When you volunteer with GAMH, you make a real difference to people’s lives in Glasgow. You help us support individuals on the path to mental health recovery.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and backgrounds. You do not need special skills; just a genuine desire to help people get back to better mental health.

Volunteering roles at GAMH are part of our Befriending Project and our Group support programmes for Adults.

Volunteer with GAMH.

Befriending is one of our Individual support services for Adults. Befriending means being there for someone who feels lonely or cut off because of their mental health.

GAMH volunteers provide light-touch assistance for up to six months. This helps people re-engage with social and community activities. Activity examples include visits to galleries and museums, outdoor exercise or leisure activities. GAMH volunteers are trained to support individuals through these activities.

Volunteer befrienders meet befriendees weekly for around two to three hours. This helps them to build confidence and take steps back into community life.

Ready to Volunteer at GAMH? Register your interest.

Volunteers are also able to help with our Mental Health Support Groups for Adults. This city-wide programme offers a range of activities and workshops to support mental health recovery.

These include:

• Physical activities like tennis, cycling, and walking
• Indoor activities like arts and crafts, creative writing, and pottery.

GAMH volunteers provide light-touch assistance and are trained to support individuals through these activities.

Ready to Volunteer at GAMH? Register your interest.

Light-touch assistance provides gentle support to help a person progress in their mental health recovery. It avoids creating dependency on the volunteer or overwhelming the individual. Light-touch assistance focused on infrequent check-ins and activities, rather than ongoing care or daily catch-ups.

Ready to Volunteer at GAMH? Register your interest.

GAMH volunteers are fully trained and prepared. Training begins by completing our volunteer induction programme, which covers relevant topics, including:

• Understanding mental health recovery
• Safeguarding approaches
• Setting healthy boundaries
• Knowing your role and limits
• Codes of practice.

Volunteers will also have regular check-ins with GAMH team members for what is called supervision. Supervision is a form of guidance, oversight and support from an experienced mental health professional, which typically covers:

• Safeguarding to protect the wellbeing of volunteers and the individuals they support
• Emotional support for the volunteer to reflect on experiences, discuss challenges and work through the emotional impact of their role
• Guidance and advice to help volunteers handle different situations
• Risk management.

If you would like to volunteer with GAMH, please complete our enquiry form to register your interest.

To volunteer with GAMH, you must be:

• Age 16 or older.

Volunteering is only one way you can support GAMH and help people in Glasgow.
You can also:

•  Donate: Every donation helps us keep supporting people in Glasgow with vital mental  health services
•  Fundraise: Hold a cake sale, take on a challenge, or plan your own event for GAMH
•  Work with GAMH: Join the GAMH team
•  Share on social media: Spread the word about our services on Facebook and X.