Capital Volunteering Hillingdon
HAVS run a range of projects across the borough for mental health service users. These projects include befriending schemes, social projects and volunteering opportunities. The projects aim to increase people’s confidence, social networks and health. Capital Volunteering has been running for over 2 and half years in Hillingdon and over 300 service users and volunteers have been involved.
Capital Volunteering Hillingdon runs a range of projects to support people along the steps into social inclusion. This includes social activities, one to one support for independent living or to explore employment, a chance to help others, or to volunteer. The project will also run training sessions and promotion events to raise the wider community’s awareness and understanding of mental health. By looking at social inclusion from both sides, the project aims to develop people’s confidence and the mainstream opportunities available. |
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Capital Volunteering operates across 11 London boroughs, including Hillingdon.
Capital Volunteering Hillingdon runs a range of projects across the
borough with various levels of responsibility for mental health service users.
All the projects aim to increase mental health service uses’
social inclusion, self esteem and to help them reach their full potential.
The projects aim to support people to engage within mainstream
opportunities and to support people to volunteer.
Central North West London Mental Health Trust,
Hillingdon MIND and Hillingdon Association of Voluntary Services (HAVS) are the
lead partners in Capital Volunteering Hillingdon.
Age Concern, DASH, Homestart Hillingdon and HAYA are also running projects,
as well as projects led by service users themselves. |
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| Buddying / befriending / mentoring |
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- Befriending support for parents with young children;
- Support for people with mental health issues and physical health issues to live independently;
Social activities have included:
- Social contact groups for older people;
- A samba band;
- Cooking with Confidence project;
- Crafts of Asia group for isolated Asian women at risk of mental health problems;
- Out of hours recreational/creative activities for people on acute wards and at Woodlands Centre for older people
- An Internet café;
- The Sahib (friendship) group for refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced mental health issues;
- A sports group for young refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced mental health issues.
- A self help group run by service users
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| Volunteering Projects: |
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- A time bank, where members volunteer as a group to help the local community
- support for people with mental health issues to start volunteering within mainstream voluntary organisations, through Hillingdon Volunteer Centre
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Capital Volunteering across London: |
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Capital Volunteering tackles issues of mental health and social exclusion by increasing supported volunteering opportunities in London. Capital Volunteering operates across 11 London boroughs: Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Camden, Islington, Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Hillingdon.
The funding for the project is from the Treasury. The project is being independently evaluated by a research team from the Institute of Psychiatry. This research will produce unique research on the effects of volunteering on mental health and social exclusion. Capital Volunteering lead partners are Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and the London Development Centre for Mental Health. Other partners include a wide range of voluntary organizations community organisations and four mental health trusts.
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| How do people get involved with Capital Volunteering Hillingdon? |
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Capital Volunteering works with people with serious and enduring mental health issues. (80% of the service users need to be on either enhanced or standard CPA). Referrals to the different projects in Hillingdon vary, so please contact Rachel Langford for more information.
All the projects are looking for volunteers to support the projects - either volunteers with a history of mental health issues or community volunteers. The volunteer roles are very varied and training is available. Please contact Rachel Langford if you are interested.
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