School’s Project – Volunteers Needed

The Project

The BDD Foundation, in collaboration with the specialist NHS team at the Maudsley Hospital, is soon to relaunch our Schools Project, designed to provide educational professionals with the knowledge and skills to identify signs of BDD. This is an early intervention programme, aimed at supporting adolescents to access timely support. We know that BDD commonly onsets in adolescence, and causes significant disruption to their education and social development. Understanding within schools still needs improvement.

Guided by clinicians, our volunteers will be delivering in-person interactive training workshops to school personnel, primarily in south London schools. Training will cover the signs and symptoms of both BDD and appearance anxiety, and will equip staff with knowledge on BDD as a condition, how to spot the signs in a young person, how to approach the topic, steps in helping them access treatment and support for the wider family network.

The Volunteer Role

We are looking for volunteers who are interested in supporting us to deliver this crucial work. The criteria for this role includes:

• Direct or indirect lived experience of BDD (personal experience or caring for a child/ loved one)
• Good understanding of the signs and symptoms of BDD
• Ideally experience in one or more of the following: delivering training, public speaking, facilitating groups, professional presentations
• Clear communicator, organised, and passionate about early mental health intervention

How to apply

Please submit a CV and a personal statement (max 700 words) which outlines the following:

• Your (direct/indirect) experience with BDD
• Why you would like to apply for this position
• Your relevant experience (either as an expert-by-experience, an expert-by-training or both)
• Your relevant skills and qualities

Please submit your CV and personal statement to gem@bddfoundation.org by 11.59pm on 22nd August

Interviews are due to take place week commencing 26th August