Aberconwy Mind is a mental health and wellbeing organisation based in Llandudno. Established 34 years ago, we have always relied on volunteers as essential to the running of the organisation, with their hard work, time and dedication amounting to 600 hours a month, 7 days a week, 12 months a year.
The Investing in Volunteers Award is a tremendous achievement and highlights the standard we have reached in the volunteering sector. It shows our volunteers the high esteem we place on their contributions, whether it is 2 hours a week helping in the drop in, or 3 hours a month assisting with one of our groups.
We are constantly amazed at how many people from all walks of life come through our doors bringing different skills and perspectives and enhancing the services we provide. Volunteering can be beneficial in so many ways, by developing confidence, skills, understanding and even leading to paid work.
Frank, a former volunteer explains ‘As an unemployed person in Llandudno I was keen to find a constructive use for the time I had, preferably something that would also benefit other people. I was introduced to CVSC, they put me in touch with Aberconwy Mind who offered me a volunteer’s place within their organisation; I viewed this as a chance to invest in myself-. By coming to volunteer here, I was able to learn valuable workplace skills, and show other employers that I could be relied on. Additionally, I enjoyed many of the benefits working gives people, feelings of having done something meaningful, and of achievement. When a suitable paid vacancy arose in the organisation not only did I hear about it straight away, but was able to apply with a working knowledge of the organisation. I was very pleased to be offered a job by Aberconwy Mind and now enjoy coming here as a member of staff. I would encourage others to ‘invest in themselves’ by volunteering, you never know where it may lead!’
While getting back into work may be a goal for some, Jessica’s desire to volunteer came from a different place. She has found that Aberconwy Mind offers her positive emotional support in an encouraging environment, as described here ‘I started volunteering as a Receptionist at Aberconwy Mind after a difficult period in my own life and my time here has been welcoming, inclusive and confidence-boosting. I’ve been able to put my own experience, both personal and professional, to great use and I’ve been supported every step of the way by a comprehensive training programme, an approachable Volunteering Co-ordinator and friendly and accepting staff and volunteers. Every day I see the enormous difference that Mind makes to people who, for whatever reason, have found themselves experiencing difficulties with their own mental health and I’m proud to be a small part of an organisation with such compassion and empathy.’
In the future we hope to have a more diverse range of opportunities available and increase our involvement out and about in the community. We continue to develop our volunteer roles and with our new director, Denise Roberts, we are looking to expand what we can offer.
We welcome new volunteers and are particularly interested in anyone who can help promote our services, offer mental health information and signpost people, also to assist with groups, become involved with fundraising and to act as trustees.
If you would like to enquire about volunteering with us or are unsure about how you could get involved please get in touch for an informal chat.
We look forward to hearing from you....and as Frank says you never know where it might lead!!
Contact details Phone 01492 879907; Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; website www.aberconwymind.org.uk
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Mudiad iechyd meddwl a llesiant yw Mind Aberconwy sydd wedi’i leoli yn Llandudno. Fe’i sefydlwyd 34 mlynedd yn ôl, ac rydym wedi dibynnu ar wirfoddolwyr ers y cychwyn cyntaf. Maent yn hanfodol i’r mudiad, diolch i’w gwaith caled, eu hamser a’u hymroddiad, gan roi 600 awr y mis, 7 diwrnod yr wythnos, 12 mis y flwyddyn.
Mae Gwobr Buddsoddi mewn Gwirfoddolwyr yn dipyn o gamp ac yn amlygu’r safon yr ydym wedi’i chyrraedd yn y sector gwirfoddoli. Mae’n dangos i’n gwirfoddolwyr gymaint o werth a roddwn ar eu cyfraniadau, p’un ai fod hynny’n 2 awr yr wythnos yn rhoi help llaw mewn sesiwn galw heibio, neu’n 3 awr y mis yn cynorthwyo un o’n grwpiau.
Cawn ein rhyfeddu dro ar ôl tro o weld faint o bobl o bob cefndir a ddaw drwy ein drysau yn cynnig gwahanol sgiliau a safbwyntiau ac yn hybu’r gwasanaethau a ddarparwn. Gall gwirfoddoli fod o fudd mewn sawl ffordd, drwy ddatblygu hyder, sgiliau, dealltwriaeth a hyd yn oed arwain at waith cyflogedig.
Fel yr eglura Frank, cyn-wirfoddolwr ‘Fel rhywun di-waith yn Llandudno roeddwn yn awyddus i ddefnyddio’r amser yr oedd gen i mewn ffordd adeiladol, yn ddelfrydol rhywbeth a fyddai o fudd i bobl eraill hefyd. Cefais fy nghyflwyno i wasanaethau Cefnogaeth Gymunedol a Gwirfoddol Conwy, ac fe wnaethon nhw fy nghysylltu â Mind Aberconwy a gynigiodd gyfle i mi wirfoddoli yn eu mudiad; gwelais hyn fel cyfle i fuddsoddi yn fy hun. Wrth ddod yma i wirfoddoli, roeddwn yn dysgu sgiliau gwerthfawr yn y gweithle, ac yn dangos i gyflogwyr eraill y gellid dibynnu arnaf. Yn ogystal, cefais y buddion lu y mae gweithio yn eu rhoi i bobl, teimladau o fod wedi gwneud rhywbeth ystyrlon, ac o gyflawni rhywbeth. Pan gododd swydd wag addas yn y mudiad nid yn unig y gwnes i glywed amdani ar unwaith, ond roedd modd i mi ymgeisio amdani wrth ddefnyddio’r hyn yr oeddwn yn ei wybod am y mudiad. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o gael cynnig swydd gyda Mind Aberconwy a dwi bellach yn mwynhau dod yma fel aelod o staff. Fe fyddwn i’n annog eraill i ‘fuddsoddi yn eu hunain’ drwy wirfoddoli, pwy a ŵyr i ble y gall arwain!’
Tra’r nod i rai yw mynd yn ôl i fyd gwaith, daeth dyhead Jessica i wirfoddoli o le gwahanol. Darganfyddodd fod Mind Aberconwy yn cynnig cymorth emosiynol positif iddi mewn amgylchedd llawn anogaeth, fel y mae hi’n dweud ‘Dechreuais wirfoddoli yn y Dderbynfa ym Mind Aberconwy ar ôl cyfnod anodd yn fy mywyd ac mae fy amser yma wedi bod yn llawn croeso, yn gynhwysol ac yn hwb i’m hyder. Dwi wedi llwyddo i ddefnyddio fy mhrofiad fy hun, profiad personol a phroffesiynol, ac wedi cael cymorth bob cam o’r ffordd gan raglen hyfforddi gynhwysfawr, Cydlynydd Gwirfoddoli hawdd mynd ato a staff a gwirfoddolwyr cyfeillgar a chroesawgar. Bob dydd dwi’n gweld y gwahaniaeth enfawr y mae Mind yn ei wneud i bobl sydd, am ba reswm bynnag, wedi’u cael eu hunain mewn trafferth gyda’u hiechyd meddwl a dwi’n falch o fod yn rhan fach o fudiad sydd â’r fath dosturi ac empathi.’
Yn y dyfodol gobeithiwn allu cynnig dewis mwy amrywiol o gyfleoedd a chynyddu ein gwaith allan yn y gymuned. Rydym yn parhau i ddatblygu ein cyfleoedd gwirfoddoli a gyda’n cyfarwyddwr newydd, Denise Roberts, rydym yn awyddus i ehangu’r hyn y gallwn ei gynnig.
Croesawn wirfoddolwyr newydd ac mae gennym ddiddordeb arbennig mewn unrhyw un a all helpu i hyrwyddo ein gwasanaethau, cynnig gwybodaeth ynglŷn ag iechyd meddwl a chyfeirio pobl at gymorth pellach, hefyd i gynorthwyo grwpiau, codi arian a bod yn ymddiriedolwyr.
Os oes gennych gwestiwn ynglŷn â gwirfoddoli gyda ni neu os nad ydych yn siwr sut i fynd ati cysylltwch â ni am sgwrs anffurfiol.
Edrychwn ymlaen at glywed gennych....ac fel y dywed Frank pwy a ŵyr i ble y gall arwain!!
Manylion cyswllt Ffôn 01492 879907; Ebost This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; gwefan www.aberconwymind.org.uk