Volunteers a sound investment Eileen Ross Voluntary Services Organiser Mental Health Partnership Wes

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Volunteers a sound investmentEileen
RossVoluntary Services OrganiserMental Health
Partnership (West)
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• Volunteering is the giving of time and energy
  through a third party, which can bring measurable
  benefits to the volunteer, individual
  beneficiaries, groups and organisations,
  communities, environment and society at large. It
  is a choice undertaken of ones own free will,
  and is not motivated primarily for financial gain
  or for a wage or salary.
• Scottish Executive Volunteering Strategy, 2004

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The UK Government promotes, encourages and
supports volunteering. The impact of volunteering
can be measured in terms of

• Physical capital
• Human capital
• Economic capital
• Social capital
• Cultural capital
• The Scottish Government is committed to
  promoting, encouraging and supporting
  volunteering.
• it is currently producing a Refreshed Strategy
  for Volunteering in Health
• it has stated its requirements of all Scottish
  Health Boards in a CEL
• it has decreed that all Health Boards in
  Scotland will achieve Investing in Volunteers by
  31 March 2011

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Why do people volunteer?

• People volunteer for all sorts of reasons
  including
• to test the water before choosing a career or
  making a career change
• to gain specific experience related to a course
  of study
• to get out of the house and/or escape boredom
• to meet new people and widen social circles
• to make a difference
• to give something back to a service that has
  helped them
• to have a purpose
• as a pathway to paid work (Employability)
• to have fun
• to enhance a CV
• to gain an award (MV, Duke of Edinburgh, etc.)
• to use skills and personal experience in a
  different context
• to support a cause
• to experience new lifestyles and cultures

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Volunteering in health what do volunteers do?

• People volunteer in Hospitals and in community
  settings. Opportunities are diverse and include
• Befriending and visiting
• Driving people to and from appointments
• Peer support (smoking cessation, mental health,
  breast feeding, cancer care, amputees, HIV/AIDS,
  etc.)
• Tea bars, trollies and shops
• Entertaining and making music
• Libraries and health information points
• Consulting the public and seeking views on
  proposed new developments and service changes
• Chaplaincy support
• Horticulture
• Healthy lifestyles (healthy eating, walking
  groups, oral health, etc.)
• Arts and crafts
• Recreational and diversional activities (games,
  quizzes, etc.)
• Encouraging patients to eat and drink at
  mealtimes
• Literacies
• Patient Focus Public Involvement (strategy and
  service development)
• Therapeutic play

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• NHSGGC Volunteering in Mental Health the
  process
• Expression of interest from potential volunteer
• Information session - Application form -
  Interview
• (this happens over one or two meetings with the
  Voluntary Services Organiser)
• Enhanced Disclosure - Occupational Health check -
  Reference check
• (the VSO initiates Disclosure through HR Dept.,
  gives the potential volunteer
• OH forms to complete and submit and pursues
  references)
• Induction Training
• (VSO arranges this with the potential volunteer.
  It usually takes at least 4 hours
• 2 x 2 hour sessions. Other staff are involved as
  appropriate)

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Examples of Voluntary Organisations supporting
mental health services in Glasgow

• WRVS
• Music in Hospitals
• Therapet
• Red Cross
• Visibility
• Deaf Connections
• Peer Support Groups (various)
• Welfare Rights Groups
• Healthy Living Centres

• Associations for Mental Health
• Carr-Gomm
• Richmond Fellowship et al
• Advocacy projects
• Training Schemes Glasgow North ESF, Momentum,
  Coach House Trust
• Projectability
• Polyphony
• Common Wheel

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How are voluntary organisations funded?Example
The Annexe Healthy Living Centre

• In 2001, the year it was established, the Annexe
  was funded by
• The New Opportunities Fund
• In 2008, sources of funding included
• NHS Greater Glasgow Clyde
• Glasgow City Council Culture Sport
• Glasgow West Community Health Care Partnership
• Communities Scotland
• The Big Lottery
• Glasgows Learning
• The Robertson Trust
• Glasgow West Regeneration Agency
• Glasgow Works
• Glasgow Community Safety Services
• Partick Works Limited
• Partick Housing Association
• Glasgow West Community Planning Limited
• When they have established and are delivering
  quality services, the challenge for voluntary
  organisations is to find sustainable funding that
  does not require constant innovation. All too
  frequently, good services are lost because of the
  pressure on organisations to comply with funding
  criteria.