FREE** Peer Learning Session: Addressing barriers to volunteering for people with lived experience of mental health issues
Wednesday 2nd July 2025 at 10.30-12.30, on Zoom
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Would you like to make your volunteer roles more accessible to people with mental health issues and support them to volunteer successfully? Research shows that 68% of Londoners have experienced symptoms of poor mental health within the last six months1 and Tower Hamlets has some of the highest levels of reported mental health illness in London, increased by the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis2. Involving this group will benefit your organisation, all your volunteers and the local community.
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In this practical Peer Learning session, we will hear from Jess Young from Volunteer Centre Greenwich, who will speak about their user-centred research on barriers to volunteering for people with lived experience of mental ill health. Jess will present clear evidence of why change is needed and share practical tips on how to make it happen, as told by people with lived experience.
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We will then break into small groups and you will discuss with other local Volunteer Managers what practical actions organisations can take around the 3 concerns expressed by people with lived experience (Is this a place for me? Is it safe for me to volunteer here? Is it easy to get in?).
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This session is suitable for experienced Volunteer Managers as well as those who are new to managing volunteers.
Priority will be given to voluntary sector organisations with a base/office in Tower Hamlets, or that have services aimed at Tower Hamlets residents.
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**Cost:
Our training programme is funded by the City Bridge Foundation.
· The session is FREE to voluntary sector and public sector organisations with a base/office in Tower Hamlets, or that have services specifically aimed at Tower Hamlets residents. However, there is a non-attendance charge of £50 and this charge will be invoiced to your organisation if you do not attend without giving 48 hours’ notice. There is no charge incurred if bookings are cancelled at least 48 hours prior to the start of the session.
· For any organisation without a base or services in Tower Hamlets, or private sector/commercial organisations, the session costs £50 per person. The fee is non-refundable, unless you give 48 hours’ notice of cancellation.

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* 1. Please complete the relevant spaces below.

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* 2. Does your organisation have a base / office / centre in Tower Hamlets borough? Note: if you've answered 'yes', please provide the Tower Hamlets postcode in the 'yes' box below. 

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* 3. Does your organisation have services aimed specifically at Tower Hamlets residents?

If you do not have a base/office in Tower Hamlets, then please provide details of your services aimed at Tower Hamlets residents in the 'yes' box below.  

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* 4. Which of the following is your organisation?

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* 5. Do you have any access requirements?  If yes, please describe in the 'yes' box below.

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* 6. Do you have any access requirements?  If yes, please describe in the 'yes' box below.

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* 7. NON ATTENDANCE FEE: If I have been allocated a free place, I  understand that there is a non-attendance charge of £50 and this charge will be invoiced to my organisation if I do not attend without giving 48 hours’ notice. There is no charge incurred if bookings are cancelled at least 48 hours prior to the start of the course.
REFUNDS:  If I have paid for my place, I understand that I will not be given a refund unless I give at least 48 hours notice of cancellation prior to the start of the course.

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* 8. I consent to being added to the mailing list to receive VCTH's monthly ebulletin and emails about future training and peer learning sessions.

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