Volunteering

🧭 Navigating This Blog

Hearing about the experiences of others, and sharing tools and tips to support recovery, is one of the foundations of our culture. We can create connections by sharing about our lived experience – especially those that offer inspiration and hope.

Recovery in mental health is not always well understood; sharing your experiences makes personal recovery come alive. It also supports values and strengthens lessons learned from life experiences. It helps to build community and create connections.

You can find lots of inspirational stories; use the search bar at the top to find stories relevant to you. To return to this page after a search, please press the back button in your browser.

✍️ Share Your Experiences

If you are a registered student and would like to share about your experience, please contact us.

You can read more student experiences on our testimonials page and student development programme page.

📰 Newsletters

To make our website and newsletters more accessible from 2025 onwards, all blogs, tips and articles published in our e-newsletters will be published on this page.

You can also read PDF newsletters published before 2025.

📝 Write for the Blog

We welcome students who are interested in writing blogs, sharing reflections, or contributing creative content to support others on their recovery journey.

Get started by visiting the following links:

📄 Download the Contributor Information Pack
🖊️ Read the Blogger Guidelines
📌 Visit our Opportunities Page for other ways to contribute, including the student e-newsletter, website and more.

If you have any questions or ideas, please contact us at newleaf.wellbeingcollege@nhs.net.

Blog, Volunteering, Giving for wellbeing

Moving forward by giving back

How it helps your recovery

Site Administrator

Discover how giving back can help your recovery along with three new opportunities taking on people this month!

Blog, Volunteering, Giving for wellbeing

We can't help everyone, but we can help someone

A carers story

Emma

This story by one of our experts by experience showcases three examples of how small acts of kindness and caring about, or for, others can have a big impact; supporting the premise that everyone can make a difference, however big or small. Read the full story to be inspired.

Blog, Campaign, Volunteering, Self-care, Giving for wellbeing

Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

Lets Talk About Loneliness

Louisa

This week New Leaf Recovery and Wellbeing College is raising awareness for Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 May) hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. This years theme is loneliness. Read more to find out what we're doing, how you can reduce loneliness and how you can get involved to help the people you care about.

Blog, Creativity for wellbeing, Volunteering, Giving for wellbeing

Random acts of kindness week

Louisa

Giving is one of the five ways to wellbeing. The week of the 15th -21st Feb is random acts of kindness week, with random act of kindness day taking place on the 17th Feb. We have listed 21 ways that you can give, both for yourself and others.

Blog, Volunteering, Giving for wellbeing, Opportunity building

How it helped my recovery and ways you can get involved

Shamala

Volunteering can improve your emotional wellbeing while gaining new skills, before you get involved you should ask yourself a few questions, so you can find your perfect match.