Volunteer Peer Advisor

Are you passionate about improving services for children, young people, and families?

Do you have personal experience with emotional wellbeing or a passion to support others?

Compass Changing Lives is looking for Volunteer Peer Advisors to help shape and influence our services, ensuring they best meet the needs of those who use them.

As a Volunteer Peer Advisor, you will support Compass in evaluating and developing services by sharing your insights, experiences, and ideas. This is an opportunity to influence meaningful change while gaining valuable skills and experience.

As a Volunteer Peer Advisor, you will have the opportunity to take part in one or more of the following activities:

• Sharing experiences – work with other peer advisors to discuss what it’s like to access emotional wellbeing and substance use services for young people

• Social Media – content creation

• Providing insight at events – attend local and national (virtual) events to help Compass understand how to better respond to service user needs

• Recruiting staff – participate in the selection of Compass practitioners and managers to ensure our workforce reflects the right values and attributes

• Developing resources – research and contribute to service delivery programs and materials in collaboration with practitioners and managers

• Promoting participation – engage in outreach and awareness activities to encourage more young people and families to get involved

• Influencing decision-making – work with Compass Board members to develop plans and strategies with increasing input from young people and families

Compass Changing Lives offers early help and support for emotional wellbeing and mental health to children, young people, and families across Derby and Derbyshire.

We comprise of two services:

•           Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)

•           Early Intervention and Targeted Support Service

Compass Changing Lives ensures Children and Young People (CYP) access the right help, at the right time, in the right setting and these two teams work closely together to make sure everyone gets a comparable level of support wherever they live in the county.

Your story has the power to inspire change — let’s make it happen together.

We are looking for a motivated and flexible individual with an understanding of emotional wellbeing and the impact.

Your ability to be a welcoming and approachable individual who is reliable punctual and trustworthy.

You will show strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with colleagues, young people, and families and an ability to maintain confidentiality and respect privacy.

We welcome applications from:

Young Peer Advisors –  with lived experience of emotional wellbeing services.

Family Peer Advisors – Parents/carers who have supported a young person through emotional wellbeing challenges.

We offer Flexible volunteering – you can participate in person with a local team.

Above all, we are looking for someone who aligns with our values of integrity, valuing each individual, being solution focussed, whilst being consistent and reliable—someone who is committed to working collaboratively, supporting others, and always striving to make a positive impact.

Compass is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. Established for over 30 years, Compass is a national charity which works in communities across the UK providing services spanning substance misuse treatment and rehabilitation, early interventions for vulnerable young people, school-aged health programmes and associated prevention as well as treatment and health promotion initiatives.

All Compass posts are subject to appropriate level DBS checks.

We positively encourage applications from all members of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age, or sexual orientation, and encourage applications from people who have experiences in life which enrich skills and empathy. This is part of our commitment to equality and developing a truly inclusive and representative workforce.

We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments individuals may require in the recruitment process, on commencement, or once in post.

Help us to make a positive change to the lives of children and young people!