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Volunteer with us
it works wonders
Would you like to support someone rebuild their confidence and wellbeing? Do you have a particular skill you would like to share, such as cooking, IT, art or music? Or do you have an interest in supporting wellbeing groups? Join our friendly, enthusiastic team of mental health volunteers to help others rediscover their interests and reconnect with their communities.
Find volunteering opportunities
Check out our latest volunteering opportunities in Bristol, Somerset and North Somerset and apply on our volunteering portal:
Not quite ready to apply or have a question? Check out our FAQs below or pop your question over to us by filling in our online enquiry form here.
If you are looking for an opportunity to gain work experience or simply want to help people live more fulfilling lives I would whole-heartedly recommend volunteering with Second Step!
Angus, Second Step volunteer
About volunteering with Second Step
At Second Step, we believe in a world where every person has the opportunity to create a positive future. Our most important values are believing in hope & courage, building trust, celebrating diversity, learning & growing, and our belief that when we pull together, we can succeed together.
We offer a range of volunteer roles in across Bristol, Somerset and North Somerset, including one-to-one peer mentors, crisis service volunteers, group activity facilitators (e.g. allotment gardening, arts & crafts), and admin roles.
You don't need to be an 'expert' to get involved in mental health volunteering. If you have compassion, empathy, and enthusiasm, we'd love to hear from you. Many of our volunteers have their own lived experience too, e.g. mental health recovery or homelessness.
Volunteering with us is also a great way to build confidence and gain valuable work experience, and many of our volunteers go on to secure paid employment in the mental health sector or another sector. Hear directly from some of our volunteers about their experiences and what volunteering means for them here.
Got a question about mental health volunteering with Second Step?
We've answered some common questions about mental health volunteering in our FAQs below. Or, pop your question over to us by filling our online enquiry form here.
It’s a privilege to be able to work with the wonderful volunteers of Second Step. We strive to support all volunteers to find roles and opportunities to best fit their skills, and support everyone with their individual goals and aspirations. Whether taking on one-to-one or group-based work, our volunteers have a huge impact on our clients’ wellbeing and the support we are able to provide as an organisation.
Alice Mahood, Volunteering Team Manager
The benefits of mental health volunteering with Second Step
At Second Step, we take our commitment to our volunteers seriously. A lot of our mental health volunteers join us to learn and develop and it's so important that they're given the right support. We take pride in our training and development programme and and are recognised by Investing in Volunteers, the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management.
As a new volunteer, you will be part of a team and have the support of a volunteer manager. You will receive comprehensive training to make sure you feel confident in your role, and have regular check-ins, supervisions to help you work towards your goals, and regular opportunities to meet up with your fellow volunteers.
This might all sound daunting at first. Angus, one of our current volunteers, felt the same way, but his confidence grew quickly with the support of his team. He has kindly allowed us to share his experience here:
Angus: "I would whole-heartedly recommend volunteering with Second Step!"
Volunteering with Second Step has been an enriching and insightful experience. As a service user feedback volunteer I had the opportunity to interview people regarding their experience with Second Step and it was heart-warming to hear the overwhelmingly positive responses that I received. I was able to contribute towards a genuinely worthwhile cause while simultaneously gaining work experience within a forward-thinking mental health organisation.
"I was initially a bit apprehensive about beginning the role, however my worries were quickly put to rest by how welcome I was made to feel by the Second Step team. They provided excellent training before I started and the volunteer coordinators ensured that I always felt supported and valued as a volunteer. If you are looking for an opportunity to gain work experience or simply want to help people live more fulfilling lives I would whole-heartedly recommend volunteering with Second Step!"
Angus, Second Step volunteer
Watch: Volunteer stories
Hear directly from Jo (who volunteers with our Next Steps service in Somerset), Ben (who volunteers with our Get Connected mentoring project) and Charlie (who works with our Help When You Need It service in Bristol) about why they volunteer with Second Step and their experiences. Click the arrows at the edge of the video to switch videos:
Interested in mental health volunteering? We'd love to hear from you
We want to make our application process as easy as possible. Visit our online volunteering portal to find out about our current volunteering opportunities in Bristol, Somerset and North Somerset:
What to expect when you apply to volunteer with Second Step
- We process your application
- You attend an interview with our team (currently held over Zoom)
- Your Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check is approved and your referee contacted.
- You will be required to undertake up to three days of training, depending on the role you will be taking up.
We are required to complete a DBS check. This is to ensure both your safety and the safety of the people that you may be working with. There is no cost involved for the volunteer. Having a criminal record will not automatically prevent you from becoming a volunteer.
FAQS
Find volunteering updates on our News Hub:
