local charity?

Changes Bristol have a fundraising committee and they are looking for more members to help with events, fundraising and raising awareness. We’re happy for anyone to join who’s passionate about supporting the charity, from people who have great organisation skills to party planners! We are also just looking for people who are really hands-on and can help us out at the events.

The committee meet every 6-8 weeks and we aim to do this in person across various locations in Bristol. If you’re interested in joining, fill out the application form with a short sentence on why you would like to volunteer with us and send this to fundraise@changebristol.org.uk

The post We’re looking for fundraising volunteers! appeared first on Changes Bristol.

We are currently recruiting for an Social Media Volunteer to help support the social presence, audience engagement and awareness of the charity.

Expect a variety of tasks such as creating post images, developing strong on-brand copy writing and editing videos.

Please note that the majority of the role will be computer-based. It is therefore essential to have a good understanding of IT systems and social media.

For more information about the role and an application form contact alex@changesbristol.org or 0141 536 0920

The post WANTED: Social media volunteer appeared first on Changes Bristol.

Although in the early 20’s there is now increasing visibility of non-heterosexual people, it has been frustrating to quite literally be made invisible once again. Indeed, minority groups in general and poorer people are the ones who have taken the biggest hit. Lack of outdoor space, small living areas, and jobs that can’t be done from home (and as such, dangerous) have all negatively affected quality of life for such demographics during lockdown. The benefits of online interaction have been heavily pushed, and rightly so, by a multitude of organisations and individuals. However, if, like me, the thought of a group video call gives you ‘the fear’, or simply makes you want to throw your laptop out the window, online options can make you feel even more isolated.

Which brings me on to volunteering – throughout lockdown I helped out with food distribution with Fare Share South West, and at the beginning of this year I trained as a group facilitator with Changes Bristol. I have increased my self confidence and communication skills, and met some amazingly compassionate people. Although different from my reality before lockdown hit, both seeking help and helping others have had a (hopefully) lasting effect on my mental health and wellbeing. 

The post Queer, lonely and locked down appeared first on Changes Bristol.

Could you facilitate?

Are you a people person? Do you have an ear to lend? If you are able to commit to three hours per week, this might be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you. Changes Bristol is recruiting volunteers to support the running of our groups as we start opening more up.

Facilitating is an extremely rewarding role in which you help to run our peer support meetings. With the ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19, we need our facilitators to be able to create a safe and welcoming environment for groups, while also bearing in mind the health and safety procedures needed to keep everyone safe. We provide full training and supervision. After a full training you will be expected to commit approximately 3 hours of your time, the same time every week. We need volunteers to be dependable and committed when taking on the role.

As we operate from a model of peer support, we value lived experiences of mental health challenges, so while this is not a requirement for the role, it can be to your advantage when running the groups.

We are looking for volunteers to support a range of groups. Our availability form lists these.

The training for facilitators will run in person on:

• Sat 5 June 10-4pm
• Sat 12 June 10-4pm
• Weds 16 June 6-9pm.  Attendance at all these sessions is mandatory.

If you have availability at the above times and can reliably commit to facilitating a group, please fill out our application form and availability form  (below) and return it to service@changesbristol.org no later than 9am on Monday 17th May (but please apply as soon as you can – we cannot train everyone that applies so there will be an informal phone interview).

We will process applications and conduct brief telephone interviews with those that meet our criteria ahead of the training.

Meeting Facilitator Information

Meeting Facilitator Application Form

The post NEEDED: Meeting Facilitator Volunteers appeared first on Changes Bristol.