The NHS suggest five ways in which you can better your mental health and they can all apply when volunteering:
- Connecting with people - Volunteering will boost your network, increase social interactions and brings people together as a team
- Being physically active - doesn’t have to mean being outdoors all day, just being up and about is great for your physical health
- Learning a new skill - Volunteering provides a great opportunity for learning new skills and sharing experiences with others which can give a real boost to your confidence
- Giving to others - this doesn’t mean putting your hand in your pocket, but to give some time to someone else, some care, some thought. This can be anything from making a call to a lonely or isolated person, checking in on a neighbour, or listening to a child read in a school.
- Pay attention (mindfulness) – This is just about being in the moment and engaged, noticing what’s going on around you, the sights, smells and sensations.
It might be that you’re looking for a volunteer role to help you into a new job role, gaining experience, skills and confidence, or you may be looking to try something completely different, find a new hobby, or fulfil a long-held dream.
If you would like to know more about volunteering in West Kent, please get in touch with Louise: volunteering@imago.community
You can also read more about the five ways to mental wellbeing here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/
