SPOTLIGHT ON: VOLUNTEERING

Introducing Tom Robertson, Bipolar Scotland’s new Volunteer Development Officer!

What brought you to Bipolar Scotland?

Firstly, my experience with bipolar drew me towards Bipolar Scotland. I have three direct family members that live with bipolar - either bipolar type 1 or schizo-affective bipolar-type. So I have seen how these forms of the condition can impact people I love and care for and what bipolar’s effect can also mean for their support networks - family and friends. When I read up about the peer support, self-management training and support groups set up and run by Bipolar Scotland staff and volunteers I was reminded of the positive impact of support like this on my family members with the condition. And of the ripple effect that good support has had on their children, partners and siblings.

Secondly, my obsession with volunteering. I caught the volunteering bug at a young age when, still at school, I helped run a before-school sports club for SEN pupils. I have been in the charity and volunteering sector continuously since then. In my previous role with Alzheimer’s Society I was the Volunteer Development Coordinator for the South West of England. So the role of Volunteer Development Officer at Bipolar Scotland spoke to my enjoyment of engaging with volunteers!

Thirdly, and by no means least: my partner works in bipolar research and she kindly made me aware of the Volunteer Development Officer vacancy - so big thank you to her :)

What do you see as your role here?

I am responsible for most aspects of the volunteering journey at Bipolar Scotland. Before a volunteer has even taken on a role, I make sure we are set up as best we can for volunteers to get involved. From their application, through their interview and induction, ongoing engagement and support, celebrating and recognising volunteer contributions to Bipolar Scotland and the people we support and even making sure that when the time comes, that volunteers can leave positively. I also provide support and guidance to Bipolar Scotland members of staff who manage and engage with volunteers.

I will also be responsible for the role management of Group Facilitator volunteers and also developing and setting up new support groups across Scotland. Making sure that people living with bipolar across Scotland can access groups in order to support them in being able to live a good life.

How does the organisation currently engage with volunteers?

There are currently around 40 Bipolar Scotland volunteers carrying out a few different and interesting roles.We have Group Facilitator Volunteers, who facilitate support groups across Scotland in both face-to-face and online sessions providing group peer support to people living with Bipolar and their families and friends. Likewise, we have Peer Support Volunteers who provide 1:1 peer support for people living with Bipolar. We also have digital volunteers who provide support with the website and digital design and fundraising volunteers who help to raise vital funds. And of course we have our board of trustees, volunteers who carry out the role of critical friends, discussing organisational progress with the leadership team.

What are Bipolar Scotland’s ambitions for our volunteer programme?

Coming into the role I am excited to get engaging with and hear from the existing Bipolar Scotland volunteers. So over the coming months I am looking to chat with and provide a space for discussion with and between volunteers to learn from them and their experiences to see how we can move forward together.

Having had some great initial discussions with the Bipolar Scotland team, we want to make the volunteering experience at Bipolar Scotland the best it can be! We plan to apply best practice from the volunteer charter (see the Volunteer Scotland website for more details), aiming for Volunteer Friendly accreditation and making sure we are engaging with, celebrating and recognising the vital support, time and effort volunteers at Bipolar Scotland provide.

We have our eyes on 2025 when we are hoping to start putting together our new strategy prior to A Time to Move Forward is completed in 2026 - this is certainly something we want volunteers to participate and engage in as much as possible.

What are the benefits of volunteering?

Hopefully, most people know that volunteering can provide fantastic benefits for individuals in terms of satisfaction, learning new skills and experiences, making a positive difference, helping to support mental wellbeing, collaborating with others and reducing isolation - this goes for both volunteers and the people they engage with - which is great!

Volunteering has far wider benefits as well. As I see it, volunteers founded Bipolar Scotland with Dr Thomas in 1992, they make up our board of trustees and they are a core part of how we support, inform and empower people with the condition, and their families and friends across the country. Throughout Bipolar Scotland’s 30+ years and all the people and communities that we as an organisation have engaged with, supported and empowered, this has happened precisely because of volunteers.

For me that speaks volumes about the wide reaching benefits and power of volunteering for the people we support!

Got any questions, or interested in joining our volunteer team? Get in touch: info@bipolarscotland.org.uk

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