Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support Volunteer

About this role

Volunteering with Living Without Abuse (LWA) can be a very rewarding experience and you will gain many useful personal and professional skills, as well as making a huge and positive difference to victims of domestic and sexual violence. LWA deliver domestic abuse and sexual violence support for survivors across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We provide information and options to enable the service user to make informed decisions, including information on:

• Safety planning
• Legal rights and remedies and introductions to appropriate professional legal services
• Welfare benefits
• Housing options, including refuge
• Awareness and recovery focused group programmes
• Counselling
• Support for children and young people

We can provide a range of opportunities depending on the skills you have. We provide opportunities for volunteers across our services that include:

Adult Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support Volunteer

Based in the Loughborough area. Commitment required: at least 4 hours per week, days/times can be flexible, and be available once a month on a Wednesday between 5:00pm – 6:00pm for monthly volunteer team meetings. Role will include working alongside staff and supporting them with their cases, e.g. calling clients to complete welfare checks, assessment of needs, DASH risk assessments, administration tasks, and supporting staff to co-facilitate domestic abuse awareness and recovery groups.

Children and Young People Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support Volunteer

Based in the Leicester City area. Commitment required: at least 4 hours per week, days/times can be flexible, and be available once a month on a Wednesday between 5:00pm – 6:00pm for monthly volunteer team meetings. Role will include working alongside staff and supporting them with their cases, e.g. calling parents to complete welfare checks, assessment of needs, DASH risk assessments, administration tasks, and supporting staff to co-facilitate domestic abuse awareness and recovery groups for children and young people.

Befriending Service

Remote working role – can be done from home. Commitment required: Be able to complete weekly calls for 4 clients and be available once a month on a Monday between 11:00am – 12:00pm for monthly befriending volunteer team meetings. Role will include having a caseload of 4 clients who you will call weekly to provide emotional support whilst they are on a waiting list for other services.

Fundraising

Mix of remote and office-based working. Commitment required: 8-10 hours per week, preferably a daily commitment, and be available once a month on a Wednesday between 5:00pm – 6:00pm for monthly volunteer team meetings. Role will include supporting the fundraising team with donations, events, social media, and admin.

How to apply?

Please go to our LWA website and complete the Volunteer Application Form:

https://lwa.org.uk/about/volunteering/

When you can volunteer

Requirements

• References needed
• Willing to take a DBS Check
• Age restrictions

What skills do you need?
Listening and the ability to communicate well with a variety of people is essential
Punctuality, reliability and a commitment to volunteering
Ability to empathise and be non-judgmental
Prior knowledge of domestic and/or sexual violence is desirable, but not essential as training is provided.

What commitment is required?
Ideally you need to be able to give a minimum of 4 hours a week on a regular basis for at least 6 months, preferably up to a year.

Would expenses be paid?
Travel and other out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed to all volunteers.

All applicants who are offered the voluntary position will be subject to a criminal record check from the Criminal Records Bureau before the position is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions.

Location

This opportunity allows you to volunteer from home

Available from home

Location North Road, Loughborough LE11 1LE, UK