Volunteering opportunities with the Independent Mental Health Network
October 2, 2019 at 11:47 am
BIMHN is the Bristol branch of the Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN), which represents a diverse community of past, current and future users of mental health services, as well as those with lived experience of mental health. By working together, we believe that we can be a force for positive change in the way that mental health is treated, perceived, and recognised.
As the network grows, we are looking for volunteers to join us and bring new skills and experience to the table. We have two different roles, which will greatly contribute to the work and projects that IMHN are involved with: Content Creators and Event Assistants. Both roles are a great opportunity to experience working with a growing start-up mental health charity.
Within both of these roles, there will also be the opportunity to support a campaign we are launching later this year focused on suicide prevention. This will see activities organised across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire encouraging people to open up about mental health and find out more about support they can access.
Role: Content Creators
We are looking to increase the range, diversity and frequency of our original content across multiple platforms. This includes our monthly newsletters, opportunity mailouts, website content including blog posts and news articles, and social media accounts.
Typical tasks would include researching and writing content for our websites and newsletters (this may include news items, blogs, comments on policy pieces) and drafting posts for social media.
What do we offer?
- Experience in developing content for different platforms.
- Visibility of content you post to an audience of thousands of people.
- The opportunity to develop your skills and experience for use on your CV.
- A reference letter confirming the skills you developed with us and the number of hours you volunteered for.
Role: Event Assistants
We are looking to increase the range, diversity and frequency of our events across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Currently we run several successful events and meetings across the area. These include:
- Mental Health Conversations
- Monthly Member Meetings
- Panel discussions
- Engagement activities through the Time to Change Campaign
Typical tasks would include assisting with event planning, promotion and evaluation; supporting attendees at events to ensure that they have the best experience possible; and supporting the development of an annual events cycle.
What do we offer?
- Experience in running events and understanding the event planning cycle
- Experience in project coordination.
- Experience in understanding the policy landscape that mental health operates in.
- The opportunity to develop your skills and experience for use on your CV.
- A reference letter confirming the skills you developed with us and the number of hours you volunteered for.
Getting involved: what do we need from you?
- The expected commitment is between 2 and 4 hours per week, which can be flexible to fit around other commitments (including studies).
- Ability to work to deadlines.
- Ability to absorb and interpret information.
- Ability to be able to work as part of a team and communicate with others effectively.
Interested?
Send an email with your CV and a short covering letter (up to one side of A4) on why you would like to volunteer with us, what you would bring to the role and what you hope to get out of the role. Please send completed expressions to engagement[@]imhn.org.
If you have any questions or would like to know more, we would be happy to hear from you.
October 2, 2019 at 11:47 am | Opportunities | No comment
Shape the future of mental health services across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire!
July 14, 2019 at 12:15 am
Thank you to everyone that took part in our survey and shared their experiences. This survey has now closed.
Have you accessed mental health support in the area?
Attempted to, but not been successful?
Caring for, or supporting someone else with lived experience of mental health?
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) are the local body responsible for ensuring delivery of mental health services. They have begun a review of mental health services across the combined three areas. As part of this, BIMHN wants to ensure that people who have lived experience of accessing mental health support (either personally, or as a carer for someone who has) are able to share experiences their experiences and feed into this review.
Our Survey
We have launched a survey to gather feedback about what’s working well, what’s not and what would make the biggest difference to the area’s mental health services in years to come.
The survey is closes on Friday 9th August.
As a thank you, there is the option to enter a prize draw to win one of 15 £25 One4All gift card vouchers.
Mental Health Conversations
Additionally, there are two feedback-gathering Mental Health Conversations events taking place, at:
- The Vassall Centre, Bristol, on Monday 29th July 2019
- The Royal Hotel, Weston-super-Mare, on Thursday 1st August 2019
All are welcome. The events are free, but please register your place by clicking the links above. Mental Health Conversations have always been very well attended, with spaces often running out in advance, so be quick!
Want to get involved in a different way? Email us at engagement[@]imhn.org so we can have a chat.
July 14, 2019 at 12:15 am | News | No comment