Welcome to the Open Mental Health Volunteering Page
Volunteering is a great way to improve our mental health and wellbeing. Through volunteering we connect with our local communities, meet new people, learn new skills, and put our life experience & knowledge to good use - and we enjoy ourselves!
Volunteers are an integral part of Open Mental Health, there are so many opportunities to get involved, and we would love for you to join us.
You can find the current volunteering roles from our Open Mental Health partners listed below. Simply click on the one that interests you and follow the steps to register your interest in a role.
If you need some extra support applying for these roles or have any questions, please contact [email protected] and a member of our team would be happy to help you.
About Open Mental Health
Open Mental Health is an alliance of local voluntary organisations, the NHS and social care, Somerset County Council, and individuals with lived experience of mental health. We are working together to improve the way people in Somerset receive support with their mental health by providing access to a number of specialist services including NHS support, housing advice, debt and employment advice, volunteering opportunities, community activities, peer support and local exercise groups. We want to ensure that people in Somerset get the right support when they need it most.
Volunteer Passport
The Open Mental Health Volunteer Passport provides recorded evidence, that a volunteer has gained the required knowledge to move more easily between volunteering roles within the wider Open Mental Health network. The learning record can be updated on this passport as volunteers acquire new knowledge, understanding and skills.
Step by step guides for using Spark a Change
Use the links below to help you navigate around the site
Current opportunities with our Open Mental Health partners
Organisation role · Flexible hours
Somerset
Wellbeing Friend Volunteer
We're looking for volunteers who would like to visit an older person in their local area for a friendly chat once a week.Posted by Age UK Somerset
Organisation role · 1–2 hrs/Week
Street
Memory Connections Group Volunteer
We are looking for volunteers to help support our weekly, fun, Memory Connections group activity sessions. Posted by Age UK Somerset
Project role (Temporary) · 4–5 hrs/month · Starting from 23 Aug 2023
Flexible location
Engagement Training Peer Volunteer (Mental Health) - All areas across Somerset
Volunteers have the opportunity to support the SMI Engagement training by helping with the delivery of the sessions to mental health service providers. Posted by Peer Connections, Rethink Mental IllnessProject role (Temporary) · 2–3 hrs/Week · Starting from 23 Aug 2023
Flexible location
One-to-one Peer Mentor (mental health) - All areas across Somerset
Peer Mentors use their lived experience of mental health challenges as basis to support others. Contacting them on regular basis for agreed period of time.Posted by Peer Connections, Rethink Mental IllnessProject role (Temporary) · 2–3 hrs/Week · Starting from 23 Aug 2023
Bridgwater
One-to-one Peer Mentor (mental health) - Bridgwater and surrounding areas
Peer Mentors use their lived experience of mental health challenges as basis to support others. Contacting them on regular basis for agreed period of time.Posted by Peer Connections, Rethink Mental IllnessProject role (Temporary) · 2–3 hrs/Week · Starting from 23 Aug 2023
Burnham-on-Sea
One-to-one Peer Mentor (mental health) - Burnham-on-Sea and surrounding areas
Peer Mentors use their lived experience of mental health challenges as basis to support others. Contacting them on regular basis for agreed period of time.Posted by Peer Connections, Rethink Mental IllnessProject role (Temporary) · 2–3 hrs/Week · Starting from 23 Aug 2023
Taunton
One-to-one Peer Mentor (mental health) - Taunton and surrounding areas
Peer Mentors use their lived experience of mental health challenges as basis to support others. Contacting them on regular basis for agreed period of time.Posted by Peer Connections, Rethink Mental IllnessProject role (Temporary) · 2–3 hrs/Week · Starting from 23 Aug 2023
Minehead
One-to-one Peer Mentor (mental health) - Minehead and surrounding areas
Peer Mentors use their lived experience of mental health challenges as basis to support others. Contacting them on regular basis for agreed period of time.Posted by Peer Connections, Rethink Mental IllnessProject role (Temporary) · 2–3 hrs/Week · Starting from 23 Aug 2023
Chard
One-to-one Peer Mentor (mental health) - Chard and surrounding areas
Peer Mentors use their lived experience of mental health challenges as basis to support others. Contacting them on regular basis for agreed period of time.Posted by Peer Connections, Rethink Mental IllnessProject role (Temporary) · 2–3 hrs/Week · Starting from 23 Aug 2023
Yeovil
One-to-one Peer Mentor (mental health) - Yeovil and surrounding areas
Peer Mentors use their lived experience of mental health challenges as basis to support others. Contacting them on regular basis for agreed period of time.Posted by Peer Connections, Rethink Mental IllnessProject role (Temporary) · 2–3 hrs/Week · Starting from 23 Aug 2023
Wells
One-to-one Peer Mentor (mental health) - Wells and surrounding areas
Peer Mentors use their lived experience of mental health challenges as basis to support others. Contacting them on regular basis for agreed period of time.Posted by Peer Connections, Rethink Mental IllnessProject role (Temporary) · 2–3 hrs/Week · Starting from 23 Aug 2023
Frome
One-to-one Peer Mentor (mental health) - Frome and surrounding areas
Peer Mentors use their lived experience of mental health challenges as basis to support others. Contacting them on regular basis for agreed period of time.Posted by Peer Connections, Rethink Mental Illness
Organisation role · 2–3 hrs/month · Starting from 5 Sept 2023
Singing by Heart Leader
This voluntary role will involve taking a team out to local care homes and singing with the residents. There is a mixture of Christian and secular songs.Posted by The Salvation Army
Organisation role · 2–5 hrs/Week · Starting from 5 Sept 2023
Community Activities Volunteer
This voluntary role would involve supporting our weekly community groups. These include the boccia group (indoor seated bowls) and lunch clubs. Posted by The Salvation Army
Task · 0–2 hrs
Baby Song Helper
This voluntary role will involve supporting our Baby Song group that is run term-time on Wednesdays at 9.30am.Posted by The Salvation Army
Task · 0–2 hrs
Gardening / Maintenance
This voluntary role will involve helping to maintain the garden areas around the hall and bungalow. Painting skills would also be beneficial!Posted by The Salvation Army
Organisation role · Flexible hours · Starting from 5 Sept 2023
Charity Shop Volunteer
This voluntary role will include sorting and organising the donations that come in to our small Charity Shop (onsite).Posted by The Salvation Army
Organisation role · Flexible hours
Bridgwater
Move More Together Volunteer
The Move More Together project matches volunteers with older adults looking to start or get back to physical activity with a little helping hand.Posted by Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP)
Organisation role · 14–25 hrs/Week
Volunteer Receptionist
To provide a receptionist service for Mind in Somerset. Posted by Mind In Somerset
Organisation role · Flexible hours
Bridgwater
Are you interested in becoming one of our Trustees
Diversity Voice is looking for new trustees for its Board. The Board is responsible for the governance, monitoring and strategic direction of the CharityPosted by Diversity Voice
Project role (Temporary) · Flexible hours · Starting from 2 Jan 2023
Somerset
Open Mental Health Champion
Help give your community a voice to shape mental health services and tell people you know about the support that's available. Posted by Spark Somerset
Organisation role · 1–2 hrs/Week
Flexible location
Ageing Well Volunteers - leading groups of older people in gentle exercise & fun
Become an Ageing Well Volunteer and you'll bring older people together for gentle exercise sessions, a chance to be sociable and to have a laugh.Posted by Age UK SomersetOrganisation role · Flexible hours
Flexible location
Move More Together Volunteer
The Move More Together project matches volunteers with older adults looking to start or get back to physical activity with a little helping hand.Posted by Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP)
Organisation role · Flexible hours
Taunton
Information and Advice Volunteers
In this interesting role you'll help lessen older people's anxiety & the sleepless nights caused by financial struggles by assisting with benefit claim forms. Posted by Age UK Somerset
Organisation role · 1–2 hrs/Week
Flexible location
'Walk and Talk' Volunteer
We are looking for friendly people in Somerset & North Somerset who would enjoy going out for a short 'walk and talk' with an older person once a week. Posted by Age UK Somerset
Organisation role · 0–1 hrs/Week
From home
Friendly Phone Calls Volunteer
As a Friendly Phone Calls Volunteer you could be the person to brighten someone’s day by picking up the phone & having a chat from the comfort of your own home.Posted by Age UK Somerset
Organisation role · 0–3 hrs/Week
From home