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Victim Support welcomes 9 new volunteers!

We are delighted to welcome 9 new volunteers to our organisation. The new recruits, who were trained at the end of June by Michele from Victim Support Northumbria, are a diverse group from many different backgrounds and are a wide age range.  This is important to us as, of course, any one can be a victim of crime and we aim to match our clients with a volunteer we feel will suit them best. We are very grateful they have came forward to join us and they are all looking forward to helping anyone who has been affected by a crime.

Volunteers

Without you, Victim Support couldn’t operate.  People volunteer for many different reasons – whatever your reason we would love to hear from you.  Please contact us and we will send you our volunteers pack.  You can then fill in the short application form and, as all our new volunteers must undergo a training course, we will hold your application on file and will be sure to contact you when we are having our next course.

 

Some Points to Consider:

  • All new volunteers will be required to attend an initial training course.  These are usually held about once a year, and last approximately 5 days.  Other training opportunities are given, but any courses attended after the initial course are voluntary.

 

  • It is an advantage, but not essential, for you to have previous experience or qualifications in Support Work.  All you need is common sense, to be a good listener and be non judgmental. Training will be given.

 

  • All volunteers have to fill out a form to consent to a Police check.

 

  • Volunteering won’t necessarily be time consuming, but we ask you to give the scheme your commitment and deal with every client to the best of your ability. Some people request/require a visit, while other referrals only require a telephone call.

 

  • We are able to issue you with a mobile phone, if needed, so you do not have to have a land line.

 

  • It is an advantage that a volunteer has transport, but it is not essential. The Scheme Manager will try to give referrals within walking distance if transport is not available.

 

  • Everything discussed with a victim MUST be in complete confidence, the only exception to this is any discussions between the volunteer and Scheme Manager.