Let’s Talk
Project Description
The Taking Time to Talk Project aims to improve public attitudes and behaviour towards mental
health issues by decreasing discrimination in relation to mental health. By improving the confidence
and abilities of people with mental health experience, this project aims to enable sufferers to tackle
the stigma associated with mental health, thus enabling them to contribute to and engage in the life
of their community.
The “Let’s Talk” Project is funded by Time to Change, England’s biggest programme to end the stigma
and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems. The programme is run by the
charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, and funded by the Department of Health, Comic Relief and
the Big Lottery Fund.
About Time to Change
Time to Change is a programme that aims to combat the stigma and discrimination still associated
with mental health, and is run by the leading mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.
These two charities have decided to work together in the biggest attempt in England yet to end the
discrimination that surrounds mental health.
Time to Change started in 2007 and is now in its second phase, which will finish in March 2015.
The aims of the programme are to:
1. Improve public attitudes towards people with mental health problems by 5%.
2. Reduce discrimination by 5%.
3. Reduce the number of areas of life in which people experience discrimination.
4. Increase the confidence and ability of people with mental health problems to address
discrimination.
5. Improve the social capital of people with mental health problems.
Time to Change wants to work with local communities to create a society where mental health
problems are not hidden in shame and secrecy, and where nobody is afraid to speak out about their
problems, or left wondering where they can turn for help.
Note: For the purpose of this project “social contact” happens when people with experience of
mental health problems come together with people who have none, and share their experiences
through a meaningful conversation.
Job Title: Time To Talk Champion
Salary: N/A – Voluntary Role
Hours: Attendance at 8 x 3 hour training sessions, networking meetings held quarterly with other
Champions and social contact (self-directed)
Time to Talk Champion
The Champions will be required to attend a training programme, network with and support other
Champions in their social contact and engage 70 people in a meaningful conversation regarding
mental health in order to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
The content for the training sessions will be informed by a number of focus groups attended by
women with lived experience of mental health. This will also include an introduction to the project,
action planning for their own interventions and working as a team, practice sessions, and skill and
confidence building. This is a great opportunity to be a part of an exciting and innovative project
tackling perceptions of mental health issues in the wider community. There is also the option of
progressing on to an accredited qualification in education and training or mental health awareness
free of charge!
Job Description
Roles
1. To ensure that they are familiar with the project aims and objectives.
2. To raise awareness of the Taking Time to Talk Project at community and city wide events
and engage with the public as and when possible/planned.
3. To support and help peers to plan their social contact interventions.
4. To liaise regularly with the Project Officer and Facilitator.
Responsibilities
1. To uphold Derby Women’s Centre guidelines and policies as appropriate.
2. To provide support to other volunteers.
3. To attend learning and development activities as required in support of the role and to take
part in Taking Time to Talk.
4. To be willing to share lived experience of mental health problems as far as is necessary. To
challenge the stigma around mental health and inspire others to do the same.
5. To understand and follow good health and safety practices and procedures at all times.
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To support the collection of data required for the good practice resource.
6. To maintain accurate records as required.
Job Specification
Education, Qualifications and Training
1. Good standard of general education including Maths and English.
2. Understanding of mental health issues.
Skills and Experience
Essential
1. Lived experience of mental health issues.
2. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to communicate at all levels.
3. Ability to show empathy towards mental health issues.
4. Punctuality, reliability, adaptability and flexibility.
5. A commitment to equal opportunities, diversity and confidentiality.
Desirable
1. Experience of sharing lived experience of mental health problems with the public.
2. Experience of volunteering or regular commitment to a group or project.