Recruitment opens for See Me Proud community champions

Posted by See Me, 1 February 2022

Recruitment has opened for a new cohort of See Me Proud community champions.

Since 2018, we've been working with LGBT Health and Wellbeing to recruit and train LGBT volunteer community champions who are raising awareness of mental health stigma and discrimination within their communities and wider society.

The first cohort of See Me Proud community champions have already attended big events like Pride and the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, and have developed and delivered training to future champions.

Being a community champion means you’ll get support and connection from your peers, a chance to learn and grow your skills, and have fun!

You’ll be trained in community development and participative practice, and gain knowledge on how to design and run anti-stigma projects. By being involved as a See Me Proud community champion you’ll attend a variety of events and meet lots of new people. You’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to change communities’ attitudes and behaviours towards LGBT people with mental health challenges as part of the wider See Us movement.

Types of activity you might get involved in

N.B – The following provides an idea of what opportunities you could be involved in. You can choose ones that are right for you and the way you want to get involved. There may also be additional opportunities.

Encouraging and inspiring others to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination against LGBT people with experience of mental health difficulties
Attending a range of networking events, cross party groups, staff networks, and undertaking promotional work to contribute to discussions around how services can best meet the needs of LGBT people.
Highlight and further promote the key recommendations of the LGBT Health’s National Conversational on LGBT Mental Health (2019) which looked at barriers and enablers for LGBT people engaging with mainstream mental health services.
Planning and running community events as part of a group or network in association with LGBT Health and Wellbeing and See Me.
Identifying the needs of people in your community and developing community projects that help others to build capacity and take action.
Developing and sharing See Me/See Me Proud resources and training.

We will be running two online information sessions where you can learn more about the role, and ask any questions. These will be on the 17 February from 1pm to 3pm and the 23 February from 6pm to 8pm. Come along to hear more about LGBT Health and Wellbeing and See Me Scotland and what being a champion involves. If you aren’t able to come to an information session, you can still get in touch with Sophie for any questions or any support with the application process.

To find out more about the role, and how to apply, head to the LGBT Health and Wellbeing site.