volunteering

How could I help?

Volunteers are really important to Aware Defeat Depression, working alongside staff in a variety of crucial roles. At present the organisation has more than 70 volunteers regularly involved in our work. We want to continue to expand and develop the services we provide to those with depression but to do this we need more volunteers – people like you.

Our volunteers are of all ages and from all walks of life. Some have experienced depressive illness first-hand or cared for a family member.

Others have no personal experience but have appropriate skills, knowledge and personal qualities and are interested in helping others.

Benefits

The benefits of volunteering with Aware include the opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills. A wide range of training is available to our volunteers as well as the chance to make a difference for those affected by depressive illness.

It is possible to volunteer for more than one role.

Volunteer Roles

Support Group Facilitator

These volunteers usually work in pairs or small groups at their local support group. To date there are 20 groups at various locations across NI. The role of a volunteer involves greeting group members as they arrive, giving information about the group and Aware, facilitating the meeting and distributing literature. Most of our support groups meet in the evenings although there are some morning groups.

Helpline Volunteer

The helpline is based in our office in Belfast where volunteers work alongside staff and other volunteers. The role of the volunteer is to receive telephone calls and emails, from sufferers, carers and mental health professionals. Duties involve providing support information or crisis intervention as appropriate. The helpline operates from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

Community Information Volunteer

This role exists to provide information about depression and our services in local communities. Volunteers will typically work on their own with support from staff, manning information stands at health fairs and representing Aware at local events as well as placing our information books in key locations e.g. GP surgeries, chemists and libraries. The hours for this role are flexible, although some availability during normal office hours (9:00am to 5:00pm) is helpful.

Administration Volunteer

Administration volunteers provide office support at either of Aware’s offices in Belfast or Derry/L’Derry. Day to day duties include typing correspondence and reports, filing, answering the telephone and photocopying. Volunteers will work alongside staff and hours can be arranged to suit (within normal office hours).

Fundraising Volunteer

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Aware Defeat Depression and Fundraisers play a vital role as without them, we would find it hard to provide our full range of services. There are no qualifications needed to be a Fundraiser. You just choose something to do from our calendar of fundraising events, or if you prefer, you can organise your own event such as a quiz night, a barbecue, cake sale, coffee morning, in fact anything at all that takes your fancy. We will provide you with a Fundraising Guide and anything else you need to know and you will always be supported in your fundraising by the Fundraising Manager.

Recruitment Process

Most roles, apart from the fundraising volunteers, require you to complete a short application form, attend an informal interview and provide character references. The helpline and support group roles also require volunteers to undergo a background check for the protection of children and vulnerable adults but please note that a criminal record will not necessarily disqualify.

To download an application form click here.

Equality & Diversity

Aware Defeat Depression is committed to providing help for all those in Northern Ireland affected by depressive illness and wishes to see all sections of the community represented among our volunteers.

What people have said about Volunteering with Aware