The operation of our services depends upon the help of volunteers. We have at least 40 part-time volunteers who provide support to our organisation. We are very grateful for any help given to us.
An application form for the Centre is attached please print this off and return it to the address included. Volunteers will be required to undergo a check by the Disclosure & Barring Service (formerly Criminal Records Bureau). This can take up to four weeks to complete.
Our mission is to improve the lives of people with mental health challenges in South Kent.
Our aims are:
- Build Resilience
We will empower people towards resilience by raising awareness, educating, and providing early intervention opportunities aimed at preventing problems occurring or reoccurring wherever possible, or reducing their impact if they do.
- Provide Relief
We’ll listen, give support and advice, provide comfort and relief through a wide range of services across South Kent and develop and grow our provision/services accordingly.
- Aid Rehabilitation
We support people on their road to recovery so they can reintegrate with their communities and provide wider support with a long-term view of ensuring a positive, healthy, inclusive and productive environment.
Current Voluntary Vacancies
Engagement Volunteers, Journalist, Handyperson, Yoga & Pilates Assistants, Chair of Trustees, Group Support, Relationship Builder, Artists, Driver/Deliverer
1. Engagement Volunteers
We are seeking Engagement Volunteers in the following areas:
- Folkestone and the surrounds
- Dover and the surrounds
- Hythe
- Romney Marsh
Role
We want to have regular contact and build relationships with a range of organisations and groups in South Kent such as:
- Local businesses
- Shops and supermarkets
- Schools and colleges
- Youth groups
- Voluntary organisations
- Community groups
By doing this we want to:
- Advertise our services
- Understand the demand in the community
- Encourage fundraising and donations for us
- Encourage people to take up pay as you go counselling
- Encourage people to think of us if they need mental health training for staff or customers/users
Details
To be the friendly face of South Kent Mind in your area and drop posters and flyers to supporting businesses willing to display these for us.
We also aim to conduct a survey or businesses and organisations and ideally would like all our Engagement Volunteers to be involved. Full support provided.
- Drop-off posters to supporting businesses and thank them for their help.
- Deliver flyers to organisations that will display them in racks on their counter.
- Conduct the Big South Kent Mind survey by asking contacts at organisations a set series of questions and completing our simply survey sheet.
Skills
You will need to be:
- A great communicator; cheerful, chatty and professional
- Passionate about what South Kent Mind does
- Methodical and organised, keeping records of the conversations you’ve had and contacts you’ve made.
- Able to use simple IT
If you would like to know more about volunteering for this role please email claire.burns@southkentmind.org.uk
2. Journalist
South Kent Mind is seeking a journalist to volunteer for two hours a week to support its mental health and wellbeing work in Dover and Folkestone.
You will create articles for our website or publications which will be promoted via our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Articles could focus on people stories – both beneficiaries and staff – service delivery milestones, case studies, activities or even our new awards event.
This volunteering opportunity could be delivered remotely but the ideal candidate will live in Kent and have the ability to very occasionally attend one of our events to meet interviewees face-to-face.
Skills
You will need to be:
- A great communicator; cheerful, chatty and professional
- Passionate about what South Kent Mind does
If you would like to know more about volunteering for this role, please email claire.burns@southkentmind.org.uk
3. Handyperson
South Kent Mind is looking for a handyperson to carry out small jobs around our offices on a casual basis as they arise.
The aim of this role is to be a good all-rounder for odd jobs, such as light carpentry, painting and decorating etc.
If you would like to know more about volunteering for this role, please email claire.burns@southkentmind.org.uk
4. Yoga & Pilates Assistants
We are looking for volunteers at South Kent Mind to assist our members in accessing a weekly Yoga and Pilates session at Three Hills Sports Park. The sessions run Tuesday 12pm for Pilates and Thursday 1pm for yoga.
South Kent Mind delivers a growing range of services for people with mental health problems. We recognise the need for our members to access exercise in a safe and friendly environment. We have a good relationship with Shepway Sports Trust who host the weekly yoga and pilates session at Three Hills Sports Park.
The aim of these sessions is to introduce people to the benefits of yoga and pilates on their mental wellbeing and their physical health. It is also to support people that have been unwell to get back into activities in their community.
The aim of this role is to be a friendly face to greet members wanting to access these sessions. As a volunteer for South Kent Mind, you will have the opportunity to participate in the activities also if desired.
You may also be asked to support people during the session if they have any anxiety or panic, or are otherwise unwell.
You will be involved in the risk assessments for the session and for each participant to ensure it is clear what to do if they have difficulties.
You will be given full training around mental health and health and safety to carry out this role.
More importantly, you can be with a great group of people having a fun yoga or Pilates session!
If you would like to know more about volunteering for this role, please email claire.burns@southkentmind.org.uk
5. Chair of Trustees
We’re seeking a new Chair to lead and shape the strategic direction of South Kent Mind. If you are someone who relishes a challenge then leading the Board of Trustees at South Kent Mind will be that challenge, while working with a group of like-minded, passionate, experienced and friendly people.
We worked hard at South Kent Mind during the past year, in exceptionally difficult circumstances, to ensure we were providing much-needed services to residents. Furthermore, we now have a raft of new Trustees who are enthusiastic, supportive and have a wide breadth of experience and knowledge. This, coupled with a newly appointed full-time CEO, means we are in the exciting position of being ready to grow and expand our services. We are seeking a new Chair to lead this growth. The right candidate will be someone who can dedicate the time and commitment, preferably for a minimum of 2 years.
Principle roles and responsibilities include:
- Governance
- Strategy
- Financial management
- Decision making
- Policy management
- Risk management
- Performance measurement
- Ambassador for the organisation
As Chair you will be required to:
- Lead South Kent Mind and liaise with National Mind and local Mind organisations and stakeholders
- Ensure compliance with its governing document, charity law, company law
- Lead the Board of Trustees in giving firm strategic direction, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance
- Safeguard the good name and value of the organisation
- Ensure financial stability and effective administration
- Chair the Trustee Board meetings and AGM, prepare and plan agenda, ensure agreed actions are implemented
- Direct and support the CEO
- Attend key internal and external meetings
- Ensure the Board of Trustees is comprised of a diverse range of skills, experience and knowledge
Board of Trustee meetings take place every two months. Currently, these meetings take place remotely, but we hope to resume meetings in our Folkestone-based centre as soon as it is possible to do so. You will also be required to attend meetings with the CEO, staff and the charity’s sub-committee meetings and duties between board meetings.
To apply for this voluntary post please contact Penelope James, Chair South Kent Mind, Penelope.james@southkentmind.org.uk explaining why you would like to be considered for this role and also include your CV and a completed Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form.
6. Volunteer Group Support – supporting our weekly groups
We are looking for a volunteer at South Kent Mind to assist our variety of weekly groups.
South Kent Mind delivers a growing range of services for people with mental health problems. We recognise the need for our members to access a variety of groups with goal-led focus, to learn new skills, and aid their recovery and support into their community.
The aim of this role is to be a friendly face to assist a staff member/ potential of leading groups.
Our current groups include; Walking Group, Creative Writing & Journaling, Relaxation, Healthy Eating and Younger Adults, to name a few.
You will be given relevant training to support each activity.
More importantly, you can be with a great group of people, supporting South Kent Mind deliver their weekly activities.
If you would like to know more about volunteering for this role please email claire.burns@southkentmind.org.uk
7. Volunteer Relationship Builder
We want to have regular contact and build relationships with a range of organisations and groups in South Kent such as:
- Local businesses
- Shops and supermarkets
- Schools and colleges
- Youth groups
- Voluntary organisations
- Community groups
By doing this we want to:
- Advertise our services
- Understand the demand in the community
- Encourage fundraising and donations for us
- Encourage people to take up pay as you go counselling
- Encourage people to think of us if they need mental health training for staff or customers/users
Using a database of organisations and groups, you will email or telephone the organisations and establish a key contact person with them. You will then send regular updates to keep the contact live, and respond to any queries, working with the South Kent Mind staff team.
This is not a sales role, but we find by raising people’s awareness of us and making the process easy, people will come to us more with donations and requests for contracted work.
As a local charity, all the money donated goes into providing free services to people who need support with their mental wellbeing.
You will be provided with a South Kent Mind email address, materials and regular support. The role is flexible so other than occasions when you might arrange a time to speak to someone on the phone, it can fit in with times that are good for you.
Skills
You will need to be:
- A great communicator; cheerful, chatty and professional
- Passionate about what South Kent Mind does
- Methodical and organised, keeping records of the conversations you’ve had and contacts you’ve made.
- Able to use simple IT
If you would like to know more about volunteering for this role please email claire.burns@southkentmind.org.uk
8. Volunteer Artists
We are currently looking for volunteer artists/creatives to host regular art sessions with people accessing South Kent Mind services. You will:
- Engage and encourage
- Introduce new skills
South Kent Mind delivers a growing range of services for people with mental health problems. We recognise the need for our members to have access to a creative output.
The aim of the session is to introduce people to the benefits of having time to be creative for their mental wellbeing. It is also to support people that have been unwell to get back into activities in their community.
You’ll use your creative skill set to plan, engage and deliver creative sessions.
The role is flexible to weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
The role is flexible in creative content.
Skills
You will need to be:
- Confident in leading a session over zoom and face-to-face
- A great communicator, cheerful, chatty and professional
- Passionate about South Kent Mind’s aims and mission
If you would like to know more about volunteering as an Artist please email claire.burns@southkentmind.org.uk
9. Volunteers Needed with Transport & Time
Do you have a little spare time and a van or car with a large boot? Would you like to support your local community and a local charity?
Our shop in Hythe offers our local community a good, safe space, a place to hang out with friends, without pressure, to make friends or maybe just to be, sure of a warm welcome and decent clothes and other items at affordable prices.
We welcome volunteers to help run our shop and we also need someone to help with distributing the goods every now and then. If you live near Folkestone and have some time and a van or large car boot we would be glad of your help.
If you are interested please email contact@southkentmind.org.uk or telephone 01303 250090 and arrange to talk, or to get an application pack.
We would love to meet you.
