Can you help a child rebuild their life?
Often young people who have been victims or witnesses to crime just need someone totally independent to talk to.
Someone who can help them work through their feelings and move on from what has happened.
Last year we provided over 3000 sessions of emotional support to children suffering trauma because of abuse, violence, exploitation and other crimes.
A quarter of this support was provided by our specially trained volunteers. Volunteers are crucial in helping us reach more young crime survivors across the UK.
Could you join our team?
What you'll do
As an emotional support volunteer you’ll spend a minimum of 2-3 hours a week speaking to young people on the phone about their feelings and help them overcome their trauma. You would need to be able to work for the same two-hour shift each week in six week blocks so you can support the same children each week providing a reassuring routine and consistency for those children.
Where you’ll be based
You will work from our HQ in Copse Court, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough. You will need to be able to commit to working the same shift each week for six weeks so you can support the same child..
How you will help children and families
Becoming a victim of crime or witnessing it happening to someone very close to you can be frightening and isolating. Imagine how scary it is for a child.
Many of the children we support struggle with self confidence and self esteem. Some suffer anxiety, anger and don’t know where to turn. Many are withdrawn from those around them.
Our emotional support volunteers help children and young people to work through their emotions and rebuild their lives.
What you will get out of volunteering for us
NEW SKILLS
- You will receive Embrace’s specialist trauma informed emotional support (TIES) training.
- You will receive safeguarding training.
- You will gain experience providing emotional support to children and young people.
- You will receive regular and ongoing supervision throughout the whole time you volunteer with us.
- You will receive support from a supervisor who will be able to answer any questions you may have and support you with your cases.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
- Supporting vulnerable children when they need it the most
- Helping us to reach more young people in need of support
Who can volunteer for us?
We are particularly looking for people with a passion for and experience of:
· Working with families
· Helping young people and children
· Working in a team
Experience working in safeguarding or child protection roles is particularly welcomed but not essential.
Key attributes
Empathetic, ensuring every child knows they are believed
· Good listening skills
· Compassionate
· Patient
· Organised
· Warm and welcoming
Your commitment to us
Becoming an Embrace emotional support volunteer requires training and an enhanced DBS check so all our volunteers are asked to commit to staying in the role for at least six months.
In line with safe recruiting, we also ask for 2x references, self-declaration, and disclosure information.
You would need to commit to a minimum of two hours a week.
It would need to be the same two hours each week on the same day as you will be supporting up to three children each week for six weeks. You can change your hours or days once the support you are giving individual children is complete.