Mind in Bradford

How do you find/finding the UOB summer experience programme?

I think it’s a brilliant opportunity both for the student to get real-world experience in a local, dynamic charity setting and for Mind in Bradford to tap into the local talent pool on our doorstep.

What jobs do you offer for graduates?

There are lots of volunteering roles available at Mind in Bradford across the charity from Crisis Support and Telephone Support to Admin roles in the office. These are great opportunities for those wanting to work in the mental health sector but needing experience to bolster their CV first. A lot of our volunteers progress to paid work in a support capacity such as Wellbeing Workers and Wellbeing Course Facilitators.

What are the most important characteristics you look for in a candidate?

A strong work-ethic and ability to lead without too much direction. A passion for mental health and helping others is paramount, everything we do is about supporting others to live a better quality of life.

What advice would you give to graduates at the start of their career?

Say YES as much as possible. When you’re straight out of university it can seem quite a scary place and the expectation to know exactly what you want to do can seem rather over-whelming. Using your time to get involved with as many projects and jobs whether paid of voluntary is a fantastic way to broaden your skillset, gain experience for your CV and improve your confidence. My second piece of advice is to interview as much as you can. Don’t wait around for ‘’the perfect role’’, every time you interview you are perfecting your technique ready for when it counts.

Can you tell us something interesting about working at your organisation that you wouldn’t get from looking at the website?

I really don’t feel our website shows the story, passion and people behind Mind in Bradford. What started as a Peer Support Group 50 years ago has transformed into one of Bradford’s leading mental health charities and this couldn’t have been done without the team working day and night behind the scenes. The people behind Mind in Bradford are some of the most kind, compassionate and experienced workers I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside.