Volunteer Counsellor Volunteer Roles

Childline Volunteer Counsellor- Someone who wants to make a difference to children’s lives by being there to listen when they feel they have no one else to turn to. As a Childline counsellor, you’ll be there for young people and listen to them as they open up about whatever is worrying them, whether it’s bullying, abuse, self-harm or family relationships – you’ll be there to support them.

What you’ll do

You’ll volunteer in our Leeds Childline base, offering counselling support to children and young people over the phone or through our 1-2-1 online chat. Your supervisor will help you develop and evaluate your counselling skills. After your initial training, you will be able to help young people as well as identify when a child or young person may be at risk, but don’t worry a supervisor will be on hand to give you plenty of support.

What you’ll get

You’ll receive training sessions over 12 weeks to prepare you for the role. When you start your regular shifts, a supervisor will be around all times to support you. Every shift includes a briefing and debriefing alongside other volunteers. Supervisors will also give you regular one-to-one support and group supervisions.

What we’ll need from you

Signing up to be a Childline counsellor is a big commitment and requires lots of training so, we do ask people to stay in the role for a minimum of one year.

We’ll also need to do some routine safeguarding checks, including an enhanced criminal record check and at least two satisfactory references with at least one covering a period of five years or more with no gaps. It’s nothing to worry about, and we can answer any questions you have about this.

Who’s right for the role?

While we think this role is suitable for a whole range of people, we are particularly looking for those with the following qualities and experience.

• Passionate about helping young people and children
• Great communication skills
• Empathetic and perceptive
• able to think on your feet
• works well within a team
• emotional resilience

Why volunteer with us?

Not only will you gain valuable experience throughout your volunteering journey, you’ll also have access to useful resources including a catalogue of online training, discount portal and NSPCC inMind – an online mindfulness resource.

You’ll be fully supported throughout your volunteer journey with us and will have a dedicated key contact should you have any questions along the way.

Bletchingley Village Primary School is a caring and warm environment, dedicated to developing our pupils emotionally and socially, and maximising their potential to learn. We are looking for two volunteer counsellors to join us.

 What can you gain from volunteering with us?

• You’ll gain valuable experience of counselling primary age children in a school setting.
• You will receive group supervision with a suitably qualified CYP clinical supervisor.
• You’ll have the opportunity to work towards the clinical hours required for further CYP training/accreditation
• We will complete any necessary paperwork and reports needed for placement records.

Working Arrangement: School-based, in a fully equipped play therapy room within a friendly and supportive positive working environment. Free onsite parking. 

Requirements:

●You will be a qualified integrative or person-centred therapist (qualified to minimum L4) with at least 30 hours of clinical experience of working with adults or older children or in your second or third year of a specific child counselling course from a reputable provider.

●You will attend group supervision sessions provided.

●You will be willing to complete a DBS disclosure form.

●You must be able to provide a minimum of three direct contact counselling hours per week (sessions last for 45 minutes).

●You are intending to work with the counselling service until the end of the academic year but at least two terms (and give one term’s notice if leaving early).

●You will avoid absence during termtime.

Expectations

●Good knowledge of and commitment to the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (or equivalent professional body’s ethical framework), and the BACP Supplementary Good Practice in Action: 046: Working with Children and Young People.

●You must be able to maintain BACP (or other appropriate professional body) membership throughout the term of the placement.

●You must have your own professional indemnity insurance, and you are adequately insured for the duration of your placement.

●You agree to abide by the ethics and policies of the school.

●You have experience of operating clear and effective boundaries within all areas of work.

●You must have a good understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and legal implications of working with children and young people in a school setting.

Abilities/Skills

●To hold and manage a clinical caseload of at least 3 clients per week and to offer therapeutic sessions of 45 minutes each.

●You can provide both short-term and long-term counselling.

●You can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, and be able to demonstrate good interpersonal skills.

●Be able to work in a culturally sensitive and inclusive way.

●You have some experience of working with children or young people, even if it is unrelated to counselling.

●To see clients on a weekly basis for a duration of 8 sessions or longer based on clinical need and in agreement with the Clinical Supervisor/Lead Counsellor.

●To ensure the safety of self and client within the counselling setting.

●To identify any clients that may require referral to other specialist services in consultation with the Clinical Supervisor/Lead Counsellor and the school.

●To ensure that all clients are treated with dignity and respect.

●To maintain appropriate records in line with the counselling service requirements.

●To understand and adhere to the school’s safeguarding policy.

●To be responsible for identifying any shortfalls in knowledge surrounding working with children and young people and attend training as appropriate.

Application Process

Please request, complete and return an application form 

(CVs will not be accepted) 

RNIB's Sight Loss Counselling Team is an established team of telephone counsellors. Accredited by the BACP, we offer free and confidential counselling and emotional support to people affected by sight loss. Volunteers will either be qualified counsellors/psychotherapists; having completed a BACP accredited training or equivalent OR be students in the final stages of counselling or psychotherapy.

How often will I be needed?

• 4 Hours per Week

Key requirements

• This role requires 2 references and a criminal record check: DBS Enhanced PVG Scotland Adults Access NI Enhanced

Are you looking for a fulfilling opportunity to volunteer in East or West Kent local or nearby to where you live, directly supporting those who may be lonely or struggling to cope with daily tasks while living with Cancer?

With over 10 years' experience in supporting connections between volunteers and those living with cancer (and over 40 years' experience as a charity), the Crossroads Macmillan Volunteer Service can offer flexible, rewarding volunteering avenues for you to explore; get in touch today and make an immediate, positive impact on someone's life - a little bit of time can truly make a huge difference.

HOURS: Minimum 1 - 2 hours / week, Flexible

LOCATION: Opportunities across East & West Kent & Medway, flexible / based on volunteer’s home location.

DESCRIPTION: 

Available volunteer opportunities include;

Regular visits to a person or couple navigating cancer to offer company and a friendly, listening ear at a difficult time.

Providing transport to a person or couple navigating cancer from their home to healthcare appointments including but not limited to Chemotherapy / Radiology sessions and GP appointments.

Light gardening support.

Subject to the volunteers wishes, some volunteer placements can include support with light housework, shopping support, accompanying a client on a walk or short external trips, and enjoying shared hobbies that bring both the client and volunteer a great sense of wellbeing.

PLEASE NOTE: All volunteer roles listed above involve visiting a client at their home in some capacity. We currently do not have any volunteer roles that involve working from your home / online.

SKILLS REQUIRED: Good communication, empathy, and the ability to be non-judgmental.

Full Training provided by Crossroads Care Kent.

WHAT WE OFFER: An enormous sense of wellbeing and purpose and an increased understanding of those living with cancer and comparable conditions; just giving an hour or more a week’s companionship and practical help can make a huge difference to an unpaid carer and who they care for.

Travel expenses from volunteers’ home to clients home reimbursed.

Other Travel expenses reimbursed where applicable.

Other volunteering expenses, such as costs of shopping, also reimbursed.

Volunteer References also available where applicable.

Additional CPD accredited Training opportunities available including but not limited to First Aid, Cancer awareness, Dementia awareness, Mental Health.

Are you looking for a fulfilling opportunity to volunteer in the Sittingbourne or Miadstone areas, directly supporting young unpaid carers (ages 5-18) and those they care for?

Crossroads care Kent is Kent’s leading Charity for Carers and the people they care for, celebrating over 40 years offering emotional support, hands-on practical help and access to much needed breaks.

Our Young Carers Project, and the volunteers who kindly support it, help to provide young carers under the age of 18, some as young as 5, the chance to step away from their caring role; to enjoy time and experiences with others their age who understand the challenges of their caring responsibilities.

DESCRIPTION: Offering regular support at Young Carer Clubs as part of a small, friendly team with external respite day trips to various locations involving a wide selection of fun activities, inclusive but not limited to local attraction Days, activity days, cinema trips etc. - all dependent on the Volunteers availability and personal wishes.

Opportunities are also available to provide transport weekly to a young carer from their home to a varied selection of local activities.

SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Ability to communicate with and listen effectively to children and young people

• Enthusiastic, outgoing, fit, and energetic

• Able to interact with the group, happy to participate in all activities

• Friendly, caring, compassionate, sensitive with a non-judgmental approach

• Able to act as a role model to young people, with professional boundaries

• Reliable and able to make a regular time commitment

• Able to follow policies and procedures

• Willing and able to travel to local clubs

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work closely with the counselling administrative team and the counselling manager.

About the role

The Ascent Counselling Service is a specialist therapeutic support service for women and girls aged 16 and over, who have experienced domestic and/or sexual abuse by an intimate partner or family member. This can include physical, emotional, psychological, sexual and financial abuse, coercive control, harassment, stalking and other harmful practices, such as FGM and honour-based violence.

Our counselling service is delivered as part of the Ascent Advice and Counselling partnership. Our counsellors create a safe space for survivors to explore the impact of abuse on their lives, help them to recover from the long-term impact and support them to make positive changes for themselves.

This opportunity is ideal for someone looking to gain experience in administration within a busy counselling team. The role will involve a range of administrative tasks such as:

• Data entry in our case management system
• Booking assessments/sessions appointments
• Sending appointment reminders to clients
• Gathering feedback, as well as other tasks as and when required.

Who are we looking for?

No formal qualifications are required for this role. We are looking for volunteers who have:

• Good administrative skills, including proficient use of Zoom/Microsoft Teams, Microsoft packages and Outlook
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• Good understanding of confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• An understanding of the issues faced by survivors and a desire to build on this.
• An understanding of professional boundaries and confidentiality
• Good listening skills and an empathic, non-judgemental approach.

What can you gain from this opportunity?

As part of this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Gaining experience and understanding the administrative side of running a counselling service
• Expanding your understanding of domestic abuse, sexual violence and all forms of VAWG and its effect on women and children.
• Contribute and support to a very busy counselling team and supporting the team in working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse
• Play a pivotal role in delivering services.
• Gain hands on experience in a dynamic charity working in the Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector.
• Work as part of a feminist organisation

We offer great volunteer induction training, where you will be fully supported to understand and carry put every aspect of the role. Training includes CPD accredited courses, and the opportunity to apply to complete the Tackling and Preventing Domestic Abuse Award (DAPA), which is recognized by the Home Office.

Please note that our volunteer opportunities are open to women only (exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1), and that these volunteer roles are exempt from the rehabilitation of offenders act 1974 and subject to enhanced DBS checks where applicable.

We are seeking Trustees to join our Trustee Board who wish to make a positive difference to the health and well being of women in the Borough. Successful applicants will contribute to the overall strategy of the charity and oversee its governance, to ensure it is well managed and administered with resources being used appropriately.