Volunteer Befriender

Amazing, giving, and inspiring are just a few words we would use to describe our volunteers.

Our volunteers play an integral part in the services we provide and the people we support. If you are looking for a rewarding role where you will really make a difference whilst gaining experience along the way, then join us here at Rethink Mental Illness.

About the role

We are looking for Befriending Volunteers to support our befriending service in East Hertfordshire. You will provide 1-2-1 befriending for people who have a mental health issue.

You will be required to travel across Hertfordshire to meet with service users and carry out your role. Ideally, you will be able to dedicate a minimum of 1 hour per week to volunteering. You must live in Hertfordshire and be able to travel to East Hertfordshire to take part in face-to-face befriending activities.

You will receive training and regular supervision to ensure you feel confident in your role. You can read more about the benefits of volunteering in the full advert on our website.

About the service

Our service provides support to people with a mental health issue, who are aged 18 and above, and are known to mental health services. We provide befriending support to people who live in the Hertfordshire towns of: Ware, Hertford, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, Chestnut, Cuffley, Waltham Cross.

The aim of the befriending service is to:

• Reduce social isolation of service users
• Increase the confidence of service users to access community resources independently
• Provide meaningful activities and peer support for service users 
• Help service users to live happier, healthier, independent lives
• Provide volunteering opportunities for people with mental health issues
• Reduce stigma and raise mental health awareness

What you will be doing as a Volunteer Befriender:

• Meet with service users in locations and times which meet their needs this could include going out for a walk or meeting for a coffee
• Support service users to access and build social and community networks
• Support service users to achieve realistic goals

What will make you a great fit for this role?

• You will be reliable and be able to commit 1 hour per week to volunteering
• You will be flexible to meet the needs of the service users
• You will have good communication skills
• You will be caring and empathetic
• You will live in Hertfordshire

If you have any questions about the opportunity, please contact carol.whitbourn@rethink.org

Who are we?

We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”    

It is an exciting time to join our growing charity. We are on a transformation journey, one that supports the delivery of the organisation strategy – delivering Communities that Care. Supporting employees, managers and leaders through this change is a key priority for the People function. Just like its key that we attract diverse people to come and work for us.    

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion  

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.  

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation  

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrate our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.  

We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and (asexual) (LGBTQIA+), people with a disability, and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.