Charity on lookout for young volunteers

Young people acrossWishaw are being given the opportunity to make a difference.

See Me, a Scottish mental health programme which aims to end stigma and discrimination, is recruiting for new volunteers, aged 16 to 18, to help with its work in schools and youth work settings.

The team at See Me wants to hear from young people in Lanarkshire who have experienced mental health problems and want to make a difference.

See Me volunteer, Kristi McCann, 20, who has been involved with the programme since she was 16, says that volunteering has had a huge impact on her life.

She said:“Volunteering with See Me gave me a whole new boost of confidence. Before, I was shy and not very outgoing but See Me helped me with that.They have given me opportunities that I would have never got the chance to have. See Me isn’t just a volunteering opportunity. It’s an opportunity for you to grow as a person.

“I joined straight out of school at 16 and I would not change it for the world. Being a part of See Me has shaped me into the person that I am today.”

Volunteers with See Me will be able to support the programme’s work in lots of different ways, both in person and remotely.

They have the chance to get involved in a wide range of projects, including developing new resources for schools and speaking at events.

Volunteering also comes with other benefits including increased confidence and the chance to meet new people.

Volunteer hours also count towards the Duke of Edinburgh Award or Saltire Award.

See Me’s project officer for young people Claire Jennings said:“Our volunteers bring so much to See Me and I’m really excited to get some fresh voices involved in the programme.

“Our work in schools and in youth work settings really comes to life when our volunteers get involved, and they make sure that the work we do really reflects their experiences.

“If you’re passionate about making a difference, and want to use your skills and interests to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination, we would love to hear from you.”

Applications are open until July 6 at 12pm.Young people can find full details of how to apply on the See Me website at seemescotland.org.

Successful applicants will go through an induction with See Me later in the summer and have the opportunity to take part in specialist training in fields including public speaking, facilitation and media training.