Volunteers’ Week 2026
Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June 2026) is the perfect opportunity to recognise the incredible contribution volunteers make to our Trust, and to the NHS and social care.
From greeting service users at reception to supporting people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, our volunteers give their time freely because they care.
To all our volunteers – thank you. The kindness you show, and the difference you make to service users, carers, families and staff every single day makes you an invaluable part of the NHS family. We are grateful for all that you do.
This article highlights some of the volunteering activity across our Trust and the ways people can get involved.
Life as a Volunteer Peer Mentor: Turning lived experience into hope
During Volunteers’ Week, we celebrate the powerful impact volunteers have - and peer mentors are a shining example of this in action.
Steve, a Volunteer Peer Mentor on MacColl Ward at Meadowbrook, brings something unique to his role: lived experience. Having spent much of his adult life accessing services, Steve understands first-hand how it feels to be lost, unheard and alone. As he reflects:
“I remember feeling lost and alone, with no one to talk to who understood… the troubles I was going through.”
After receiving effective support and finding a path forward, Steve uses his experience to help others see that recovery is possible.
“I have been able to not only see a future for myself, but also to share my story with those who can make a difference.”
At the heart of peer mentoring is connection. By sharing his story, Steve creates a safe, non-judgemental space where people feel understood. Unlike traditional roles, peer mentors can engage as equals. This helps build trust and openness, particularly for those who may struggle to speak with clinical staff.
“One advantage of my role is being able to introduce myself as a peer, rather than as a professional.”
Sometimes, it’s the simplest interactions that matter most. Steve explains his approach:
“Hi my name is Steven and I am a Volunteer Peer Mentor… If you want someone to talk or vent to, feel free to catch my attention.”
Whether a brief greeting or a longer conversation, these moments help people feel seen and heard. As Steve puts it:
“Just having the ability to demonstrate that they are not alone… and that there is a path out of the darkness, offers a good level of mutual benefit.”
No two days are the same. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, Steve supports a wide range of activities - from music therapy and cooking groups to informal conversations and ward-based sessions. His role helps bridge the gap between service users and professionals, encouraging engagement in a human and relatable way.
Volunteering also brings a powerful sense of belonging and purpose. Steve highlights how valued he feels:
“I am treated as an equal, and not ‘just a volunteer’… I can’t think of a day where I have not felt welcome.”
This supportive environment allows his confidence to grow while making a meaningful difference.
Becoming a peer mentor is a journey in itself. With structured training, including a Level 2 peer mentor course and ongoing support, volunteers develop the skills needed to connect effectively with others. Reflecting on this, Steve says:
“It helped me to understand how important the right form of communication is to engage productively.”
For Steve, what began as a step toward returning to work has become something much more meaningful.
“I had a strong desire to help others from slipping through the nets I slipped through… and I am happy to say I know I have had a positive impact.”
What stands out most is the sense of fulfilment he now feels:
“For the first time in a long time, I am happy to be doing what I am doing, and I know what I am doing is making a difference.”
His message is simple: volunteering as a peer mentor does not just change lives - it transforms them, including your own.
Volunteering contributions at No. 93 Wellbeing Centre
Since opening in 2018, No. 93 Wellbeing Centre has developed a strong and committed volunteer community made up of local people, many of whom have lived experience.
Volunteers play a significant role in creating a welcoming, inclusive environment and in delivering activities that support connection, wellbeing and peer support.
One example is Marcus, a volunteer Art Tutor who successfully secured Live Well Seed funding to further develop his popular creative sessions. His work culminated in a community art exhibition, Graffiti Sky, during Mental Health Awareness Week last month.
John and Alan lead regular pool tournaments, providing an informal and accessible way for people - particularly men - to engage socially and build confidence in a relaxed setting.
Peer support leadership
Volunteers also provide long-standing peer support:
- Carol has led the Hearing Voices group at No. 93 for over 11 years and is highly regarded for her consistency and lived experience leadership.
- Wendy runs a bereavement support group and marks 15 years of volunteering this year, offering sustained support to people experiencing loss.
- Lauren facilitates the Mindful Mums group.
- Hannah supports bingo sessions and the Pool and Social group. She recently won Female Volunteer of the Year at the North Manchester International Women’s Day Awards for her volunteering and advocacy work.
Everyday volunteering
Volunteers lead popular weekly activities, including bingo and yoga, and support the day to day running of the centre by setting up rooms, managing refreshments and helping maintain a welcoming drop in space.
A dedicated group of volunteers also works regularly in the community garden alongside the Green Wellbeing Worker. Their efforts contributed to the garden receiving a Britain in Bloom award last summer.
Volunteer community
No. 93 currently has nine active centre-based volunteers, with a further ten volunteers supporting partner organisations based on site. Volunteers are fundamental to the centre’s sense of community, helping reduce isolation and ensuring people feel valued, supported and connected.
The Recovery Academy and the volunteering agenda
The Recovery Academy is honoured to be involved in celebrating Volunteers’ Week, acknowledging the valuable contributions our volunteers and peer mentors make to our services, and their role in co-producing and co-facilitating the wide range of Academy courses and resources available to all.
The Recovery Academy first launched in 2013 and, since then, has offered a wide range of learning opportunities for anyone looking to manage their own mental wellbeing or support someone else. The courses on offer are a fantastic platform to support the development of our volunteers and peer workforce – they can not only engage for their own wellbeing and recovery, but also co-develop and co-deliver courses or resources, as the Academy has inclusivity, empowerment, hope and co-production as its core principle.
We spoke to Amy Lawrence, Recovery Academy Team Manager, for further information:
“I feel very honoured to have joined the Recovery Academy team earlier this year, after many years working in clinical services within the Trust.
“Working alongside and learning from our experts by experience is a huge passion of mine, and I have loved meeting so many people who want to use their experience to empower and give hope to others.
“Hearing a wealth of recovery stories and journeys is truly inspiring to me, and I love watching and being a part of the journey of many of our students who go on to achieve huge successes.
“I believe that having peers within our workforce overall benefits our service users and communities and also helps our clinical teams in relation to improving service user outcomes.”
To support people in developing the skills needed to become a peer mentor, the Recovery Academy offers a Level 2 Accredited Peer Mentoring course. This course is co-facilitated by staff and people with lived experience and gives participants a solid foundation from which to build their volunteering and peer mentoring roles. Anyone with lived experience who has a volunteer or paid peer mentor role confirmed within services can apply for this, so please get in touch to find out more.
The Recovery Academy is free to join and available to:
- Anyone who is experiencing mental health and/or addiction problems (you do not have to be under the care of NHS mental health services)
- Their supporters (family, friends and loved ones)
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) staff members, volunteers and students on placement
- Healthcare professionals
Recovery Pathways step-up peer support role
Recovery Pathways is a Trust citywide service. Through creative and wellbeing themed practice that is delivered in supportive settings, the service aims to build confidence and skills, enable personal recovery from mental distress and support access to moving on.
Cathy Fortune from the service, said:
“In Recovery Pathways we have a step-up peer support role in the studios for service users who have completed our core program and are interested in taking the first steps towards volunteering. This is an opportunity to try out the role of studio assistant before becoming an official GMMH volunteer.”
A service user from Recovery Pathways provided the following feedback about the peer support role:
“I really appreciate the peer supporter in the Textiles session. They get the balance right between helping and letting me get on with it myself. It’s really good having someone in the group who has been through the classes before and understands how difficult it can be joining a new group when you’re struggling with your mental health.“
A peer supporter also shared:
“The Textiles sessions at Studio One have been helpful to me, and it’s great to feel like I am giving something back.”
Visit our Recovery Pathways page to learn more about the service
Could you spare a few hours to make a real difference?
NHS volunteers play a vital role in supporting service users, carers, families and staff in a variety of ways. From helping patients feel less alone to delivering medications to the vulnerable house-bound, there's a volunteering role to suit everyone.
No experience is necessary - just a willingness to give your time and a desire to help others. You'll meet new people and learn new skills, while making a positive difference to someone's life.
Visit our Volunteering page to find out more about volunteering at our Trust
Search for volunteering opportunities near you on the NHS Volunteering website
