Newark Mind provides a range of social and educational services to people who have or once had mental health problems. Trained volunteers offer advice, support and information.
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, said:
‘I can’t speak highly enough of the work that Newark Mind are doing and the achievements of their volunteers. It’s all too easy for people suffering from mental illness to become isolated and cut off from their community, these people stop that happening. I want to give more people the opportunity to volunteer in all sorts of ways. I had a great time lending a hand and got a lot out of it myself.’
Nic Roberts, Business Manager, Newark Mind said:
‘Today’s visit has been an excellent opportunity for members, volunteers and staff of Newark Mind to showcase their work and their achievements both locally and nationally.
‘Volunteers play a pivotal role in the running of the organisation, from membership of the management committee to emotional support and practical help within the Resource Centre. Without a team of committed volunteers Newark Mind would be unable to fulfil its role in providing education, activities, information and support systems for people with mental health issues.
‘This visit was important in both acknowledging the work of volunteers and the voluntary sector in general and raising the profile of the work of Newark Mind and the huge efforts of those involved.’
Nationally, some 73 per cent of all adults volunteered in the last 12 months. The Government is committed to supporting more people in high quality volunteering opportunities and has invested £117million in the youth volunteering charity ‘v’ and £12million into the ‘Goldstar’ and ‘Volunteering for All’ programmes which encourage people who are less likely to volunteer.
Volunteers Week 2008 runs from 1 to 7 June.
