Meg
04-06-05, 18:29
One of this sites main objectives is to help people improve and progress through their panic/anxiety disorders so that you either can maintain your usual life or can get back to functioning in society and eventually back to work (be that home based or going out to work)
We do not encourage simply sitting on your laurels once you are well on the recovery journey as it will not aid your progress and well being.
Often when you have been deeply scared by anxiety/panic or depression and been off sick for a period of time or indeed lost your job through this, it can be an extremely difficult decision and transition period back to meeting new people and a new job.
Thus we often suggest some sort of volunteering as a stepped return, meeting your needs of getting out, feeling useful and worthwhile, whilst increasing confidence and self esteem as well as helping the communities around us..
This week is National Volunteer week and I urge everyone who is recovering with a few hours on their hands to take a look at these websites to see if you can find something that might suit your skills and meet your current needs, that will also help someone else for a few hours .
There are a huge variety of roles available ..
Gone are the days when volunteering only meant charity shops and soup kitchens - now you can give your time to help others while indulging an hobby, getting skills for an exciting new job or even reacting to emergency situations.
Toad warden – help toads cross the road when they migrate for the annual breeding season
Tandem bike rider - be the front rider on a tandem bike so blind people can enjoy cycling
Pet foster carer – look after pets when elderly owners go into hospital
Cheerleader – cheerlead for people taking part in fundraising events
Festival volunteer – work on a charity stall at a music festival - and get a free ticket
Historic ship crew – operate historic ships for public excursions
Neighbour dispute mediator – work with communities to resolve local clashes
Lifeboat crew member – go out on emergency rescues as well as giving training sessions on using boats
Radio producer – oversee programmes and record material for community radio station
Death row pen pal – befriend people facing the death penalty in the U.S.
Skin camouflage instructor - teach individuals with visible skin conditions to apply specialist coverage creams to regain confidence
Beach watcher – manage beach cleans and undertake beach surveys
Sound archivist – make tape recordings of people associated with National Trust properties like farm tenants
Emergency relief worker – support rescue workers and evacuees in the UK with refreshments and rest centres
Support worker for prisoners' families – attend court and offer support to families and friends at point of sentencing
Complimentary therapist – provide acupuncture, massage and reflexology for new parents under pressure
Music sourcer – establish contacts in the music field for donations and price music for sale at charity shops
Emergency cartographer – produce maps in the wake of natural disasters for relief workers
Kids theatre volunteer - work with children to put together plays and musical productions
Resuscitation trainer – teach basic life support skills in community centres and schools
Green gym environmental volunteer - get fit through conservation activities like planting hedges or improving footpaths
You can find the main website at
http://www.volunteering.org.uk/
http://www.do-it.org.uk/
We do not encourage simply sitting on your laurels once you are well on the recovery journey as it will not aid your progress and well being.
Often when you have been deeply scared by anxiety/panic or depression and been off sick for a period of time or indeed lost your job through this, it can be an extremely difficult decision and transition period back to meeting new people and a new job.
Thus we often suggest some sort of volunteering as a stepped return, meeting your needs of getting out, feeling useful and worthwhile, whilst increasing confidence and self esteem as well as helping the communities around us..
This week is National Volunteer week and I urge everyone who is recovering with a few hours on their hands to take a look at these websites to see if you can find something that might suit your skills and meet your current needs, that will also help someone else for a few hours .
There are a huge variety of roles available ..
Gone are the days when volunteering only meant charity shops and soup kitchens - now you can give your time to help others while indulging an hobby, getting skills for an exciting new job or even reacting to emergency situations.
Toad warden – help toads cross the road when they migrate for the annual breeding season
Tandem bike rider - be the front rider on a tandem bike so blind people can enjoy cycling
Pet foster carer – look after pets when elderly owners go into hospital
Cheerleader – cheerlead for people taking part in fundraising events
Festival volunteer – work on a charity stall at a music festival - and get a free ticket
Historic ship crew – operate historic ships for public excursions
Neighbour dispute mediator – work with communities to resolve local clashes
Lifeboat crew member – go out on emergency rescues as well as giving training sessions on using boats
Radio producer – oversee programmes and record material for community radio station
Death row pen pal – befriend people facing the death penalty in the U.S.
Skin camouflage instructor - teach individuals with visible skin conditions to apply specialist coverage creams to regain confidence
Beach watcher – manage beach cleans and undertake beach surveys
Sound archivist – make tape recordings of people associated with National Trust properties like farm tenants
Emergency relief worker – support rescue workers and evacuees in the UK with refreshments and rest centres
Support worker for prisoners' families – attend court and offer support to families and friends at point of sentencing
Complimentary therapist – provide acupuncture, massage and reflexology for new parents under pressure
Music sourcer – establish contacts in the music field for donations and price music for sale at charity shops
Emergency cartographer – produce maps in the wake of natural disasters for relief workers
Kids theatre volunteer - work with children to put together plays and musical productions
Resuscitation trainer – teach basic life support skills in community centres and schools
Green gym environmental volunteer - get fit through conservation activities like planting hedges or improving footpaths
You can find the main website at
http://www.volunteering.org.uk/
http://www.do-it.org.uk/