Introduction

See also: Guidelines for Referrers

Volunteer Centre Edinburgh's Inclusion Team provides additional advice and support to potential volunteers who may have higher support needs e.g. recent mental health problems or disabilities; and also to referrers and placements agencies.

Involving a volunteer who has had a mental illness means that your organisation has to have good support structures. But a successful placement can be an asset for both the volunteer and the organisation. Volunteer Centre Edinburgh's Support & Advice Team arranges volunteering placements for those who need an environment where there is strong support.

The project aims to:

• Provide information and adivce to potential volunteers who have extra support needs eg. mental health problems, disabilites, addictions or who are ex-offenders.
• Promote the role of voluntary work to workers in the Community Care field, providing them with information, advice and guidance on volunteering and its appropriateness for their clients.
• Provide on going support regarding an individuals voluntary work, if necessary and appropriate.
• Promote the role of voluntary work to workers in the Community Care field, providing them with information, advice and guidance on volunteering and its appropriateness for their clients.
• Provide information, advice and guidance to workers in placement agencies related to volunteers with extra support needs.

Maggi's story is a case study of an organisation that involved a volunteer with extra support needs. Read it here.

To contact the Inclusion Team call +44 (0) 131 225 0630 or e-mail marion.findlay@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk.

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See also:

Maggi's story

Guidelines for Referrers