MindWise, as part of the TOGETHER FOR YOU project, is looking for volunteers, from all backgrounds and abilities, to spare a few hours to volunteer.
Volunteers expenses are covered and all volunteers are subject to an Access NI check.

We currently have volunteer opportunities in the following roles;
• Volunteer Admin Assistant (Praxis Care) – based in central Belfast with some travel across
  Northern Ireland
• Education and Literacy Assistant (Action Mental Health) – Maghaberry Prison
• Education and Literacy Assistant (Action Mental Health) – Hydebank Prison
• Activities Volunteer (Mindwise) – based in Lurgan
• Activities Volunteer for Men and Women’s groups (Mindwise) – based in Lurgan
• Allotment Volunteer (Cruse) – based in Lisburn
• Advisory Group Members (Cruse) – across Northern Ireland
• Events Volunteer (Mindwise) – across Northern Ireland
• Media Volunteer (Mindwise) – across Northern Ireland
• Fundraising Volunteer (Mindwise) – across Northern Ireland

If you are interested in applying for any of these roles please contact the Volunteer Officer for Together For You on 028 9031 5060 or
email [email protected] for an application pack and role descriptions.

# Praxis is looking for volunteers for their Befriending Service. To learn more about this service and the volunteer roles within it, please contact Catherine Little,
Praxis Volunteering and Befriending Co-ordinator, on 02890 234555 or email [email protected]
 

More information on the Together for You project can be found here

 

GET FREE TRAINING AND FREE EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR CLUB

Sport Northern Ireland, The Public Health Agency and DCAL are offering sports clubs the opportunity to access important information that will benefit everyone involved in their club AND get a ‘Minding Your Head toolkit’ full of free equipment.

The Mental Health Awareness training sessions are perfect for coaches, committee members, senior players and volunteers with a pastoral role.  They will help
raise awareness of mental health issues, and provide useful information and advice for all sports clubs.

The information session will:

• Describe what is meant by the terms mental health and mental illness;
• Provide information on the causes of depression and explain the early signs to look out for;
• Provide advice on what to do if someone is facing challenges;
• Promote help seeking behaviours;
• Identify ways of looking after your own mental wellbeing.

The training session lasts approx. 3 hours. Outlined below are some dates and venues already confirmed.  If your club would prefer a training session
to be delivered at your club or community centre, this can be arranged.
Those clubs and groups hosting the training on their own premises for their members and supporters will also receive a Minding Your Head toolkit.
Please contact by email or phone, one of the two training providers below, which Sport Northern Ireland has teamed up with, to deliver this valuable
awareness course.

There are 30 training sessions available on a first come first served basis.These sessions are open to all sports clubs and community groups with structured
sporting activities and community sport in place.

Training sessions have been arranged on the following dates to which individuals may register:

 

Belfast	House of Sport	Tuesday 8th July (6.30pm-9.30pm)
Newtownabbey	University of Ulster	Tuesday 8th July (1:30pm-4.30pm)
Newtownabbey	University of Ulster	Wednesday 9th July (1:30pm-4.30pm)
Enniskillen	Enniskillen Hotel	Wednesday 16th July (6.30pm -9.30pm)
Newry	Canal Court Hotel	Monday 21st July (6.30pm -9.30pm)
Derry	Everglades Hotel	Tuesday 22nd July (6.30pm -9.30pm)
Coleraine	Lodge Hotel	Wednesday 23rd July (6.30pm -9.30pm)
Belfast	House of Sport	Thursday 24th July (6.30 -9.30pm)
Armagh	Armagh City Hotel	Monday 28th July (6.30pm -9.30pm)
Belfast	House of Sport	Tuesday 29th July (6.30 -9.30pm)

To register to attend or set up a mental health awareness training session please contact:
 

To arrange a session at your own club:	To attend one of the scheduled sessions:
Aware Defeat Depression Andrea Kearns Education and Training Manager [email protected] 028 9035 7820   www.aware-ni.org	Mindwise Ashleigh Beggs HR and Training Officer [email protected] 028 9040 2323 www.mindwisenv.org

Or for further information please contact Sport Northern Ireland on 02890 381222
Mental Health and Well-being Through Sport is supported by the Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure, the Public Health Agency and Sport Northern Ireland.

 

On Thursday 15th May 2014 MindWise launched our new

YOUNG PEOPLE (13 – 25 YEARS) STRATEGY 2014 – 2019

with Edwin Poots MLA, Minister For Health, Social Services & & Public Safety.

Edward Gorringe, CEO of MindWise welcomed everyone attending followed a very powerful play "Gone Viral" by the young people from the Youth Action Rainbow Factory.

Independent consultants Paula Keenan and Marie Quirey gave those attending an overview of the background to the research carried out to inform the Strategy.

Eliz McArdle and Helen Coburn from Youth Action told the reasons why Youth Action became involved in the research, additional mental health needs and
obstacles to accessing mainstream services experienced by marginalized young people plus the background to the needs of young men and those young people
living in rural areas.

Edward Gorringe advised the attendees of the next steps for MindWise. 

The Young People's Strategy 2014-2019 document can be viewed here. 

A Good Place To Start - What you told us and what we are going to do about it. 
Strategy for Working with Young People 2014-19 / Young People’s Version can be viewed here.

The press release from Minister Poots can be viewed here.

 

Health Minister Edwin Poots, Independent consultants Paula Keenan and Marie Quirey, MindWise CEO Edward Gorringe and Eliz McArdle from Youth Action at
the launch of the Young People's Strategy 2014-2019 on 15th May 2014.   

  

MindWise Trustees John Adrain and Dr Fred Browne                                              NI Childrens Commissioner Patricia Lewsley-Mooney with MindWise
                                                                                                                          Deputy CEO Anne Doherty.

 

 

 

Introduction

MindWise’s You Can Take Control campaign aims to start a public discussion about recovery from mental health issues and illness.

Recovery is the ability to live well in the presence or absence of one’s mental illness

Stigma and fear ensures that many people’s direct experience of living with a mental health problem falls far short of this experience.

• Fewer than 4 in 10 employers would consider hiring a person with a mental health problem, compared with more than 6 in 10 who would hire
  a person with a physical disability.
• People with a mental health problem are twice as likely to lose their job.
• Over a third of the public think people with a mental health problem are likely to be violent, when in fact people with severe mental illnesses are more likely
   to be victims, rather than perpetrators.
• 62% of people living with mental illness experience stigma from peers, which often leads to friendship losses and social rejection

It is a commonly held belief that people with a mental health issue or illness cannot live a “normal and fulfilling life”; they cannot ‘recover’.
Such misconceptions prevent people from seeking out the support they require.

MindWise want to share the belief that they can take control; encouraging them to find the support they need to lead fulfilling lives where their dreams
and aspirations are supported.

Encourage

We want those who have found success to share their experiences, both good and bad; about how they have managed to live well in the presence
or absence of their mental illness. MindWise wants to encourage those who have worked hard to manage and take control of their condition to ‘come out’ about
their mental health and celebrate their taking control of their lives.

We are asking people in Northern Ireland, and across the world, to talk openly about how they took control of their own mental health and wellbeing, and to take
the step that will give hope to others who are struggling with their mental health.

What do I need to do?

Film a short self-made video of 1-3 minutes, even on your smart phone, telling us how you took control of a mental health issue or helped a friend, family or patient take control and manage their own mental health and wellbeing:
- A personal story of recovery through supported management of mental health and well being
- The experience of living with or supporting a love one or friend with their mental health
- Your experience as a health practitioner or support worker in supporting the recovery of others.

We want you to sign off your video with the statement ‘You Can Take Control’ as a positive reminder, and to encourage others to lend their voice to the campaign.
Tag your video with the hashtag #TakeControl. What is important is that your video is personal, honest and true.

Email [email protected]  with your video that you would like to submit to the “You Can Take Control” campaign. 

Videos will be uploaded to MindWise’s YouTube Channel - www.youtube.com/user/MindWisenv

Pictured promoting the #takecontrol campaign are MindWise Chief Executive, Edward Gorringe, Edwin Poots, Minister for Health, Social Services and Public
Safety and Stephen Carson, MindWise Volunteer.  Stephen Carsons video in support of the 'You Can Take Control’ campaign can be viewed here.