SN Link Service

Volunteer Role Description and Application Form

Organisation Name:Survivors’ Network

Organisation overview

Survivors' Network is a registered charity that aims to reduce sexual violence and its impact on survivors' lives. We are a fully accredited member of Rape Crisis England and Wales and are the Rape Crisis Centre for Sussex.

Role Title:Link Volunteer

Location of position: Brighton & Hove and surrounding areas, Sussex

Responsible to:Volunteer-led Services Co-ordinator

Summary of the role

The SN Link Service aims atempowering women with experience of sexual violence and abuse, by helping them toidentify and take steps to achieve their goals. You and your client will negotiate, on an individual basis, where and when you will meet, usually for an hour on a weekly basis for 3 months. By building thisinformal and supportive confidential relationship, you will help them develop skills that promote resourcefulness, self-confidence and resilience.

The service is open to all self-identified women aged 18 onwards who have experienced sexual violence or abuse at any point in their lives.

Description of tasks

As a Link volunteer your skills, personality and location will be matched appropriately to woman that has requested support on a one to one basis. Every individual has different needs therefore what they require will be determined on their circumstances. Overall, as a Link volunteer you will be expected to:

•Offer emotional support through times of change.

•Help women decide what to do next.

•Provide encouragement, guidance and support in achieving their goals.

•Develop theirskills needed to achieve their goals.

•Signpostwomen to access information and advicerelating to their action plan.

•Be someone who the client can rely on for the time that you have assigned together, but cannot make decisions on their behalf.

Time commitment

One hour a week, for 12 consecutive weeks (exact times to be agreed with client), plus two hours a month for supervision (1st Tuesday of every month, either 5.30-7.30pm or 7pm-9pm).

Eligibility criteria

You must be at 21 years old of age

You must identify as female

Moreover, you will need to:

Be non-judgemental

Be respectful

Have good listening and communication skills

Be reliable

Have IT skills (particularly, be confident in using, email and filling out online forms)

Beable to maintain boundaries and confidentiality

Knowledge and experience of working with client group is desirable, but not essential, as full training will be given.

Training and support

All Link volunteers undertake our intensive Volunteer Induction Training (usually 2 weekends and 1 evening session during the week), followed by another whole day specific to the Link Service.

The training concentrates on developing your awareness of sexual violence, personal communication skills and your understanding of boundaries as a volunteer, and it is designed to be interactive and practical.

You will then work for a minimum of 6 sessions on our helpline and dropin services before working on the Link service.

Once matched, you will be paired up with another Link volunteer as a ‘support buddy’, to offer and receive support if needed. You will receive face-to-face monthly group supervision from our offices in Brighton.

You will also receive regular support, advice and guidance, from your co-ordinator as well as email updates on organisational activities.

Expenses

We will cover any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred to allow you to perform your role. These may include travel expenses up to £10 per meeting with client.

Benefits to the volunteer

The satisfaction of knowing you are making a vital difference to the life of women who have experienced sexual violence and abuse.

The opportunity to gain nationally recognized qualifications as supporters of survivors of sexual violence and abuse, accredited by Open College Network and Rape Crisis England & Wales.

The opportunity to develop new and existing skills in the strength-based approach and gain experience volunteering in a charity.

The opportunity to meet and work with inspiring women.

Application procedure

In order to become a Link volunteer, you will need to progress through four stages:

Submit an Application form (below)

Attend an Interview

Attend all Training sessions

Complete at least 6 Dropin and Helpline sessions

If you have any questions about the service, please contact:

Tania Barros

01273 203380 Ext.0

VolunteerApplication Form

This form is for people who would like to volunteer to be a Link volunteer with Survivors’ Network. Please fill it out and return it to

This information will be treated as confidential and used by staff to administrate the programme.

Name:
Date of Birth:
Phone number:
e-mail address:
Enhanced DBS number* (if you have one that is less than 6 months’ old):
Please write a few lines to tell us why you would like to be a Link volunteer:
What are your main interests?
Any other information you would like us to know in relation to finding a match?
What is your availability to meet up with your match?You will be expected to arrange with your client to meet for one hour once a week. Meetings can be in person or over the phone/Skype.

Weekday - daytimeWeekday – evening

Weekday – daytime or eveningWeekday – daytime or evening
Please provide any further details:
Would you consider travelling within Sussex as a Link Volunteer?Some of our clients are not based in Brighton & Hove. Travel expenses are covered up to £10 per meeting.
[ ] Yes [ ] No [ ] I’d like to discuss this further
Please provide any further details:
Do you have any additional support needs or communication requirements which we should be aware of when we try and match you? If you need adjustments to be made, please let us know what would help.
Equality Data
By completing this section you are helping us to ensure that our services are equally accessible to everybody – and also help meet the requirements of our funders. In compliance with our Data Protection Policy, all information you give is anonymously recorded.
How would you describe your sexual orientation?
[ ] Heterosexual [ ] Bisexual [ ] Gay [ ] Lesbian
[ ] Other, please state______
To which of these ethnic groups do you consider you belong?
[ ] White (British, Irish) [ ] Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi)
[ ] White (Other)______[ ] Asian (Other)______
[ ] Chinese [ ] Mixed (White&Black African, White&Black Caribbean / Asian)
[ ] Black or Black British (Caribbean, African) [ ] Black or Black British (Other)______
[ ] Other, please state______
Religion/Belief:
[ ] Buddhist [ ] Hindu [ ] Christian[ ] Jewish
[ ] Muslim [ ] None [ ] Other, please state______
Do you consider yourself to have any disability? [ ] Yes [ ] No
Where do you live?
[ ] Brighton & Hove [ ] East Sussex [ ] West Sussex[ ] Other, please state______
How did you hear about us?
[ ] Internet[ ] SN service______[ ] Social media, please state______
[ ] Supporter (e.g. family/friends) [ ] Professional/external agency, please state______
[ ] Newspaper/magazine, please state______[ ] Other, please state______
Please provide references (they cannot be family or friends)**.
Referee 1 name: Referee 2 name:
Referee email address: Referee email address:
Referee phone number: Referee phone number:
**We will contact your referees only if you are offered a place on the training.

Please return the completed form to

1