My Story & Why I’m Volunteering in Ghana This Summer

My name is Coreen, and my work sits at the intersection of mental health, creativity, and community care. As a Creative Arts Therapist within the NHS—and as a mother raising three children on my own—I’ve built my life around supporting others, advocating for emotional wellbeing, and creating spaces where people feel seen, safe, and understood.

This year, I’ve been offered an opportunity that feels deeply aligned with my purpose and the values I try to model for my children:

I’ve been accepted onto the Clinical Psychology Volunteer Programme in Ghana this summer.

It’s a chance to grow, to serve, and to contribute to mental health development in a country where resources are stretched but community resilience is powerful. And it’s a chance to bring back learning that will strengthen the work I do here in the UK.

Below is the full story behind the programme, why it matters, and why I’m inviting my community to support this journey.

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✨ I’ve Been Accepted Onto the Clinical Psychology Volunteer Programme in Ghana This Summer ✨

And I’m inviting my community to help me make this possible.

This July, I’ll be travelling to Cape Coast, Ghana to join the Clinical Psychology Volunteer Programme with Vocational Impact, an organisation recognised by UK universities as an Ethical Travel Partner for its sustainable, community-led approach.

This isn’t a typical volunteering trip. It’s a chance to contribute to long-term mental health development in a country where resources are stretched but community resilience is powerful.

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What I’ll Be Doing

I’ll be:

- Shadowing and assisting mental health professionals at a psychiatric hospital

- Learning about culturally grounded approaches to clinical care and treatment

- Supporting community outreach projects focused on mental health education and awareness

- Working alongside local humanitarians who have been serving their communities for years

This experience will deepen my clinical practice, strengthen my work in the NHS, and expand my ability to support communities—both here and globally.

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Why There’s a Cost

People often ask why volunteering abroad isn’t free. The truth is: your contribution doesn’t just cover accommodation or food—it directly funds the very projects I’ll be working on.

Vocational Impact was founded in 2015 as the volunteering branch of Arms Around The Child (AATC), a UK-registered charity supporting children and families affected by HIV and AIDS. A significant portion of volunteer fees goes straight into:

- Building schools

- Funding community development

- Supporting long-term mental health and social care initiatives

- Ensuring all projects are run by local professionals, not outsiders parachuting in

This model ensures that volunteers don’t just “visit”—we contribute to sustainable, community-led change.

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️ What My Fee Covers

My programme fee includes:

- Pre-departure planning and guidance

- Safe, vetted accommodation

- Food and in-country transport

- 24/7 support from local coordinators

- Comprehensive after-care to help integrate learning into my ongoing work

The only things not included are flights, visas, and insurance—costs outside the organisation’s control.

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How You Can Support

As a single mother balancing work, study, and community care, this opportunity means a great deal to me. It’s a chance to grow, to give back, and to bring home knowledge that will directly benefit the communities I serve in the UK.

If you’re able to contribute—whether £5 or £50—you’ll be supporting:

- Ethical, sustainable international development

- Mental health education in underserved communities

- My ongoing journey as a clinician committed to global wellbeing

Every donation genuinely makes a difference.

Thank you for reading, for supporting, and for believing in the power of community care—across borders and across cultures.

For more information about the programme please visit:

https://vocationalimpact.org/about/