WAVE Trauma Centre
Youth Volunteer Handbook
Wave Trauma Centre
There have been many legacies from the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland. The violence in Northern Ireland has led directly to the deaths of over 3600 people and resulted in over 40000 serious injuries. The relatives of those killed and injured, also suffered ill health; both mental and physical, the breakdown of relationships, disruption to education/employment, risk taking behavior, addictions and generally impaired functioning.
WAVE Trauma Centre was founded in 1991 to provide care and support to these people and there are centres established in Belfast, Armagh, Ballymoney, Omagh and Londonderry/Derry.
Our services are offered to all of those adversely affected by the conflict, irrespective of their political, cultural or religious beliefs. All sides of the community and each and every walk of life is represented in our membership. All programmes and services have been designed by professionals in conjunction with the members and their needs. We aim to assist WAVE members to work through their pain and grief in a constructive and supportive manner.
Current services available to WAVE members include:
Befriending – Trained staff visit members to give one to one support and friendship
Peer group support – group support meetings are held regularly
Complementary therapies – including massage, aromatherapy, reflexology
Counselling – Members can receive psychological support through counseling sessions
Training – Members can gain qualifications, get volunteering experience and retrain for new careers
Advice – Members may avail of our welfare support, advice and advocacy services.
Youth – Programmes are offered for various age ranges from 5-25 year olds.
To date, more than 1900 individuals have approached WAVE for help and have benefited from our services.
The recent and continuing instabilities within both the peace and the political processes brings much heartache, revived memories, pain and other problems for the victims. Issues of justice/injustice have arisen for many with the release of prisoners. Experts in the field of Trauma are beginning to recognize the impacts of Trans-Generational Trauma where young people whose parents were bereaved are also suffering grief passed down. Intimidation continues for many individuals and their families, forcing them from their homes and communities. It is a response to needs such as these, that WAVE can and does deliver support and much needed services and advice.
Our programmes could not happen without the help of our dedicated volunteers. Currently we have around 110 volunteers serving across our five centres and they are a vital resource for the organisation. You do not need to be a member to volunteer, as long as you support our ethos and the work we do.
Dear Volunteer,
Welcome to WAVE Trauma Centre!
Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer with WAVE Youth. The purpose of this handbook is to provide you with a background to WAVE Trauma Centre and a guide to volunteering in the organization. All of our policies are included in this pack. You should read these and make yourself familiar with them as they will answer many of the questions that you may want to ask. We hope this handbook helps make your experience in WAVE easier and more enjoyable.
Volunteering is not only a great way to give something back to your community, but can also give you the skills, training and experience you need for work and study. We will do all that we can to help you realise your potential and offer training opportunities for your personal development.
Hopefully this will be the start of a rewarding, positive experience for you and for all the people whose lives you touch.
Staff at WAVE Trauma Centre would like to say thank you for donating your time and skills!
What is volunteering?
Volunteering is the commitment of time and energy for the benefit of society and community, the environment, or individuals outside of one’s immediate family. It is undertaken freely and by choice, without concern for financial gain.
Are you sure?
Before you begin volunteering, there are a number of things you should think about to help you find a volunteering role which is right for you.
Why are you doing it?
What do you hope to get out of it?
What do you want to do?
Do you want to volunteer on your own or be part of a team?
Do you want to be involved in administration, management and planning or a more ‘hands on’ role?
How much time can you give?
Can you make a regular long term commitment or a shorter period of time for one particular programme?
What skills can you offer?
Areas of Interest for Volunteering
Youth – To assist and support youth workers to implement Wee Waves (5-11s), Bigger Waves (12-16s) and 18+ groups after school, evenings and weekends.
Befriending – To support trained Befrienders by accompanying them on home visits and helping out with adult group programmes on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Fundraising – To assist staff with ideas and creative ways to generate funds for the organization.
Drivers – Often people are unable to make the journey to WAVE, residentials or social events. Drivers could make that essential link.
Research/publicity – To assist staff to update our website. To collate and provide relevant information through various media sources to inform our team, members, wider public, and organizations worldwide of the work that we do.
Catering – To help staff provide lunch for Wednesday and Thursday drop-ins and small buffets for various social occasions.
Administration – To assist staff with the day to day running of a very busy office.
Social Change – To assist in the exploration of ways to highlight issues/processes that affect those bereaved or traumatized as a result of ‘troubles’ related violent.
Maintenance staff/gardeners – To assist in the maintenance of the centre grounds and to carry out odd DIY jobs within the centre.
Role description
Volunteer Youth Worker
Responsible to: Youth Worker
Target Group:
To engage with young people aged 5-25yrs who have been bereaved/traumatized through the ‘troubles’ or whose families are members of WAVE.
The Volunteer will be expected to undertake a range of tasks associated with youth work activities within WAVE according to their gifts, talents, experience and interests.
Duties may include:
· To assist in the planning, organization and participation of events for young people
· To assist in the instruction and supervision of a range of recreational activities in centre and out.
· To participate in group work sessions with young people
· To attend and participate in youth residentials.
· To ensure that areas located for youth activities are kept clean and tidy and that equipment is properly and securely stored and to report any damage, loss or theft to the youth worker.
· To ensure that young people are safe and protected when in our care and in accordance with Child Protection procedures.
· To pass on any concerns he or she may have about a young people to the Youth Worker.
· Volunteers will be expected to undertake basic youth training e.g. child protection, health and safety, leadership etc.
It is vital that volunteers commit to our values and ethos.
A Volunteer will be expected:
· To uphold the ethos of the organization and to recognize and respect the values deriving from different backgrounds (religious, cultural, racial and linguistic)
· To maintain confidentiality in accordance with the Organization’s policies.
· To participate in training, debriefing and regular supervision.
WAVE is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and to creating and sustaining an environment that values and celebrates the diversity of its staff, volunteers, service users and visitors.
Millennium Volunteers
WAVE Trauma Centre is a delivery partner of the Millennium Volunteers programme run by Volunteer Now. If you are aged between 16 and 25 and are already volunteering or would like to start, you can sign up to the programme to get formal recognition of your contribution. As part of the programme, you will receive a certificate backed by WAVE and the Department of Education after your first 50, 100 and 200 hours of volunteering. This looks great on your CV and on job and university application forms and is endorsed by various employers.
It is a very simple and straightforward process, enabling you to fit volunteering around your existing obligations and hobbies. When you sign up to become a Millenium Volunteer, you will receive a record book which will help you to keep track of how many hours of volunteering you have done, as well as letting you note the training you’ve completed and the skills you’ve developed. When you reach the milestones, let your youth worker know and they will get your certificates. When you reach 200 hours, you will be invited to a regional awards ceremony.
Supervision
Monthly planning meetings
Volunteers involved in youth programmes meet regularly to evaluate progress over the past month and to plan for the upcoming month. This helps us to identify strengths and weaknesses in our programmes, delegate tasks, plan rotas and bring up any issues. Volunteers are also able to support each other and have group discussions about their practice e.g. dealing with conflict, action plans for particular situations.
Individual supervision
Staff meet with volunteers individually or in pairs in an informal environment to talk about their experience so far and measure their progress. We discuss successes and difficulties, identify any training needs and personal development opportunities. Supervision also gives the volunteer a safe space to disclose any issues.
Training Opportunities
All volunteers must undergo Induction Training before they begin engaging with young people and will have to complete ‘Keeping Safe’ Child Protection training organized by WAVE.
WAVE has gained a critical mass of expertise in the field of trauma and has developed a variety of accredited training courses in a number of areas across community, academic and professional development. Training courses are for those who have been bereaved, injured or traumatized as a result of the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland or for those working in communities and organizations impacted by the legacy of the conflict.
All courses are accredited by Open College Network.
Courses include:
OCN Level Two
Volunteering
Listening and Communication
Grief, Trauma and the Helping Relationship
Transition from Conflict
Youth STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience)
OCN Level Three
Compassion Fatigue (Taking Care of the Carer)
Trauma and Addiction
Storytelling
Facing History and Ourselves
Youth STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience)
It is also possible to undertake a diploma or degree in Trauma Studies, validated by Queens University, Belfast.
Volunteers will normally be required to complete the OCN Level 2 in Grief, Trauma and the Helping Relationship as part of their induction process.
To book a place on any of these courses, contact Denise on 02890779922 or or speak directly with your WAVE supervisor.
Policies and Procedures
Health and Safety
The co-operation of all staff and volunteers is vital for the promotion of health and safety within the organisation.
This will involve safety inspections, training and maintaining hygiene standards at all times.
WAVE Trauma Centre will:
· Not permit possession of alcohol or illegal substances on premises or during programmes.
· Carry out assessment of risks to all employees and volunteers while at work.
· Provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions taking account of any statutory requirements.
· Provide instruction, information, training and supervision to enable volunteers to perform their work safely and efficiently.
· Provide all necessary safety devices, clothing and suitable protective equipment where necessary.
· Provide adequate resources.
· Have a Child Protection policy in place.
· Implement fire safety procedures, providing regular fire drills, testing fire extinguishers and the alarm system.
· Make staff and volunteers aware of fire exits and evacuation procedures.
· Have an accident/incident Report policy in place where records are maintained and will be investigated with the aim of introducing measures to prevent recurrence.
· Have a person qualified in First Aid in each programme team.
· Provide a First Aid kit which will be regularly checked and restocked.
· Provide opportunities for basic first aid and food hygiene training.
(The First Aid box is situated in the dining room.)
Child Protection
A substantial amount of volunteering involves interacting with children and young people under 18 years of age therefore we have to provide some general guidelines on the area of child protection.
Remember that someone else may interpret your actions in a different way to how you intended. Your role as a volunteer in WAVE is to be beyond reproach and provide an example for children, young people and other volunteers.
Supervision Guidelines
· All volunteers must have undergone Access NI vetting procedures.
· WAVE will organize delivery of the recognized ‘Keeping Safe’ Child Protection Training and all volunteers must undergo this training.
· Volunteers are not permitted to spend time alone with children and young people.
· If one-to-one contact is necessary, it should be done in public and in full view of others. The door should be left open and other volunteers informed of the meeting.
· All activities should have at least two volunteers present, preferably a male and female if the group is mixed gender; two females if unavoidable.
· Staff and volunteers should not meet with children or young people outside organized programmes or invite young people to their home.
· Do not leave children or young people unsupervised or leave other volunteers in vulnerable positions.
Physical contact guidelines
· Respect a young person’s right to personal privacy.
· Do not be on your own with a child or young person in the toilet; take another volunteer or a group of children with you.
· Do not make unnecessary physical contact with children or young people and any physical contact should be explained thoroughly and only take place with their consent.
· Do not engage in rough, physical games with young people.
· Do not engage in sexually provocative games or allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any form.
· Avoid physical horseplay such as wrestling or tickling.
· Do not do things of a personal nature for children that they do themselves. If required, these tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of the young person and the parents.