A Step forwards for Volunteering £49,982 awarded!!!

To strengthen our organisation, Stepping Stones plan to transition from our historical ‘Peer model’ of support to an inclusive ‘Volunteer model’ of support that will provide increased opportunities to support mental health, both personal and professional development across the communities within West Dunbartonshire. To do this, we required  funding to employ a part time Volunteer Coordinator who would lead on delivery of a new volunteer project and engagement of our younger members.

We are delighted to have been awarded 2 years funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.

As a member led organisation, coproduction of our services and collaboration are essential to us. Stepping Stones have a proven history of engaging our community in our strategic decisions and our service delivery. This project should demonstrate that we have listened to the developing needs of our members. We had previously created ‘Peer roles’, these were traditionally service members who, following on from their own support plans, took on training and supported with activities such as focus groups, walk leaders, or via our lived experience panel. Those peers are now asking for their next step – what more can they be involved in with Stepping Stones. These individuals have a real desire to have a purpose within the organisation, they have skillsets and experience to share, and they often struggle when they do not have defined roles or routines. We have identified several volunteering pathways that would allow them to provide support to others who are experiencing mental health issues, and opportunities for them to raise awareness of the services available from Stepping Stones.

Moving to a volunteer model will allow us to engage not only existing peers and service members, but also have improved engagement with younger members, and people who are looking for ways to get involved in supporting their community.

We believe that providing volunteer opportunities for our community would result in multiple benefits:

• Improved mental health
• Personal development
• Professional development
• Strengthened organisational development
• Improved advocacy for people across West Dunbartonshire

We also identified several members who are unemployed, neurodivergent, or who are living with social anxiety, all of whom could benefit from volunteering. This Volunteer model will assist Stepping Stones in meeting the developing demands of those members and peers.

This project will allow us to create a more supported person centered journey; and by having a dedicated staff member for the delivery of the work, they will be key to providing the next step for our peers, members and supporters. The project will create local inclusive volunteer roles. Having new volunteers roles will enable us to offer increased activities, diverse groups, more outdoor activities and social events, and a raised awareness of our services.

Our Stepping Stones project ‘A step forwards for Volunteering’ will allow us to address the challenge and frustrations experienced by members who are asking “what is next”, it can provide them with opportunities to meet their needs, and allow them to remain involved with Stepping Stones. It will also allow us to create and embed a new model of support and its associated processes, strengthening our organisation for the future.

We look forward to recruiting an energetic and positive individual who will work on this project as the Volunteer Coordinator.

If you would like to find out more about our available volunteering roles then contact us.

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