Online Book Club Support Volunteer

About Mary Frances Trust

Mary Frances Trust is a Surrey-based charity supporting people with mental health and emotional wellbeing. We offer a variety of services to adults (16+) including wellbeing courses and advice, a range of activities and interest groups, peer support, self-help groups, individual support and volunteering opportunities. We engage volunteers from a variety of backgrounds to help us by assisting the staff team to deliver our work to clients that seek our support, across Mole Valley, Epsom & Ewell, Banstead and Elmbridge.

How you can help

Working closely with our group facilitator, this role will complement and support the delivery of our weekly online Book Club, by signing in participants, assisting them where necessary and being available to support the facilitator should one of the group need extra support. The group chooses a book to read (one at a time), sets material to read over the following week and then at the next group meeting.

allows participants to express how they felt about the material and their understanding of the content.

This will be a relaxed, gentle role for someone seeking a regular opportunity once a week. It will suit someone with an interest in reading and group work, with good people skills, common sense and the ability to get alongside others, whilst seeking a more medium to long term involvement. The volunteer role also includes a small amount of time either side of the session to brief and debrief with the facilitator. Some clients may have communication and confidence difficulties due to a number of health-related issues

What skills do I need?

What we ask of you

· Welcome attendees helping them feel relaxed and included

· Assist and take part in the sessions

· In conjunction with the facilitator, manage any difficulty that may arise

· Treat all client information as confidential

· Respect the need for personal & professional boundaries with clients

· Report any safeguarding concerns to staff in a timely manner to ensure clients are able to access the support they need (safeguarding training will be provided)