Volunteering opportunities

Trans Psychotherapist Volunteers

The service

Outcome is a client led LGBTQI+ service at Islington Mind that has been run by a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans team for 15 years and is one of the few LGBT mental health services in London. We are in the Ashley Road Islington Mind centre at 35 Ashley Road, London N19 3AG.

We are currently recruiting volunteer psychotherapists on our Rainbow Suicide Prevention London (RSPL) psychotherapy services. RSPL is a service that assists LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and refugees, all trans and non-binary people, and LGBTQI+ people ages 18-25 who would benefit from psychotherapy. It is our aim to improve access to mental health support and care especially to those of racialised, ethnic- and racial minority backgrounds, offering a diversity-focused service.

We are reserving one volunteer psychotherapist role for a qualified trans therapist/trainee to begin volunteering with us ASAP. As Outcome supports LGBTQI+ POC communities, we are looking to recruit volunteers representing this demographic and with diverse lived experiences.

What we offer

• Group supervisions with a highly experienced senior LGBTQI+ clinical supervisor of colour fortnightly (Mondays or Wednesdays).
• An opportunity to practice within a multicultural and established specialist service.
• An opportunity to get involved with projects and initiatives at Islington Mind.
• A chance to develop clinical experience with clients from several diverse parts of the world and plural ethnical and cultural backgrounds.

Commitment & Eligibility

• The Psychotherapy services takes place on Wednesdays and/or Tuesdays, according to the therapists’ schedule.
• Workload of 2-5 clients per psychotherapist.
• Applicant must be at least in their second year of clinical training and working towards a qualification and registration with one of the main UK regulatory bodies (UKCP, BACP, etc.)
• One-year-long commitment and availability on Wednesdays/Tuesdays (once every two weeks) for supervision.
• Candidates must identify as LGBTQI+ and we are especially encouraging racialised and trans people to apply given the lack of representation in the talking therapies sector and the clinic’s client demographic.
• Candidates also need to have, or be willing to secure, an enhanced DBS check as well as personal indemnity insurance.

How to Apply

Please send a CV and a cover letter explaining why/how you would be a good match for these positions to Jeeyung at: Jeeyung.Staurseth@islingtonmind.org.uk

Deadline for Applications: The application will be open until the roles are fulfilled. If you are seeing this advertisement, please assume that it is still open.

Equal Opportunities

Islington Mind is committed to offering opportunities on a non-discriminatory manner that reflects our inclusive and plural outreach. We welcome and encourage applicants who identify within any racial/ethnic minority. We also encourage applicants that identify as trans and non-binary, as well as applicants of diverse abilities. For these positions, specifically, we reserve the right to prioritise LGBTQI+ applications due to the nature of the specialist service.

LGBTQI+ Psychotherapist Volunteers

The service

Outcome is a client led LGBTQI+ service at Islington Mind that has been run by a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans team for 15 years and is one of the few LGBT mental health services in London. We are in the Ashley Road Islington Mind centre at 35 Ashley Road, London N19 3AG.

We are currently recruiting volunteer psychotherapists on our Rainbow Suicide Prevention London (RSPL) psychotherapy services. RSPL is a service that assists LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and refugees, all trans and non-binary people, and LGBTQI+ people ages 18-25 who would benefit from psychotherapy. It is our aim to improve access to mental health support and care especially to those of racialised, ethnic- and racial minority backgrounds, offering a diversity-focused service.

We are recruiting 4 qualified therapists/trainees to begin volunteering with us ASAP. As Outcome supports LGBTQI+ POC communities, we are looking to recruit volunteers representing this demographic and with diverse lived experiences.

What we offer

• Group supervisions with a highly experienced senior LGBTQI+ clinical supervisor of colour fortnightly (Mondays or Wednesdays).
• An opportunity to practice within a multicultural and established specialist service.
• An opportunity to get involved with projects and initiatives at Islington Mind.
• A chance to develop clinical experience with clients from several diverse parts of the world and plural ethnical and cultural backgrounds.

Commitment and Eligibility

The Psychotherapy service takes place on Wednesdays and/or Tuesdays, according to the therapists’ schedule.

• Workload of 2-5 clients per psychotherapist.
• Applicant must be at least in their second year of clinical training and working towards a qualification and registration with one of the main UK regulatory bodies (UKCP, BACP, etc.)
• One-year-long commitment and availability on Wednesdays/Tuesdays (once every two weeks) for supervision.
• Candidates must identify as LGBTQI+ and we are especially encouraging racialised and trans people to apply given the lack of representation in the talking therapies sector and the clinic’s client demographic.
• Candidates also need to have, or be willing to secure, an enhanced DBS check as well as personal indemnity insurance.

How to Apply

Please send a CV and a cover letter explaining why/how you would be a good match for these positions to Jeeyung at: Jeeyung.Staurseth@islingtonmind.org.uk

Deadline for Applications: The application will be open until the roles are fulfilled. If you are seeing this advertisement, please assume that it is still open.

Equal Opportunities

Islington Mind is committed to offering opportunities on a non-discriminatory manner that reflects our inclusive and plural outreach. We welcome and encourage applicants who identify within any racial/ethnic minority. We also encourage applicants that identify as trans and non-binary, as well as applicants of diverse abilities. For these positions, specifically, we reserve the right to prioritise LGBTQI+ applications due to the nature of the specialist service.

Out of Hours Crisis Café Volunteer Yoga Instructor

We are looking for a certified yoga instructor to volunteer with the Out of Hours Crisis Cafe and provide restorative yoga sessions to service users. We are looking for someone who has experience working with individuals living with mental health conditions and other disabilities.

If interested, please email us at crisis.cafe@islingtonmind.org.uk with a volunteer application form and GDPR consent form.

Out of Hours Crisis Café Volunteers

We are looking for volunteers to give support to service users at risk of crisis and help with the day-to-day running of the social inclusion group (e.g. group facilitation, reception, answering phones, serving food and keeping the area tidy). Ideally, volunteers will be familiar with mental health first aid and crisis support.

If you are interested in volunteering with us, please email crisis.cafe@islingtonmind.org.uk and we’ll get back to you.

Counselling / Talking Therapies Volunteers and Placements

Our Counselling Service offers 10 or 20 weekly sessions. Sessions take place in one of Islington Mind buildings.

Volunteer/placement counsellors need to be in the final year of their training. They are required to commit to a minimum of one year of volunteering, offering a minimum of one day a week and building up to seeing three clients at a time.

If you would like to join Islington Mind’s small team of volunteer counsellors, please email your CV to ossi.ron@islingtonmind.org.uk

Welfare Benefits Clinic volunteers

We currently have volunteering placements available with the Islington Mind Welfare Benefits Clinic. The Clinic runs from our head office on Fridays and provides vital support to our service users in accessing welfare benefits.

The role will involve supporting Islington Mind service users with applying for Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, and Universal Credit. This includes the completing of benefit forms, corresponding with the Department of Work and Pensions, and accompanying service users to health assessments. The role therefore requires a familiarity with Microsoft Word and a good level of written English. An insight and understanding of mental distress is also needed as you will be engaging in difficult conversations. This is intense but rewarding and vital work as you will be supporting people to access essential income. It would be an advantage to have interest and understanding of the benefits system.

Please note this is not a clinical or therapeutic role and involves providing practical support.

We ask for a commitment of at least 1 full year one day a week on Fridays (+ about 2-3 months for DBS check and induction), although there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer more than one day a week should you wish to do so. Induction and training to this role will be provided as well as regular support and supervision. Travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed. And work references provided after completion of one year volunteering.

If this sounds interesting and suitable to you, please complete the application form and return with your CV and a letter of interest, indicating why are you interested in the role. Send these to rosa.morris@islingtonmind.org.uk

Hand in Hand Peer Buddy Service volunteers

We’re recruiting volunteers for Hand in Hand Islington – a Volunteer Peer Buddy scheme that recruits, trains and supports volunteers with lived experience of mental ill-health to accompany residents with mental health problems to other locations in the borough for appointments, courses and training, services, green spaces, activities and events.  Peer support can also include assisting in making phone calls, form filling, and signposting for further support.

To read more about the Peer Buddy’s role, download FAQs for Peer Buddies. If you require any further information, email handinhand@islingtonmind.org.uk.

To register your interest in volunteering as a Peer Buddy, click here.

Outcome LGBTIQ+ project volunteers

Outcome is the LGBTIQ+ specialist service of Islington Mind, offering support to LGBTIQ+ people who experience mental distress within Islington and across London.

We are open every Tuesday online and in-person at our day centre in Crouch Hill. We offer a safe and supportive therapeutic drop-in, as well as activities including art, yoga, walking group, running group, inclusive gender-specific groups, and creative writing.

We are also open on Wednesdays for a specific project supporting LGTBIQ+ people seeking asylum or who are already refugees. In this space, we offer a drop-in as well as more intensive mental health and practical support.

We are looking to offer two types of volunteering placements

(1) Mental Health Support volunteer; and
(2) Communications and Campaigns Volunteer

(1) ​Mental Health support volunteer
We are looking to offer volunteering placements on either Tuesday or Wednesday (or both) to candidates who identify as members of the LGBTIQ+ community. Candidates need to be able to commit to at least 12 months volunteering one full day a week with us (in addition to around 1-2 months for DBS check and induction). Candidates should have an interest in supporting a mental health-focused project, working within a client-led setting to deliver activities, and helping clients who experience mental distress in group settings.

Outcome is a hybrid service (in-person and online) for the foreseeable future and volunteers will be expected to support the online service on Zoom and attend the day centre in-person.

Regular supervision as well as training opportunities will be provided.

For an application form please contact Lizzie Hughes lizzie.hughes@islingtonmind.org.uk

(2) Communications and Campaigns volunteer
We are looking to offer volunteering placements on Tuesday to candidates who identify as members of the LGBTQI+ community. Candidates need to commit to at least 6 months volunteering one full day a week on Tuesdays.

Candidates should have an interest in developing campaigns, outreach, and influence programmes. Candidates would be expected to: work closely with the team leader to develop the project’s external profile, develop Outcome’s campaigning programme, maintain Outcome’s social media presence (X/Twitter, etc.), develop Outcome’s outreach programme, and other relevant tasks.

To apply please contact Lizzie Hughes: lizzie.hughes@islingtonmind.org.uk

Mother to Mother Project volunteers

The Mother to Mother project provides day service opportunities for mothers whose children experience mental health problems and who act as their carers. We are currently looking to offer volunteer placements.

You will be supporting the mothers in a group setting.

The project runs on Mondays 9:30am-5:00pm and we ask for a commitment of at least one year.

If this sounds interesting and suitable for you, please complete the application form and return with a copy of your CV to ossi.ron@islingtonmind.org.uk

Music volunteers wanted

Volunteering placements are available for musicians with Islington Mind. Ideally, you’d have some tutoring experience.

We have guitars (Spanish, acoustic, electric, electric bass) keyboards, piano, drum kit, percussion and recording facilities.

A warm and empathetic approach is needed. A commitment of a minimum of 1 year, 1 day a week is required. 

For further information please email michele@islingtonmind.org.uk

Integrated Community Support (ICS) volunteers

The Integrated Community Support (ICS) service provides day service opportunities for people with low and medium Preventative Care Needs.

We are currently looking to offer volunteering placements with our Mental Health Recovery Pathway (MHRP) – a mental health provision based across three sites in Islington responding to the mental health needs of Islington residents.

You will be assisting service users who experience mental distress in group settings.

We ask for a commitment of at least 1 day a week 10:15am – 4:00pm for a full year (+ about 2-3 months for DBS check and induction), though there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer more than one day a week.

If this sounds interesting and suitable to you, please complete the ICS volunteer application form and return with your CV, indicating why are you interested in volunteering for Islington Mind, if there is anything specific that you would like to do in your volunteering placement – e.g. facilitate activities, support our open access drop-in sessions, support service users with completing forms, accompany service users to appointments etc, and your availability – e.g. one or more days a week and which days of the week you are available.

Please email all the above application material to:

ossi.ron@islingtonmind.org.uk

Structured Intervention Support (SIS) volunteers

The Structured Intervention Support (SIS) service offers support for people with high and complex needs.

You will be assisting service users who experience mental distress in one-to-one settings:
-help to resettle in the community on discharge from hospital
-help to develop strategies to improve their quality of life and reduce their dependence on statutory services
-provide personalised key work support to enable people with complex mental health needs progress and maintain independent living.

We are looking for volunteers who can support people with activities for a minimum of 1 day per week. Activities such as:

-Escorting people to appointments/outings/activities or events
-Organisational and administrative tasks – help with budgeting; understanding/applying for welfare benefits; letter writing and form filling; arranging activities/appointments; planning the use of other services such as shopping.
-Supporting people to maintain their homes – reporting/organising repairs; organising a move; signposting and referring to services and activities.
-Ad-hoc support

We ask for a commitment of at least 1 day a week 9:30 – 5:00 for a full year (+ about 2-3 months for DBS check and induction), though there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer more than one day a week.

Staff benefits include volunteers receiving 3 days of training and a fortnightly group supervision.

What you will gain from this role:

-On the job training and supervision
-Support with professional development
-Work references provided after completion of one year volunteering
-Travel expenses reimbursed (within London)

Please return the completed SIS volunteer application form, along with a copy of your CV. Email to the service manager, Ossi Ron, at ossi.ron@islingtonmind.org.uk