Can you help make a difference to pupils?

A leading mental health charity that provides inschool support and training to improve the emotional wellbeing of pupils is appealing for volunteers.

Place2Be sets up schoolbased teams of counsellors and therapists to build strong links with learners, staff and parents to help develop a “mentally healthy” ethos within the school environment.

Statistics show three children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health issue and Place2Be is inviting qualified and trainee counsellors and therapists to join the team in Glasgow, Edinburgh and North Ayrshire.

The volunteers provide vital weekly one-to-one sessions for children who are struggling to cope with issues including bullying, selfharm, anxiety and depression.

Alongside the rewarding experience of working with children, Place2Be offers volunteer counsellors on-going professional development with supervision and support from a dedicated on-site counsellor.

Volunteers are asked to give their support for a full academic year during term-time, have some experience working with children and their training to date needs to have a therapeutic and personal development component.

If you are a qualified or trainee counsellor, therapist or clinical pyschologist and would like to work therapeutically with children, this is a great opportunity to develop your skills in primary or secondary school setting with on-site supervision.

Placements are generally half or one day per week for the academic term.

Place2Be chief executive Catherine Roche said: “Without our team of volunteer counsellors, Place2Be could not exist.

“Their skills, time and dedication are changing the lives of thousands of children and young people and we are incredibly grateful for their contribution.

“Demand from schools, children and families for our support continues to grow and grow.”

To apply visit www.place2be. org.uk/volunteer or contact the Volunteer Recruitment Team on 0207 7923 5533.

Volunteers

For children who are struggling to cope one-to-one sessions are vital