Listening Volunteers needed by Samaritans

IW Volunteer; Newport; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Samaritans is seeking Listening Volunteers to provide essential emotional support through phone or email. You'll receive comprehensive training and will be mentored to help you manage sensitive conversations. This role requires empathy, strong communication skills, and a commitment to confidentiality. Shifts are flexible, allowing you to volunteer during various times throughout the day.

Benefits

Full training provided

Ongoing support from mentors

Opportunity to gain valuable skills

Volunteers covered by insurance

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older.
• DBS check required.
• Full training provided, usually lasting approximately 6 months.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals through phone or email conversations.
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion in conversations.
• Commit to regular shifts including night shifts.

Skills

Open minded

Supportive

Empathetic

Discreet

Accepting

Honest

Job description

Listening Volunteers needed by Samaritans

Every 10 seconds someone contacts Samaritans. As a listening volunteer you get the chance to make a real difference to someone’s future by phone or email.You’ll receive full training to prepare you for the kinds of conversations you’ll have. Then, when you start out, you’ll have a mentor with you to give you confidence that you’re doing the right thing.You’ll gain a range of new skills, including the ability to understand people and manage difficult conversations. Many employers value these kinds of skills.Samaritans is proud to offer its services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Listening volunteers typically do one shift of 3 hours each week, including a shift during the night once a month. Shifts are available at various times during the day and volunteers often say that the conversations they have during the night are the ones they feel have made the biggest difference.

Skills

We're looking for people who are:Open minded: willing to understand someone else’s point of view, even if it’s different from yours.Supportive: maintaining a friendly and supportive atmosphere.Empathetic: comfortable with your own feelings and able to share another person’s feelings.Discreet: careful with any information you're told, never sharing it outside Samaritans.Accepting: not discriminating against anyone for any reason, including gender, race, sexuality, disability or political views.Honest: able to tell the truth even when it’s difficult – for example about the type of support Samaritans can offer people, even when they want more.

• Diversity and equal opportunities policy
• Accessibility
• Age restrictions
  Listeners must be aged 18 years or over
• Child Protection
• Complaints Policy
• Confidentially Policy
• DBS check required
  In order to safeguard our volunteers and callers the listening role requires a criminal record check.
• Ex Offenders
  If you have a criminal record it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. We’ll consider each case individually.
• Health and Safety Policy
• Ongoing support
  Samaritans prides itself in the support that it provides its volunteers.
• Suitable for Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Suitable for Supported Volunteering
• Suitable for Under 16's
• Suitable for Under 18's
• Training provided
  Full training provided, usually lasting approximately 6 months, including a mentored period.
• Volunteers covered by insurance

When can I volunteer?

Start Date: 02/07/2025

End Date: 02/07/2035

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Morning Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Afternoon Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Evening Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Availability Details

Shifts are available at various times throughout the day, evening and early night (up to 1:30am), so it is not necessary to be available at all the times listed above. Volunteers can choose the shift days/times that suit them.

Location

Samaritans IoW Branch Office
52 South St
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 1JQ

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