Flat 2, 101 Clarendon Gardens, Wembley, Middx  HA9 7LF
Tel/Fax:  020 8908 1686

Based in the London Borough of Brent, The Rainbow Group is a voluntary self-help support group for older women suffering emotional distress.  We currently have 45 members including 12 outreach members.

Our main activity is a weekly meeting which offers activities such as art therapy, keep fit, games, discussions, speakers and musical performers.  We also arrange monthly outings to local shows, shopping centres, places of interest etc.  Our outreach work covers those members who for various reasons cannot attend.

The general aim is social rehabilitation for those recovering from mental illness or from traumas such as divorce, bereavement or serious family problems.  Such people often have financial difficulties, problems in getting out of their homes and problems in using public transport, and we deal with these by providing grant-subsidised door-to-door travel to meetings and outings, and low cost refreshments.  There are no registration, subscription or attendance charges.

We normally have a professional social worker assigned to the group, and can obtain free professional advice for legal, social security, housing etc. matters as well as maintaining contact with the local NHS psychiatric services.

All members are telephoned at least one a week and the meetings, phone calls and outings provide regular 'bright spots'; to which members can look forward, rather than the otherwise grey outlook that many have.

The Rainbow Group is co-ordinated by a part-time paid worker, and there is also a small committee of members.

VACANCIES
(a) ASSISTANT COORDINATOR
(b) VOLUNTEER SUPPORT WORKERS

(a) Applications are invited for the part-time post of assistant coordinator of the Rainbow Group, an independent community support group for older women suffering emotional distress, based in North Brent.

It is envisaged that the successful applicant would serve on a volunteer basis for a probationary period,  subsequently becoming salaried.

Duties include helping to prepare and run our weekly meetings and monthly outings, keeping in touch with members between the meetings., and keeping in touch with outreach members.

The Group has been established for eight years, and is financed partly by Brent Council and partly by grants from trust funds.

Applicants should ideally have personal experience as a user/survivor of the mental health system, and also have training/experience in counselling.

(b) Volunteers are also needed for the following tasks:

Taking minutes of committee meetings

Visiting outreach members in hospitals or homes

Preparing for, and assisting on, minibus outings

Collecting cash contributions from members at meetings

Book-keeping

Fund-raising from trust funds

Auditing

Assisting conversion to registered charity status.

Apply to Sheila Bramson (coordinator) at the above address.

Designed & Maintained by Adam Bernard