'The Life Blood Of Healthy Minds' - Volunteers' Week

Since the start of lockdown in March 2020 our volunteers have contributed over 1500 hours of their time! They have been...

Walking  
 
Whenever government restrictions have allowed our energetic and dedicated volunteer walk leaders have been determined to stride through the pandemic (and the weather) with four walks a month across Calderdale. Walks have been and are taking place in Mytholmroyd, Todmorden, Shibden and Sowerby Bridge and we hope to extend our reach further as we see an end to all restrictions with longer walks in different parts of the borough. Walks have been a vital source of community connection in this time of social isolation and nature and exercise essential for many people's wellbeing.
 
Recovery and Support Groups, Workshops and Courses
 
Our volunteers have remained committed to the delivery of our support groups albeit online) and have embraced new technology in order to this. As ever, volunteers have been involved in co-producing material for all of our workshops and courses and co-delivering the final product.
 
Allotments (Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden)
 
A small but committed team of volunteers have kept our allotment alive and growing when we were unable to open it to the public and were there throughout when we were. Our Sowerby Bridge allotment is being co-facilitated by our volunteer team and doing a fantastic job.
 
Befriending Project
 
Developed in response to the pandemic as a result of the increased social isolation and distress this caused. Our volunteers have been offering weekly phone calls to people who have described the service as a 'lifeline'.  Our eight-strong volunteer team have showed remarkable commitment and empathy for the people they have supported. A true example of peer support in action. The team have made over 200 phone calls to people in distress, or isolated and lonely through the course of the pandemic.
 
Peer Support Project
 
This amazing team of seven volunteer peer supporters have been involved in the development of this brand new project for Healthy Minds, from co-production, to peer supervision, to training, to delivery, our volunteers have been involved at every step of the way. Four of them are now completing peer support worker training at Teeside University. The team have just started to accept referrals from the Crisis Team and are supporting folk currently by phone. They hope to start face-to-face work soon.