Volunteering opportunities

There are currently over 500 volunteers working throughout the UK for ANXIETY UK in a wide range of capacities: (counsellors, clinical hypnotherapists, helpline volunteers, self-help group facilitators, office administrators, technical support, PR and media volunteers, cognitive behavioural therapists, management committee members/trustees, community befrienders, specialist phone-in helpline volunteers, finance assistants and many more).

Some ways of volunteering with ANXIETY UK include:

• Supporting those with personal experience of anxiety disorders
• Student placements and work experience
• Degree scheme related work experience
• Other volunteering opportunities

Supporting those with personal experience of anxiety disorders

Because ANXIETY UK is a user-led organisation, we actively seek to recruit those with direct experience of anxiety disorders and recognise the invaluable role such volunteers play in being able to relate to and support others in similar predicaments.

We acknowledge that for many anxiety sufferers, deciding to do voluntary work can often be a very big step and there can be many barriers that prevent people from taking up voluntary work.

ANXIETY UK has a policy of ensuring that volunteering opportunities are tailor-made to suit the needs of each individual. If, for example, you have agoraphobia and are unable to travel to our offices, we can find alternative ways of ensuring you can contribute to our work and still be an active volunteer and member of the team. In addition, ANXIETY UK's office in Manchester has a warm, supportive environment and is entirely staffed by those with personal experience of anxiety and acts as an informal transitional employment project for those whose long-term goal is to re-enter the labour market.

Role descriptions and person specifications

Click on a link to view the description and person specfication. All files are in PDF format.

• Helpline volunteers - Manchester only
• Live chat support volunteer
• Specialist helpline volunteers

Student placements and work experience

Over the years, ANXIETY UK has been able to offer placements for a variety of students at the Manchester office and at alternative locations.

Examples of previous and ongoing placements are:-

• Social work placements for those on the Dip SW course (a partnership programme with Manchester Metropolitan University
• Counselling placements for those on the Dip Counselling course (available throughout the UK)
• Information technology placements for those on IT courses

Degree scheme related work experience

ANXIETY UK also offers students studying psychology, sociology, medical and other associated degrees the opportunity to gain experience of working in the area of anxiety disorders in a user-led environment.

PR Volunteering - currently no vacancies at present (Dec 2008)

We do a huge amount of PR work at Anxiety UK, primarily with national media. This is an opportunity for the right person/ people to get some excellent PR experience dealing with day to day media relations at a busy charity. Training, support and supervision provided.

Other volunteering opportunities

ANXIETY UK has an extensive number of fully-trained Approved Therapists working throughout the UK in a voluntary capacity who in return gain invaluable experience of working with those affected by anxiety disorders.

At present we have vacancies for: (please telephone the main office 08444 775 774 for a vacancy update)

• Cognitive behavioural therapists - applicants must hold a qualification from a course accredited by the BABCP or be on a CBT Diploma course recognised by the BABCP (British Associaton for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies), or hold individual accreditation with the BABCP. Click here to view BABCP accredited training courses
• Counsellors - applicants must hold a Diploma in Counselling from a BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy) or BPS (British Psychological Society) accredited course, or be working towards a Diploma in Counselling on a course that is accredited either by the BACP or the BPS, or hold individual accreditation with the BACP. click here for a list of BACP accredited courses. click here for a list of BPS accredited courses. (Please note we are not recruiting counsellors practising in the Manchester area)
• Clinical hypnotherapists - applicants must have a Diploma in Hypnotherapy and be registered with the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis and/or be registered with the General Hypnotherapy Register, and/or be registered with the National Council for Hypnotherapy

Clinical Hypnotherapy: Governing Body Criteria
Anxiety UK currently accepts applications from a number of reigstered governing bodies. These include:

British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists, BACP

British Assocation for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists, BABCP

General Hypnotherapy Reigster. GHR

British Society for Clinical Hypnotherapists, BSCH

National Council for Hypnotherapists, NHC

Governing bodies often have an ethical framework that they expect members to adhere to when practicing their discipline. Membership is a way of clients ascertaining that therapists have been checked, and have met certain quality standards in their practice. They also offer therapists the opportunity to become accredited, which is a mark of the knowledge and experience they have developed over time.
Common criteria for all bodies accepted by Anxiety UK is that they expect individuals sign up to their organisation to have met the following criteria:

Produce copies of Diploma level qualifications as a minimum (or be studying towards one)

Proof of professional indemnity insurance

Sign up to a minimum of 10 hours continuing professional development (CPD) per year - this varies between bodes

Have a named clinical supervisor in place

In addition to this, Anxiety UK expects all therapists registered with them to have a valid criminal record bureau check (enhanced version), which is less than a year old.
If you feel that your governing body meets this criteria but is not currently on the Anxiety UK register, please contact the office on: info@anxietyuk.org.uk with evidence of how they meet the above criteria.

If you are interested in becoming an Approved Anxiety UK Therapist, please see the how to apply section below.

How to apply to volunteer

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with ANXIETY UK, simply fill in the relevant application form: .

 

Alternatively you can download and complete the volunteer application form, and return it to the following address:
Please ensure that you complete the Approved Therapist Application Form if you are applying to join our team of therapists.