About this role
PARCS promotes healthy relationships and alleviates the physical, emotional and psychological distress associated with trauma including rape and sexual abuse/exploitation.
Community & Office Support Volunteers work alongside experienced members of staff to take phone calls from clients and professionals enquiring about PARCS services, take clients through the referral pathway for counselling, prepare paperwork and resources for community and training events, attend events to raise awareness of sexual and domestic abuse, and support the delivery of training to other organisations.
What is the time commitment?
This role is for 4 hours per week approximately. Minimum commitment for 12 Months.
Who will you be helping?
Adults
Adults who have been affected by sexual abuse, rape, and/or domestic abuse. This could be either through their own experience or through being a family member or friend of someone who has experienced this type of trauma. The abuse may be recent or non-recent, however PARCS is not a crisis service.
What difference will you make?
Trauma can have long lasting psychological impact on a person and cause difficulties for them in functions such as keeping a job or social relationships. It can also cause a person to become isolated from the world around them.
Our service provides a safe space for people to be listened to, feel emotionally supported and get information they need such as on other services that may be able to help them, in order to begin healing and move forward in their lives.
Volunteers in this role usually offer support at the PARCS office for 4-8 hours fortnightly, on a rota led basis between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Volunteers are also asked to give a minimum of 6 days per year assisting on the PARCS stand at community events and supporting PARCS training events.
Volunteers attend group supervision of 1.5 hours on a monthly basis. This usually takes place in the evening.
Who are we looking for?
There is no typical Family Action volunteer. We need people from all life experiences and communities, to reflect the diversity of our service users.
This role would suit people who:
- Have an interest in the effects of interpersonal trauma, particularly around sexual and domestic abuse
- Are confident in talking with members of the public and have an outgoing nature, being able to engage with members of the public
- Are resilient when hearing distressing material and manage their own stress well
- Have a calm and confident telephone manner
- Have good basic computer skills including Microsoft Office
- Have a commitment to personal development and are willing to learn and open to feedback
- Are reliable, consistent and dependable
- Understand the importance of confidentiality and safeguarding
- Have a commitment to equality & diversity principles
What's in it for you?
As a volunteer with PARCS, you will get:
- Access to our standard e-learning package, giving you a great basic introduction to topics such as Safeguarding and Equality & Diversity.
- Face-to-face induction training to ensure that you are fully equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for this role.
- Regular meetings with your supervisor and line manager to discuss any challenges you are facing and celebrate your progress in the role.
- The opportunity to work as a part of an experienced and committed team
- Greater insight and understanding of what support is available to those experiencing sexual violation and abuse.
How can you find out more?
You may like to chat with a member of staff about whether this is the right role for you, or you may be ready to apply right now.
Either way, just click the ‘I’m interested’ button below to leave your contact details, and a member of staff will be in touch to discuss your next steps in becoming a Family Action volunteer.
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