Why Volunteer?
Mind in Brighton and Hove recruits, trains and supports volunteers to help with service provision. Volunteer involvement brings a range of benefits to volunteers, service users and the organisation as a whole. We invest in volunteers and are rewarded by committed people, without whom many services could not operate.

All our volunteers have a personal interest in mental health and bring with them their knowledge and experience, which is invaluable. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds particularly those who have experience of using mental health services. It is recognised that service users have specific skills gained from experience and that they enrich the services that the organisation is able to offer.

Volunteering Opportunities
Mind in Brighton and Hove has five main areas offering opportunities for volunteers:

	Board of Trustees
	The Resource Room

Board of Trustees
Mind in Brighton and Hove is governed by a Board of Trustees, made up of volunteers who meet bi-monthly to oversee the strategic and general management of the organisation. The Director of Mind reports directly to the Board of Trustees.

Trustees play a key management role with regard to how Mind operates and the services it provides. The Trustees responsibilities are varied and include working:

	to ensure Mind continues to meet its stated aims and objectives i.e. promoting positive mental health and involving service users in local service planning.
	to ensure equal opportunities are promoted and sustained through all aspects of the organisation and its projects.
	to contribute and steer the strategic aims and direction of the organisation.
	to ensure Mind in Brighton and Hove meets Charity law, the Articles of Association and other relevant legislation.
	to monitor and evaluate the performance of the organisation to ensure high quality standards.
	to oversee the financial operations of the organisation.

We are looking for individuals with skills in the areas of the law, personnel, finance, fundraising and would particularly welcome applicants from ethnic minorities.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact the Director of Mind in Brighton and Hove who is based at the Allen Centre.

There are two specific roles in the Resource Room that volunteers may take:

Role 1 – Providing support to enable people to use the service. This includes welcoming people and explaining the service; providing listening and support to help people identify their needs; providing basic information; and helping service users to access the computers and internet.
Role 2 – To assist the Co-ordinator with the provision of basic advice and information within the service. This includes assessing client needs, giving information and exploring options, identifying future action the client can take, giving basic assistance i.e. form filing and contacting third parties to seek information.

All volunteers are trained to undertake Role 1 in the room. Volunteers have the option to train and undertake Role 2 after gaining sufficient experience, skills and knowledge.

The Resource Room recruits volunteers once or twice a year, as and when needed. To be added to the recruitment mailing list please contact the service at Buckingham Road. In recognition of the transition period following discharge from hospital, applications to volunteer are not usually accepted within six months of hospitalisation. Please click here for more information about the service.