TV presenter Trisha Goddard is encouraging people with mental health issues to use volunteering to help them on the ‘rocky road’ to recovery by backing Capital Volunteering, a London based scheme which helps people rebuild their lives through volunteering.
 
Trisha’s support is included in Capital Lives, a free magazine out this week, which highlights the stories of just a few of the 4,500 people who have benefited thanks to Capital Volunteering. The TV presenter herself, experienced mental health issues and spent time in a psychiatric hospital after having a nervous breakdown.
 
Trisha says: “Working towards stronger mental health is often a bit of a rocky road. However, it can be tackled by taking small steps. A vital part of that journey is reconnecting with the world, feeling ‘useful’ and finding a sense of purpose. That’s why Capital Volunteering and its projects is such a valuable resource. Through it, people can embrace what they can do, rather than focus on what they can’t.”
 
Capital Volunteering is an innovative scheme supporting 4,500 people with mental health issues across 11 London Boroughs with the backing of volunteering charity CSV and the London Development Centre. Preliminary independent research conducted by the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London indicates that 85% of participants report positive outcomes from getting involved in volunteering despite underlying isolation experienced by many within the community.
 
Two of the volunteers featured in Capital Lives are:
 
Aloyse Raptopolous, 35 originally from France and now living in Vauxhall, has bi-polar disorder and has been admitted to psychiatric units several times. She has volunteered through Capital Volunteering since 2003 with the South London and Maudsley mental health trust. Aloyse started helping others with mental distress through befriending before moving on to volunteer in an Islington music project. Aloyse is now self-employed and running her own training programme in the community for volunteers who want to develop teaching and vocational skills.
 
Aloyse says: “Thanks to volunteering I’ve made great friends and have built a new career for myself. Something good always comes out of volunteering. Through helping others you can start to help yourself.”
 
Mick Owen, 50 and from Harold Wood, Essex, hit rock bottom eight years ago when he experienced a nervous breakdown and walked out of his job as a senior commercial printer. Mick was diagnosed with depression and severe anxiety, which combined with an alcohol problem sent his life spiralling out of control. Thanks to Capital Volunteering Mick has since managed to gain a job as an employment support worker with the charity Rethink, where he was also volunteering as a mentor to people with mental health issues.
 
Mick says: “It’s about building belief and confidence. You have to have self belief if you are going to recover. Self belief is a light at the end of the tunnel. That’s what volunteering has done for me.  My self belief had gone through the roof. I’m not afraid to do anything and I’m no longer afraid of failing – that’s part of learning. The light at the end of my own tunnel is much lighter now; I’m not out of it yet but, more often than not, I believe I will be.”
 
Capital Volunteering operates across 11 London boroughs: Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Camden, Islington, Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, and Hillingdon

Capital Lives, is a free single issue magazine featuring the stories volunteers involved with Capital Volunteering. To request a copy contact: Sophie Gulberg, Project Coordinator, 020 7833 0057, sgullberg@csv.org

For press enquiries contact: CSV Press Office, Paul Donohoe, on 020 7812 0037 pdonohoe@csv.org.uk or Jason Tanner on 020 7812 0038 jtanner@csv.org.uk
 
Notes for Editors
 
1. The Capital Volunteering programme aims to tackle issues of mental health and social inclusion, through volunteering. Funded by the Treasury, through its Invest to Save Budget (ISB). Its lead partners are CSV and the London Development Centre. www.capitalvolunteering.org.uk
 
2. CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. In 2006/7 229,869 people gave time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trained 12,309 people of all ages and linked 29,000 people to learning through BBC Local Radio. www.csv.org.uk
 
3. The London Development Centre is part of the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) and one of eight regional development centres in England. It aims to support service improvement of care services in London and help ensure better outcomes for children and families, adults and older people, including those with mental health needs, physical disability or learning disabilities and people in the criminal justice system. www.londondevelopmentcentre.org