"Everyone regardless of gender has the right to live free from the fear of violence and abuse"
Volunteer befrienders are needed at any of the base locations of RCT Domestic Abuse Services:
- Cynon Safety Centre, Compton House, Victoria Square, Aberdare, CF44 7NT RCT
- Domestic Abuse Services, Ty Ashgrove, Upper Church Street, Pontypridd, CF37 2UF
- Safer Rhondda Centre, 115 Dunraven Street, Tonypandy, CF40 1AS
Role Purpose:
- Befrienders will offer emotional support, and promote self-care and healthy lifestyle choices to improve wellbeing and help alleviate isolation.
- To provide calls and appointments that are reliable, consistent and dependable.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide a weekly or fortnightly telephone call/video call or an appointment in the office per week
- Meet and explore community activities/programmes/courses.
- Providing emotional support, including non-judgemental active listening
- Helping individuals to think about self-care, healthy lifestyle and development of routine
- Supporting individuals to pursue interests/hobbies and opportunities
- Supporting and gently encouraging people to make changes to improve their lives
- Helping individuals to achieve their goals and become empowered.
- To be aware of child and adult protection issues and report these to the Volunteer Coordinator, or member of staff or Designated Person as appropriate
- Ensure that women receive information on the services provided by WA-RCT
- To feedback, make notes of calls and assist in recording on Oasis
What experience do I need?
- Respect for the confidentiality and self-respect of service users
- Non-judgemental, reliable and patient
- To be friendly, approachable, good communication skills and a good listener
- Knowledge and understanding of (or ability to learn) domestic abuse and the effects on women and children
- Confident using the phone
- Ability to calmly respond to the needs of the individual you are befriending, including managing a crisis and passing on any concerns or assessing the need for a follow up call from a member of the SAFE or SRC teams
- Organisational and basic admin skills
Professional:
- To attend regular supervision
- To operate within and observe RCT Domestic Abuse Services policies and procedures
- To represent RCT Domestic Abuse Services in a professional manner, to promote its ethos and work in a positive way
- To maintain anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory work practices
What you will gain as a volunteer
- A rewarding experience and opportunity to make a positive difference in the life of someone
- In-house training enabling you to develop new skills and broaden your knowledge. The training covers active listening skills and specific issues such as mental health, domestic abuse, boundaries and endings.
- Skills development in support work
- On-going training and opportunities for personal development and progression
- Support and supervision
- An opportunity to contribute to the services provided by RCT Domestic Abuse Services
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses in line with the RCT Domestic Abuse Services Volunteer Policy