We are Rethink Mental Illness. No matter how bad things are, we can help people affected by mental illness improve their lives. As a leading charity provider of mental health services in England, ...
Peer Connections Administrative & Service Support Volunteer
Practical details
Volunteering • Organisation role
Contact person
Alex Nelson
Provided
Requirements
#122015
Scan me or visit www.sparkachange.org.uk/o/Peer-Connections-Rethink-Mental-Illness/opportunities/Peer-Connections-Administrative--Service-Support-Volunteer/122015 to join
Become part of the Peer Connections team, a progressive peer-led service. Develop meaningful skills while helping the service run smoothly and effectively.
Peer Connections is built on the belief that lived experience matters. Through connection, understanding, and shared experiences, we support people to find hope, build confidence, and move towards the goals that matter to them.
To support the continued growth of the service, we are looking for an Administrative Support Volunteer to join our team.
Working alongside the Senior Project Officer and Project Manager, you will help ensure people accessing Peer Connections feel informed, valued, and supported throughout their journey with us. Through a range of administrative and communication tasks, you will contribute to the smooth running of the service whilst developing new skills and experience within a supportive team.
What Will I Be Doing?
Initially, the role will include:
- Supporting communications through emails and letters to ensure people receive timely and meaningful updates.
- Arranging appointments and conversations for people seeking support through Peer Connections.
- Liaising with referrers when new referrals are received, helping to uphold Open Mental Health's principle of "Nothing About Me, Without Me."
- Gathering feedback from people who have accessed the service and supporting them to share their experiences and ideas for improvement.
Following onboarding, training, and support, the role may develop to include:
- Contacting people who have been waiting for support for an extended period to ensure they feel remembered and connected to the service.
- Updating information about changes in circumstances or support needs whilst people are waiting to access support.
- Contributing to service development by identifying themes, feedback, and opportunities for improvement.
- And more!
Who Should Apply?
We would love to hear from people who:
- Believe in the value of peer support and lived experience.
- Want to make a meaningful contribution to the Peer Connections service.
- Are interested in developing new skills and experience.
- Enjoy communicating with people in a compassionate and respectful way.
- Are reliable, willing to learn, and able to work as part of a team.
You do not need previous administrative experience. Support, guidance, and training will be provided. We are more interested in your values, enthusiasm, and willingness to grow.
What Could I Gain From This Opportunity?
This role has been designed to offer meaningful experience within a supportive and structured environment.
Through the role, you will have opportunities to:
- Develop confidence in a professional setting.
- Build skills in communication, organisation, and service administration.
- Gain insight into how mental health and peer support services operate.
- Contribute to service development and improvement.
- Strengthen your experience for future volunteering, training, or employment opportunities.
For those already volunteering within Peer Connections, this role can complement existing volunteering responsibilities and provide an opportunity to develop further skills and experience.
This role is a strong entry point for people interested in careers in mental health services, community services, project work, service coordination, peer support, lived-experience roles, and the wider voluntary sector. It also provides valuable insight into how mental health support is delivered across Somerset through Peer Connections and Open Mental Health.
What Support Will I Receive?
We recognise that stepping into a new role can feel both exciting and challenging.
You will receive regular support from the Senior Project Officer, including guidance, supervision, and opportunities to reflect on your learning and development. Monthly supervision sessions will provide dedicated time to discuss progress, celebrate achievements, and explore any challenges you may encounter.
We want this role to support your development as well as the development of the service. Wherever possible, we will help you build skills and confidence in areas that are important to you.
We also anticipate arranging at least one co-working day each month to support collaboration, shared learning, and connection with the wider team.
You will never be expected to take on responsibilities without appropriate training, support, and preparation.
Interested?
If you would like to learn more about the role or arrange an informal conversation, please get in touch.
Related to
About Rethink Mental Illness, Peer Connections
We are Rethink Mental Illness. No matter how bad things are, we can help people affected by mental illness improve their lives. As a leading charity provider of mental health services in England, we're on a mission to bring about meaningful change, and Peer Connections is one of our teams.
In Rethink, people affected by mental illness are at the heart of everything we do. That is why our Peer Connections team is made up of Peer Mentors, volunteers who want to use their lived experience to become a peer and walk alongside somebody on their recovery journey.
We periodically recruit new volunteers throughout the year, but if you are interested please contact us to talk about our service and what we can do on [email protected].