Can you help us?
This winter we are looking for 50 people to volunteer to be a Mental Health Buddy in Sheffield.
This scheme, part of the Tackling Inequalities in Mental Health Project, is simple - to find volunteers to be supportive friends to individuals who’ve experienced challenges in their mental health. Basically we think relationships can help to bring health and wellbeing. Let me explain…
How do you overcome difficult times?
We all have our strategies and ways of getting through the bumps in the road and the times when life seems tough and unfair. More often than not, that strategy will include the help of someone else. But what happens if that support isn’t available to you?
In the UK, many people face loneliness and social isolation. Its estimated that as many as 24% in the UK have felt this during the pandemic (Mental Health Foundation.)
Then when people go through a mental health challenge, the stigma and fear associated can mean friends can disappear and we can feel alone.
Finally, many mental health challenges can cause isolation. This great MIND article explores the ideas and I was deeply struck by this comment - "I want to be able to interact with people and make new connections but my anxiety feels like an invisible barrier that I can't break through."
Through the Mental Health Buddy Project we believe we can all work together to help.
Here’s how it works…
STEP ONE
We want to find 50 people to volunteer to the scheme. You can express interest right now. It doesn’t commit you but you’ll find out more and be invited to apply. We are looking for friendly people who care about this issue and want to help. You don’t have to have experience or previous skills, just the compassion that comes from wanting to help another human being. We are looking for adults (Over 18) of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to take part.
STEP TWO
We will arrange to chat with you, talk about the project more and invite you to join in.
STEP THREE
We will then train you in Mental Health First Aid and provide you with a supportive network through Space to Breathe. Training begins in January and will involve two Saturday mornings, some homework and then a 1:1 session.
STEP FOUR
Over time and when training is complete, we will link you up with someone to support. This will be done in safe and easy ways through our Social Cafe or other initiatives. They’ll be controlled ways for you to be in touch with your Buddy and offer them help when you can. All of this will be done alongside existing Mental Health support in the city and the services and care the person already receives. Your role is to offer friendship and the sort of support that comes through a cup of tea and knowing someone is there.
Want to help?
We’d love to have you onboard helping us.
You can express interest right now by completing the form below.
Maybe you could also download the flyer and share it on social media or share this article. We need as many people as we can to join in.
Lastly to find out more about the project and get more details visit our Tackling Inequality pages on this website.
This project is a partnership between Space to Breathe, the Sheffield Community Forensic Team, Sheffield Flourish, SADACCA and Faithstar. We are deeply grateful for these partnerships and for the work we can do together.
You can find out more here.