At TALKWORKS, we have a team of friendly and enthusiastic volunteers who are part of our service. Our volunteers are based across Devon and have a variety of different experiences, skills and interests which contribute to the development of TALKWORKS.
What does a TALKWORKS volunteer do?
TALKWORKS volunteers help our service in lots of different ways. This includes (but is not limited to):
- Supporting our patients by going into the community with them and assisting them on tasks that they may feel difficult to do on their own
- Acting as a conversational partner in therapy sessions to help our patients feel more confident in social situations
- Supporting our employment support team by providing mock interview scenarios for our patients who are preparing for an interview
- Assisting with paperwork that patients are struggling to complete
- Communicating information about TALKWORKS to members of the local community
- Assisting with role-play scenarios for our therapists
Many our volunteers have previously used our service and have opted to join us a volunteer to give back to TALKWORKS.
Unlike our therapists, our volunteers are not clinically trained - however they offer a friendly face and understanding approach, which can help our patients with their journey to recovery.
How to work with a volunteer
If you would like to request the help of a volunteer as part of your therapy journey, please speak to your therapist about this during one of your appointments.
If you are not currently receiving treatment from TALKWORKS and are experiencing low mood, stress or anxiety, you can self-refer to TALKWORKS to access support. Our NHS service is free to adults living in Devon (outside Plymouth which is covering Plymouth Options) who are age 18 and over. You can self-refer to TALKWORKS without needing to see your GP by completing our online self-referral form or by calling the team on 0300 555 3344 (our phone lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am - 4:45pm).