Baroness Julia Neuberger has called for Capital Volunteering, which is based in London and uses volunteering to help people overcome mental ill health, to be rolled out across the UK.
The Baroness, who is the chair on the commission of the future of volunteering and the Prime Minister’s ambassador on volunteering, was speaking at an award ceremony to celebrate the achievement of volunteers from Capital Volunteering, last night (Tuesday 17 June).
Capital Volunteering is a programme which tackles issues of mental health and social exclusion through volunteering and is backed by CSV and the London Development Centre.
Baroness Julia Neuberger said: “I’m more than a fan of Capital Volunteering, I’m a convert. It’s the star project of anything going on in health and social care. We have provided evidence that this really does work. The next step is that Capital Volunteering needs to go wider throughout the UK and ultimately international.”
The Baroness made reference to research by the Institute of Psychiatry, which shows more than a fifth of volunteers report an improvement in general health and almost a third (29%) of volunteers report increased self-confidence, while the same proportion report improvements in socialising and making friends. (1)
The Baroness added: “The evidence has shown that volunteering projects can make a difference to people’s lives, both to those who volunteer and those they help. People who are very vulnerable and very ill are getting a lot better, thanks to Capital Volunteering.
Baroness Neuberger presented two awards to volunteers on the night. Also presenting two awards was celebrity interior designer and TV presenter Andrea Maflin.
Andrea said: “I think only an extremely lucky person will go through life and not experience depression, exhaustion or anxiety. When I was 21 my father died and my face didn’t move for a year. I just couldn’t experience any emotion. I was utterly numb. Hearing the stories of the award winners has been terribly moving. It is amazing to see people caring for each other.”
The celebration took place on Tuesday 17 June at LSO St Luke’s in Old Street, London and involved live music and performances by people involved in Capital Volunteering projects.
Capital Volunteering operates across 11 London boroughs: Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Camden, Islington, Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, and Hillingdon.
Further information about Capital Volunteering is at www.capitalvolunteering.org.uk
For further press information or case studies: Paul Donohoe/Jason Tanner, CSV Press Office on 020 7812 0037/38 or 07941 433598.
Notes for editors:
1. The Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, 2007.
2. There are more than 26,000 admissions to psychiatric hospitals in London every year with 21.7% admissions due to depression and anxiety, 34.5% due to schizophrenia and related psychoses and 21.9% related to substance misuse.
3. Capital Volunteering projects support people who are isolated due to their illness and whose confidence, self-esteem and social networks are undermined due to their experiences of mental ill-health. Projects also help mental health service users re-gain entry into employment. Capital Volunteering is backed by CSV and the London Development Centre. It received £7.3 million from the Treasury’s Invest to Save budget (ISB).
4. LSO St Luke’s is grade 1 listed18th Century church designed by the famous architect Nicholas Hawksmoor. It is now the home of the London Symphony Orchestra’s community and music education programme and a regular rehearsal venue for the world famous orchestra. .
5. 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
6. 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