June 4, 2024

Volunteers’ Week at PSS!

This week is Volunteers’ Week and we’re shining a spotlight on all of the hard work that our volunteers get involved with at PSS. We’re also going to be giving them a great big thank you for giving their time, expertise and for helping us make a difference every day.

Today’s spotlight lands on Mark!

Mark’s one of our peer supporters at the PSS Wellbeing Centres. He’s incredibly passionate about helping others and supporting the mental wellbeing of the people in his local community by using his own lived experience of mental health.  

Peer supporter

Mark is involved in many activities at the PSS Wellbeing Centres (beekeeping, cooking, farming), but it’s in his latest role as co-facilitator of the current peer support training course that he’s really excelled. He worked super hard during the eight-week training program and has shown commitment to his new role. He’s really understanding, and empathetic and goes above and beyond to make sure the people on the course feel heard and understood.   

Using his own experiences to fuel his work, he remembers what it was like to walk through that door for the first time. How unsure and frightening it can be and uses that experience to reassure others. He takes time to explain how he felt when he first came along to PSS. He draws on his own experiences from when he first started accessing wellbeing support and uses that to reassure people that they’re not alone. Supporting people in a calm and sensitive way and taking time to listen to people is what he does best.

On the farm

Not forgetting the work he does at the farm! Mark’s also an incredible volunteer at our urban farm, Dutch Farm. Mark understands the wellbeing benefits of being in nature and encourages others to get outdoors. He also takes the lead on our cooking sessions. He uses produce from the farm and encourages people to create and share a homemade meal. Everything Mark does is with the incentive of improving the mental wellbeing of others. He’s passionate about creating a space for people to feel included, listened to and valued.  

Volunteering on the farm has shown us that Mark is willing to turn his hand to any task or project. From building a shed to clearing the ground for the wildflower area. He’s even used his DIY skills to create shelving for the polytunnel. He’s also the bees’ knees when it comes to looking after the bees. He stays on top of the bee equipment, shed and the barn. At this point we’re thinking there’s nothing he can’t do!  

Mark is the kind of volunteer you always want in your team. An incredible volunteer at the Wellbeing Centres and a brilliant role model for those who are beginning their wellbeing journey with us. 

Interested in volunteering?

Get in touch with Abi, our volunteer coordinator at abi.reese@pss.org.uk.