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