22/12/2025
""It was a privilege to spend 4 weeks at Sheffield Mind volunteering and understanding how much work goes into the running of such a charity. Through interacting with staff, volunteers and service users at their various peer support groups like Mind Forward, Rainbow Minds and Friendly Fridays, we were able to see how welcoming and supportive everyone was. It was a lovely community of individuals sharing their passions and it really highlighted the importance of socialization and human connection in mental health. Sheffield Mind gives students the opportunity to implement their ideas and really values everyone’s perspective to continuously develop the service. By encompassing co-production, service users can reflect on what they find helpful and suggest improvements, and this is really seen through the growing diversity of services Sheffield Mind offers. As a student, I am grateful to have been involved with a charity that places so much emphasis on the mental wellbeing of everyone in the community" (Yasmina).
We’ve just finished hosting two wonderful medical students from The University of Sheffield, Yasmina and Stephanie for a four-week placement, and what a rewarding experience it has been.
Having someone outside of our profession in the room is incredibly valuable. It makes you pause, reflect, and sometimes even rethink the language we use every day. In our field, we often slip into shortcuts—phrases, assumptions, and ways of explaining things that feel like second nature to us but aren’t always clear to others.
Their fresh perspectives and questions reminded us how important it is to stay curious, to communicate clearly, and to never take our “everyday bread” for granted.
Grateful for the opportunity to support the next generation and to keep learning from them in return.
