The Friends of St Clements at Mile End

Volunteering opportunities for mental health service users

The Friends of St Clements aid the recovery of mental health service users through supported volunteering opportunities. Volunteering offers improved personal and social skills, self-esteem and confidence and decreased dependance on mental health services. It also encourages wider user involvement in the services provided. The Friends support service users who volunteer with the Trolley service, therapeutic groups, befriending, gardening, web design, the newsletter and run a football team.

The Friends were awarded an Opportunities for Volunteering grant to help with their Recovery Project. The Recovery Project gives mental health patients hope and optimism by providing patients and volunteers with the opportunity to share their experiences. User volunteers talk about their experiences to staff and patients, who, in turn, can ask questions and share their own experiences. There is also the opportunity to use other means of self expression; writing poetry, making art, podcasts and films are all encouraged.

Contact

Occupational Therapy Department
Tower Hamlets Centre for Mental Health
Mile End Hospital
Bancroft Road
London E1 4DG
Tel: 0208 1215026
Email: robert.pickard@eastlondon.nhs.uk