Volunteering Opportunities at PARCS
Volunteers play a crucial role in providing support and counselling to women and men who have experienced sexual violation/sexualised trauma. The help lines are staffed solely by volunteers and it continues to be the backbone of the service providing information, support and counselling. It is often the first point of contact for women and men when taking the first step towards acknowledging the impact of sexualised trauma on their lives.
Please watch our video above to find out more about PARCS.
What does PARCS offer?
A supportive & challenging volunteering opportunity
Further development/training
High quality on-site group supervision
Opportunities to develop both personally and professionally
What is PARCS looking for in a potential volunteer?
You need to be 18 years or over
You must be able to work within the policies & procedures of the service
You must be reliable
Be emotionally robust enough to work openly with issues of sexual violation
A team player
Openness to learning & development
Good listening skills
Life skills/transferable skills
What might stop me becoming a volunteer?
Existing clients are not able to volunteer
Ex-clients cannot volunteer for the help line, until they have had a 5 year break from counselling Please discuss with a member of staff if you wish to volunteer & your counselling ended 5 years or more ago
You cannot volunteer for the help line if you are in a relationship with a past or current service user
Friends, relatives or supporters of a current client are not able to volunteer
What commitment does PARCS ask for?
The successful completion of PARCS Selection/Training process
Volunteers play a vital part in staffing the help lines, which operate
Monday afternoons (1.00 PM – 3.00 PM)
(1 year pilot commencing October 2008).
Wednesday & Friday evenings (7.00 PM & 10.00 PM)
Individual volunteers work the lines twice a month, answering calls from women & men who have experienced sexual violation/violence
Group supervision of telephone work takes place fortnightly on a Tuesday evening for 2 hours. Volunteers are asked to attend supervision regularly to support their work
Volunteers are asked to commit a minimum of 2 ½ per week
Volunteers are asked to attend a minimum of 2 tutorials a year to provide support for their volunteering role and to identify areas of development
Volunteers are asked to complete a six month probation period following their selection as help line volunteers
Frequently asked questions about volunteering with PARCS
Q: Can I volunteer for PARCS if I have not experienced sexual violation?
A: It is not necessary to be a survivor of sexual violation in order to be selected to work at PARCS.
Q: Do I have to be a qualified counsellor to work with clients?
A: You do not need to be a qualified counsellor to apply to work on the help line, as a full training & selection process is provided. Volunteers who wish to work face to face with client’s need to be training for a formal counselling qualification (i.e. Diploma in Counselling), have experience of working as a counsellor and an intention to gain accreditation with the BACP/UKCP.
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PARCS LTD. PO Box 3. Portsmouth. Tel. 023 9266 9513.
A company Limited by Guarantee No. 3643599
Registered charity in England, (no 1079950)
© 2009 Portsmouth Area Rape Crisis Service LTD (PARCS)