Maytree
We offer free, short-term residential care for people in suicidal crisis, grounded in our unique, non-medical befriending model.
Through time, space and compassionate human presence, our volunteers and staff create an atmosphere of trust and belonging that allows guests to pause, reflect and reconnect with their innate capacity for hope, resilience and relationship.
Our work transforms crisis into possibility, helping people rediscover within themselves the strength to live, and to continue seeking support beyond their stay.
ABOUT US:
We are a sanctuary based in Finsbury Park, North London offering 24/7 care to those experiencing immediate suicidal crisis. We offer a once-only, 5 day/4-night stay in a homely, family-style house run by professional Lead Befrienders with the support of Volunteer Befrienders.
WHY OUR WORK MATTERS:
Our service offers something unique and different and it fills a gap in services for the acutely suicidal. Crisis lines offer brief contact, while emergency hospital care can feel impersonal. We offer a warm and welcoming, non-medical place where people can find safety, rest and human connection at the darkest point in their lives. From the beginning, our approach has been grounded in compassion, trust and containment.
OUR VALUES:
Trust
Respect
Openness
Empathy
Equity
Non-judgement
WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN OUR PEOPLE:
Key qualities we look for in volunteers:
- Compassionate and empathetic – able to listen deeply and respond with warmth and care
- Good listeners – comfortable giving full attention without rushing to give advice or solutions
- Non-judgemental – open to hearing a wide range of life experiences, beliefs, and feelings, including difficult subjects such as suicide
- Emotionally resilient – able to stay calm in the face of distress, while also knowing how to seek support when needed
- Self-aware and reflective – willing to notice their own feelings, biases, and limits, and to learn from discussion with Lead Befrienders
- Reliable and committed – able to honour shift commitments and contribute to the smooth running of the house
- Collaborative – work well as part of a team of volunteers and staff, sharing responsibility for creating a safe and supportive environment
- Inclusive and open-minded – value diversity and help ensure Maytree is a safe and welcoming space for all
Our Opportunities
Volunteer Befriender
Maytree
Min. 52 Weeks Minimum weeks
Volunteer Befriender
Volunteering
Befriender
Mental Health