Sobia's story

I have been volunteering on the Mind in Harrow SWISH (Support and Wellbeing Information Service) helpline for over three years. On the helpline, volunteers provide listening support and signposting for Harrow residents who are over 18. Issues faced by our service users include: needing counselling for mental health concerns, problems with housing and debt, and a variety of other matters.

I got the role through a Mind in Harrow course I attended called Volunteer for Change.

Apart from the Helpline, I have been involved in other Mind in Harrow projects, such as the Bridging Cultures Project and Harrow Communities Click.

Bridging Cultures brought together people of different minority cultures in Harrow. As a Muslim, it was nice listening to experiences of people from my community as well as those from the Hindu community.

Harrow Communities Click was a Timebank which allowed people living in Harrow to exchange services and skills as well as form groups with others who have a shared interest. Every month, I helped organise Coffee and Catch Up events for Communities Click members.

Volunteering for Mind in Harrow enabled me to connect with different members of the Harrow community and consequently increased my confidence. Subsequently, it has also led to paid work at one of Mind in Harrow’s SWISH partners – Harrow Mencap.

Thank you Mind in Harrow for giving me this confidence and a new lease of life!