Volunteer for us

At Bristol Mind, we work with over 85 volunteers every year and consider ourselves to be very fortunate to have such dedication and expertise within our local community.

Volunteering for Bristol Mind is not just about giving back: via our structured and supportive placements, it can provide a pathway from lived experience through to training, work experience and eventual paid work within the mental health and allied professions.

Our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds, go through a competitive recruitment process and receive rigorous training in listening skills, customer service, equity & inclusion, safeguarding and trauma-informed practice.

You can sign up for our volunteer mailing list here if you’d like to be notified of future volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Opportunities at Bristol Mind

Support better mental health across Bristol by volunteering with Bristol Mind and helping people in your community access the support they need to thrive.

Social Media & Digital Content Volunteer

Create engaging content, capture photos and videos at events, and help promote Bristol Mind’s work while gaining valuable experience in social media, marketing, and communications.

Location
Flexible (Remote and Bristol-based events)
Time Commitment
1-2 hours per week (flexible around studies)

About the Role:

We are looking for a creative and enthusiastic volunteer to help promote our fundraising activities and community impact through social media and digital communications.

As a Social Media & Digital Content Volunteer, you will help create engaging content for social media platforms, develop graphics, write posts, share volunteer stories, and help raise awareness of our work. You may also support campaign planning and contribute new ideas to improve our online presence.
No previous charity experience is required. We welcome volunteers who are passionate about social media, communications, marketing, design, or content creation and are keen to develop their skills in a supportive environment.

Key Responsibilities:
• Support the team with creating and scheduling social media content
• Capture photos and video content at events
• Help promote Bristol Mind’s campaigns and fundraising activities
• Support communications and marketing projects
• Contribute creative ideas to increase engagement and awareness
• Work closely with the Communications Team to share Bristol Mind’s impact

What You’ll Gain:
• Hands-on experience in social media marketing and communications
• Insight into communications strategy and digital engagement
• Training on Bristol Mind’s software and equipment
• Portfolio-building opportunities through real-world content creation
• Experience working within a charity communications team
• A professional reference to support future job applications

Who We’re Looking For
• Students interested in marketing, communications, media, journalism, design, or related fields
• Creative and enthusiastic individuals
• Strong communicators who are willing to learn
• People who can work independently and as part of a team
• Basic experience of using social media platforms and editing software ( e.g. on tik Tok, Instagram, Canva etc)

Fundraising Team Volunteer

Help plan and deliver exciting fundraising events, build relationships across Bristol, and develop practical skills in event management, budgeting, and community engagement.

Location
Hybrid role (flexible between office and remote)
Time Commitment
2-4 hrs per week, flexible around studies

About the Role

Join our fundraising team and help make a real difference in the community.

As a Fundraising Team Volunteer, you’ll support fundraising activities by helping with collections, campaigns, community fundraising challenges, supporter engagement, and promotion of events. You’ll work alongside staff and volunteers to encourage participation and raise essential funds that support our services.

No fundraising experience is required. Full training and guidance will be provided.

Key Responsibilities:
• Support the planning and delivery of fundraising events
• Assist with events such as Comedy nights, the Great Bristol Run, Christmas campaigns and exhibitions
• Help coordinate event logistics and budgets
• Build relationships with local businesses, organisations, and community groups
• Support event promotion and volunteer recruitment
• Contribute ideas for new fundraising opportunities

What You’ll Gain:

• Experience working within a dynamic fundraising team
• Event planning and project management skills
• Budgeting and organisational experience
• Networking opportunities with businesses and organisations across Bristol
• Enhanced communication and relationship-building skills
• A professional reference for future employment and graduate applications
• 1:1 mentorship and support

Who We’re Looking For:

• Students interested in fundraising, events, business, marketing, or community engagement
• Organised and enthusiastic team players
• Strong communicators with a positive attitude
• Individuals who enjoy meeting new people and working collaboratively

Event Support Volunteer

Join our event volunteer team, meet new people, support fundraising activities across Bristol, and gain valuable experience while making a difference in your community.

Location
Various Bristol locations
Time Commitment
Flexible, event-based volunteering

About the Role:

Help us deliver exciting community and fundraising events that bring people together and raise vital support for our work.
As an Event Support Volunteer, you’ll assist with event set-up, registration, welcoming attendees, stewarding activities, helping visitors, distributing information, and supporting event organisers throughout the day.

This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in events, community engagement, fundraising, customer service, or project management.
No previous experience is required. Full guidance will be provided before each event.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with event setup and pack-down
• Welcome participants and provide event-day support
• Help with registration desks, activities, and information stalls
• Support the Fundraising Lead and wider team during events
• Ensure events run smoothly and create a positive experience for attendees
• Represent Bristol Mind within the local community

What You’ll Gain:

• Experience supporting live events and fundraising activities
• Training and ongoing support from Bristol Mind staff
• Development of communication, teamwork, and customer service skills
• Opportunities to meet like-minded volunteers and professionals
• References to support future employment, internship, and graduate applications
• Networking opportunities within Bristol’s charity and community sector
• Refreshments provided during volunteering shifts
• The opportunity to volunteer with friends and be part of a fun, supportive team

Who We’re Looking For:

• Friendly, reliable, and enthusiastic students
• Individuals who enjoy meeting and helping people
• Strong team players
• No previous experience required as full training will be provided
• People who are passionate about supporting their local community and mental health initiatives

To register your interest, please fill out this form
Bristol Mind Volunteering Form

How to volunteer:

If you’d like to be informed the next time opportunities arise, please sign up to our mailing list.

Mind Line Telephone Helpline

Mind Line is our free telephone listening service, open Wed-Sunday 7pm-11pm. Click here to find out more information.

Mind Line Volunteers are recruited from the local community and undergo intensive training over a period of 6 weeks. They join a vibrant and friendly team, working on a rota basis undertaking approximately one shift every fortnight, answering calls from the general public about their wellbeing and mental health concerns.

What we offer you

extensive, high quality training
be part of a lively team
regular supervision and support
the opportunity to develop your listening skills and awareness of mental health

What we expect from you

agree to work with us for at least a year
attend all the training sessions
work a four-hour shift approximately every fortnight
receive supervision for each shift on the helpline
attend 6-weekly volunteer meetings

Read more about the experience of one of our Mind Line volunteers.

We run volunteer intake and training courses twice a year, details are published here as soon as they are confirmed.

If you would like to be notified of this and future Mindline volunteering opportunities, please join our mailing list:

Information Service Volunteers

Bristol Mind’s Information Service is a daytime telephone line and email service, offering information and signposting to other local mental health and wellbeing services in the area. The service is non-directive – we don’t tell people what to do or give advice. Click here to find out more information.

Volunteers on our Information Service provide invaluable support to callers who often seen us as a first port of call for mental health issues or concerns. They can also provide information to people who are concerned about someone else, and will do their best to assist professionals using an up-to-date and comprehensive list of Bristol and South Glos. agencies.

We recruit our Info Line Volunteers from the local community. They undertake a three, half-day course of training and commit to at least one 3 hour shift a week, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm or 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm

What we offer you:

Extensive training, covering all areas of the role and the organisation
Regular supervision
An on-call support duty staff member during every shift
Travel expenses when working from the Bristol Mind office
The opportunity to develop your customer support skills and knowledge of mental health services

What we expect from you:

An agreement to volunteer with us for at least nine months
Full attendance at the volunteer training sessions
An empathetic, non-judgmental attitude towards our callers
Working one 3.5-hour shift each week, and keeping staff informed in a timely manner when this isn’t possible
Engagement with the supervision process
Attendance at Team Meetings each quarter

How to volunteer:

We are currently recruiting for Information Service volunteers. If you’d like to be informed the next time opportunities arise, please sign up to our mailing list.

Volunteer as a counsellor

Our counselling service is provided by a mix of qualified counsellors and those in training. Some of our Counsellors initially started with volunteering on our Mindline service and then decide to progress to train as a counsellor as a result!

We have an excellent reputation with a number of regional and national training providers, and we offer full support and clinical supervision to all of our counsellors at Bristol Mind.

We are very fortunate to attract highly skilled and sensitive trainee and qualified counsellors to help deliver our services and pride ourselves on our deliberately inclusive approach, with lived experience of being LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergence
Counsellors who have completed placements with Bristol Mind often comment on the warm, inclusive service and support: some counsellors stay with us way beyond their allocated placement.