Volunteers celebrated at Bethel

by | 25/ Oct/ 2021 | Blog, Events, Uncategorized, Volunteering

Our volunteers are incredibly important, and we regularly spend time to sincerely thank everyone who gives their time to support us.

This October, we met up with our volunteers at our offices in Balsall Heath to thank them for their loyalty during the pandemic. It was our first in-person event for our volunteers since 2020.

Highlights of the event included Gail Sault, who volunteers with the Doula Service and Listening Service user Andy Anderson talking about their experiences. In Andy’s case, he was so positive he’s decided to volunteer with us! We then had time to socialise over a buffet and tuck into our celebration cake!

Group picture of attendees at the Thanks for Giving event

Guests and staff at the event

Bethel volunteers do fantastic work:

  • Listening to people with mental health problems
  • Supporting women before, during and after they give birth
  • Helping in the office
  • Checking in on vulnerable women and their families
  • Delivering baby essentials

If you are interested in volunteering with Bethel, visit our volunteering section on this website to find out more.

As a Doula Champion, you might accompany expectant mothers to prenatal appointments, provide birthing support if needed, help new mums with newborn care and breastfeeding, and ensure they attend their 6-week postnatal checks. You become a trusted companion and advocate for mothers who might otherwise be alone or uncertain.

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You will receive accredited doula training from experienced professionals (led by an ex-NHS midwife) , covering birth coaching, maternal health, and safeguarding. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the skills and
confidence to support women one-on-one.

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This pathway is ideal if you are interested in maternity care or midwifery. It offers invaluable hands-on experience – from attending births (optionally) to postpartum support – giving you a taste of a career in maternal health. Many Doula Champions use this experience as a springboard into NHS roles, midwifery training, or paid doula work in the future.

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Key activities: You will provide one-to-one support through active listening sessions – this could be over the phone, via video call, or in person. You let people share their feelings, and you offer empathy and guidance towards further help if needed (such as suggesting community services). Often, just being there to listen can make a huge difference.

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Training provided: You will undergo intensive training in reflective listening and mental health first response. Our training (often delivered via Zoom over a series of sessions) will teach you how to handle sensitive conversations, maintain confidentiality, and know your boundaries . By completion, you’ll be a certified listening volunteer with skills applicable to counseling or psychology fields.

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Emphasize volunteer scope: Rapha Champions commit to at least an hour per week of listening support for a client after training , which can often be arranged flexibly. You might have regular weekly calls with a client for a period of time. There are also opportunities to facilitate group sessions or community support groups as you grow in experience.

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Benefits and career pathways: This pathway is perfect if you’re interested in mental health, counseling, or social work. The experience you gain – in communication, empathy, and understanding mental health – is highly relevant to careers in counseling, psychotherapy, mental health nursing, or community support roles. Rapha Champions have a pathway to progress into formal counseling courses or mental health roles in the NHS or voluntary sector.” (For example, mention “You could go on to become a paid listening service coordinator or pursue qualifications in therapy – the programme can open these doors.

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