BAME Peer Connecting Midlothian is constantly recruiting new volunteers. Volunteers are needed for the roles of befrienders, peer support volunteers and peer support groups facilitators. In their roles volunteers support people on their recovery journey to improve or manage their mental health and wellbeing or reduce isolation. We are looking for volunteers to support people as befrienders and or peer support. Volunteers choose to become a peer support or befriender for a variety of reasons, for example, because of their own experiences of mental health difficulties, or to gain experience to change career. Midlothian BAME Peer Connecting Service offers one-to-one and group support for people over 18 living in Midlothian who are looking to improve or manage their mental health and wellbeing. We aim to support people on their recovery journey through: · Building on self-confidence and self esteem · Increasing social skills · Increasing community connections · Increasing feelings of hope, belief and trust What do volunteers do? Common aspects within most matches and groups: · Volunteers support the person to recover a sense of who they are and discover / rediscover their potential, strengths, qualities, interests. · Volunteers work with the person as a whole person, focussing on their talents, skills, and assets rather than focussing on their problems and needs. · Volunteers encourage the person they are matched with to set goals which you will work towards during the time you are matched together. · Volunteers encourage the person they are matched with to step outside their comfort zones, whilst providing support and encouragement · Volunteers support groups participants in sharing their experiences, supporting each other, and learning new coping strategies from each other. Values Peer Connecting Midlothian volunteers hold: · A belief that people can and do recover from mental health difficulties · Positive outlook · Empathy · Understanding · Good listener · Respecting others as being of equal worth · Appreciation of differences · Reliability · Open to learning

Peer connecting volunteers work alongside people who are experiencing poor mental health. Volunteers work with the whole person – their potential, strengths, qualities, and interests. People supported by Peer Connectors gain: - more self-confidence and self-esteem - improved mental health and well-being - knowledge of what is available in their local community - better coping strategies and self-management techniques - more self-worth - increased feelings of hope Activities can include meeting for coffee, walks, cinema, theatre, museums, garden centres, classes, meet up groups, sporting activities etc.

We’re looking for enthusiastic and dedicated people to part of a group that will organise fundraising events in their community to raise money to support Health in Mind’s work. You’ll be a part of the Fundraising Group which will put on a fundraising event in March 2024. You’ll play a key part of this group, supported by the Group Leader to secure the date, time and location of the event, promotion, and smooth running of the event itself. In the lead up to the event you will also help to organise fundraising collections in the community and increase awareness of Health in Mind’s support and services. You will be playing a key role in supporting us to raise much needed funds and awareness within your local community. You can get involved in lots of different ways.