Counselling work involves helping someone with a personal problem, listening and helping them talk though their feelings. Volunteer counsellors can work with individuals or groups on a face to face basis or on helpline over the phone.

There are some organisations that help specific issues, such as SAFA which offers help for people who have experienced rape or abuse. But many issues can be helped by volunteer counsellors such as, relationship problems, mental health, drugs, alcohol, homelessness, domestic abuse, loneliness and depression.

Many organisations require volunteers to have a counselling qualification, such as a Diploma in Counselling, while others ask volunteers to attend their own in house training courses. All the organisations offering counselling services provide on going support and supervision for their volunteers.

Support work can often involve counselling, mentoring, befriending and advocacy. Volunteer support workers work alongside clients who may need help and support in issues such as drugs, alcohol misuse, offending and homelessness.

The ARK, Wirral's emergency hostel for homeless people is always looking for volunteers to join its team of support workers to chat to and befriend residents who use the hostel or assisting in the kitchen to help prepare and serve meals.

Organisations such as Victim Support that help victims of crime, provide in depth training before a volunteer starts their work. The organisations offering support services, provide support and often training for their volunteers. Counselling work

 

Call Nikki on 0151 644 7577 for more information