Description
We are looking for enthusiastic and committed people from all backgrounds from across South Ayrshire.
While qualifications and experience are good to have, what’s more important to us is to have a ‘can do’ attitude and are committed to providing compassionate and informative services to people who have been affected by crime.
You could be a student or recent graduate who is keen to build their CV; or you could be a mid-career professional who is looking to take their life in a different direction. We are open to applications from people from all walks of life.
Victims of crime often feel a range of emotions such as anxiety, confusion and anger, while witnesses may feel confused, anxious and overwhelmed by the court system. As a support volunteer, you will provide help and support in both local communities and within the court environment, ensuring people receive the high-quality support and care they need to move forward after crime.
As a support volunteer, you will make personal contact with people affected by crime, providing them with support at a time when they need it most.
You will:
• Discuss service users’ needs by telephone, face-to-face visits or other means, agreeing next steps at the end of each contact
• Help witnesses feel more confident at court by arranging and conducting court familiarisation visits
• Support service users in the court room and other appropriate locations on the day of a trial, liaising with court officials on behalf of service users
• Give feedback and agree follow-up actions with staff members
• Provide administrative support in completing service users’ journeys Benefits to volunteering with VSS
As a support volunteer you will gain many benefits, such as:
• Supporting people when they most need it, helping them to recover from what can be a very distressing time in their life and empowering them to move forward
• Learning new skills and gaining experience of working within the criminal justice sector
• Gaining access to a range of training courses that are relevant to your volunteering role
• Positively affecting your community as a member of a team actively working to reduce the impact of crime
Organisation aims and objectives
We support victims of crime, witnesses and their family members, regardless of who they are and their circumstances. Our service is independent, free, non-judgemental and confidential. We offer bespoke support, personalised to the needs of each individual. Victim Support Scotland provides information, practical help, emotional support and guidance through the criminal justice system. We offer specialist services to support people who face specific crimes including murder, terrorism, rape and sexual assault, domestic violence and hate crime. We empower people to cope with the aftermath of a crime and find the strength to move forward with their lives. We have dedicated volunteers, supported by paid staff, in our national and local offices across Scotland, as well as our teams in the Sheriff and High Courts, helping us to provide high quality support to those affected by crime. Victim Support Scotland represents the voice of people affected by crime. We influence key national policy decision-making to champion victim and witness rights and improve support services. We advocate for positive improvements within the criminal justice system, working alongside our partners in the key criminal justice agencies, the third sector and local organisations.
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We know that our volunteers have busy lives, so we agree time commitments with each individual volunteer. However, we ask for: A minimum commitment of approximately eight hours a week, to make a lasting impact on people’s lives. A minimum commitment of at least one year, ideally two, so that you might get the most out of development opportunities and your support experience.
Restrictions
All new volunteers will require to be fully PVG checked. Previous offences will not necessarily exclude you from volunteering but you are advised to make these known at initial interview.
Experience required: No experience necessary.
Travel details: Willingness to use own car or public transportation to attend support sessions. We
will support people with disabilities to access transportation.
Support
Expenses paid: Yes
Training details: You will be required to undergo 70 hours of in-depth learning and development over a period of up to eight to ten weeks, through online self-study, virtual workshops and supervised support, resulting in accreditation.
This will equip you with the necessary skills, experience and knowledge to provide high quality support to victims and witnesses of crime.