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volunteering opportunities
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Victim Support Scotland Volunteer
How can you support victims and witnesses of crime?
Victims of crime often feel a range of emotions in the aftermath of an offence. It is Victim Support Scotland’s role to provide victims and witnesses of crime emotional and practical support in person, online, and in court. Volunteers are supported by VSS staff who manage the service.
How would you help?
Our volunteers provide emotional support, practical help, information and guidance through the criminal justice system. We aim to empower people who have been impacted by crime, to move on with their lives.
Discuss service users’ needs by telephone, webchat, appointments and face-to-face contact, agreeing next steps at the end of each contact
Help service users feel more confident by arranging and conducting court familiarisation visits
Support service users in the court room and other appropriate locations on the day of the trial, liaising with court officials on behalf of the service users.
Feedback and agree follow-up actions with staff members
Provide administrative support in completing the service users journey
What benefits would I get?
Volunteering with Victim Support Scotland can be challenging and also extremely rewarding. As a volunteer you will:
Support people when they most need it
Learn new skills and knowledge of the criminal justice sector
Gain access to a range of specialist training courses that are relevant to your volunteering role
Positively contribute to your community as a member of a team actively working to reduce the impact of crime
A chance to give something back
Receive support in your volunteering role to deliver services effectively
All reasonable expenses (e.g. travel) will be reimbursed
What skills and experience do I need?
We are looking for committed, reliable and empathetic volunteers who can work with people of all ages, backgrounds and life situations. Although we provide full training and support, knowledge of the criminal justice system and experience of supporting people is beneficial. As a Victim Support Scotland Volunteer you will need:
Effective communication skills
The ability to actively listen to service users and anyone affected by crime
An interest in learning about the criminal justice system and understand the service user’s journey
An awareness of confidentiality obligations and the responsibilities that come with upholding these obligations
Effective time management skills (and working under pressure)
Access to a car or ability to use public transport
What is the time commitment?
We know that our volunteers have busy lives, so we agree the time commitment with each individual volunteer. However, we ask for:
a minimum commitment of approximately one day per week, however this may vary depending upon the needs of the service.
a minimum commitment of at least 1 year so that they might get the most out of a volunteering role.
How can I apply?
The people we support come from all communities across Scotland, as do our volunteers. We welcome new volunteers from all backgrounds and languages.
To ensure we provide the best possible service to people affected by crime, we ask all volunteers to follow our processes. This will involve:
• Joining the Disclosure Scotland PVG scheme
• Providing two satisfactory references
• Completing our three day ‘Introduction to Victim Support Scotland’ training module
• Signing and abiding by Victim Support Scotland’s Confidentiality agreement
• Commitment to Data Protection
• Volunteer Agreement
We are looking for a number of motivated individuals to join our friendly teams across Scotland with administrative support covering word processing, database input, file management, updating systems and general admin duties.
The main tasks include:
• Input/update data on Database and Systems
• Dealing with correspondence
• Supporting with completing and purchasing of the emergency assistance fund
Previous administration experience is desirable. The volunteer will work alongside the staff member until confident in undertaking varous office tasks on their own.
Providing practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses of crime in our community and court services. Signposting to other specialist services if required. Being given and developing knowledge of local and national services available to support individuals
Our shadow management group are first and foremost a group of young people that represent other young people and that our workers and trustees can go to for information and guidance. Other responsibilities include helping to carry out job interviews, making decisions about our office, helping us decide what funding we apply for and what training we offer and generally helping to set the direction 18u should go in.
Members of the shadow management group will have the opportunity to improve their communication, writing and teamwork skills and gain valuable experience that can be used in UCAS applications, for CVs and to apply for other volunteer roles.
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
Victim Support Scotland Volunteer
How can you support victims and witnesses of crime?
Victims of crime often feel a range of emotions in the aftermath of an offence. It is Victim Support Scotland’s role to provide victims and witnesses of crime emotional and practical support in person, online, and in court. Volunteers are supported by VSS staff who manage the service.
How would you help?
Our volunteers provide emotional support, practical help, information and guidance through the criminal justice system. We aim to empower people who have been impacted by crime, to move on with their lives.
Discuss service users’ needs by telephone, webchat, appointments and face-to-face contact, agreeing next steps at the end of each contact
Help service users feel more confident by arranging and conducting court familiarisation visits
Support service users in the court room and other appropriate locations on the day of the trial, liaising with court officials on behalf of the service users.
Feedback and agree follow-up actions with staff members
Provide administrative support in completing the service users journey
What benefits would I get?
Volunteering with Victim Support Scotland can be challenging and also extremely rewarding. As a volunteer you will:
Support people when they most need it
Learn new skills and knowledge of the criminal justice sector
Gain access to a range of specialist training courses that are relevant to your volunteering role
Positively contribute to your community as a member of a team actively working to reduce the impact of crime
A chance to give something back
Receive support in your volunteering role to deliver services effectively
All reasonable expenses (e.g. travel) will be reimbursed
What skills and experience do I need?
We are looking for committed, reliable and empathetic volunteers who can work with people of all ages, backgrounds and life situations. Although we provide full training and support, knowledge of the criminal justice system and experience of supporting people is beneficial. As a Victim Support Scotland Volunteer you will need:
Effective communication skills
The ability to actively listen to service users and anyone affected by crime
An interest in learning about the criminal justice system and understand the service user’s journey
An awareness of confidentiality obligations and the responsibilities that come with upholding these obligations
Effective time management skills (and working under pressure)
Access to a car or ability to use public transport
What is the time commitment?
We know that our volunteers have busy lives, so we agree the time commitment with each individual volunteer. However, we ask for:
a minimum commitment of approximately one day per week, however this may vary depending upon the needs of the service.
a minimum commitment of at least 1 year so that they might get the most out of a volunteering role.
How can I apply?
The people we support come from all communities across Scotland, as do our volunteers. We welcome new volunteers from all backgrounds and languages.
To ensure we provide the best possible service to people affected by crime, we ask all volunteers to follow our processes. This will involve:
• Joining the Disclosure Scotland PVG scheme
• Providing two satisfactory references
• Completing our three day ‘Introduction to Victim Support Scotland’ training module
• Signing and abiding by Victim Support Scotland’s Confidentiality agreement
• Commitment to Data Protection
• Volunteer Agreement
Shetland Women's Aid are looking for women to join us in promoting the safety and wellbeing of women and children in Shetland who are affected by domestic abuse and gender-based violence. SWA is a registered charity funded by local and national grant aid to provide safety planning, counselling, refuge, advice and guidance about housing, finance and legal issues to women. There is also a children and young person's service focused on offering therapy and support to children and young people. The aim for Shetland Women's Aid is 'An equitable society in which women, children and young people are valued participants, able to determine their own future and are free from all forms of abuse.'
As a trustee you will be instrumental in helping us realise our vision and mission. Part of your role will be to ensure that our day to day operation fulfils our strategic vision.
If you decide to join Shetland Women's Aid, you can make a real difference to the women and children who experience domestic and sexual abuse.
With a long and impressive history the Special Constabulary is a part-time, volunteer body consisting of officers with similar powers to that of police officers. As a special constable, you'll forge strong partnerships in the community, patrolling the streets, preventing crime and interacting with all kinds of people to help keep your local community safe.
Special constables can act as a positive force for change - bringing with them an extensive pool of skills, talents, experience, local knowledge and diverse backgrounds - as well as enhancing the overall level of service provided by the police. So whatever your walk of life, step forward now and find out how being a Special Constable could be the perfect fit to suit your lifestyle.
The role is diverse but demanding. You could be doing anything from policing a football match to assisting at a road accident. Special Constables also police major sporting and public events and provide an excellent bridge between the Police Service and the public, representing both the community within the police service and the police service within local communities.
Specials come from all walks of life and the role can suit those who are able to commit the time to volunteer alongside their own paid employment. It can also be a way for people to experience the role who are considering it as a future career.
You must meet our essential criteria to join and go through the application process. You’ll receive training that is closely aligned to the content of the initial training provided to Probationer Officers, ensuring you are ready to police your streets.
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Suitable for groups, One-off volunteering
Give the gift of an hour a week, by becoming a Mentor to a Young Person aged 14-25 in West Lothian.
It could be life changing for you both!
Would you like to support a young person on their journey to gaining new skills and experience, becoming more self-confident and achieving their goals? If the answer is yes, we would love to hear from you.
Why mentoring? Mentoring is at the heart of what we do here at ProjectScotland and we offer every young person we support, the opportunity to be matched with a volunteer mentor. We are searching for people in and around West Lothian who are able to offer one hour of their time once a week or fortnight for up to 12 months to help transform the life of someone else aged 14-25.
The young people we work with all face different challenges in their lives such as poor school attendance, poor mental health, low confidence and self esteem, lack of employment opportunities, limited English skills or other life barriers and challenges. Some of the young people we support have been involved in negative behaviour.
As a volunteer mentor, you could support your mentee with whatever is important to them. This could be: goal setting; identifying interests and strengths; confidence building; helping to establish a routine; support to explore job, training and further education opportunities; social connections; or just someone consistent to talk to and check in with to see how they are.
The support you can offer is invaluable and can be life changing.
How does it work? We will ask you to take part in our safe recruitment process, such as completing a PVG check, before we offer you some training which will prepare you and set you up to be a great mentor! After that, we offer lots of ongoing support, access to guides and resources, plus the chance to join our wonderful network of volunteer mentors across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
You are "matched" to one young person and meet with them once a week or fortnight for around one hour . Matches can last anywhere from 3-12 months, or sometimes longer, depending upon the relationship and the needs of the mentee
What’s in it for you?
• Help transform your mentee’s life
• Develop communication and interpersonal skills e.g. coaching, motivating others, adaptability
• Gain transferable skills and experience volunteering with disadvantaged people
• Participate in regular support and training
• Meet new people, connect and have fun!
• Learn about yourself and gain a sense of achievement supporting others
• Learn more about your community and the challenges that people can face .
We are looking for mentors from diverse experiences and backgrounds. We aren't looking for specific qualifications, skills or experience- just a passion to support a young person and an hour to spare. Our current mentors are; stay at home parents/carers, students, retired, professionals, entrepreneurs and everything in between. We'd love to here from you, express your interest today!