Helpline & Email Support Volunteering Application Information: September 2021
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Registered charity number 1179871
We are delighted that you are interested in volunteering for us!
Helpline & Email Support Volunteering We are the only specialist service in Cambridge providing dedicated support
Application Information: September 2021 to female survivors of rape and sexual violence. Our helpline service has
been run by volunteers since 1982, and our email support service since
2013. These confidential and anonymous services would not exist without
our volunteers, who provide vital emotional support to women and girls in
their local community who have been subjected to rape, sexual abuse or any
form of sexual violence.
We are a feminist organisation, although we do not require that women
who volunteer for us are feminists. For more information about Cambridge
Rape Crisis Centre’s values and mission, visit our website:
http://cambridgerapecrisis.org.uk/about-us
Why volunteer with CRCC?
Live your values and make a difference in your community
Experience fulfilment from supporting women & girls who inspire
us
Join a community of amazing women at CRCC
Acquire or enhance understanding and skills
Access ongoing training and development opportunities
What’s involved in volunteering
and how to make an application
‘Volunteering at CRCC is very rewarding. The
community of volunteers is warm and supportive.
It is fantastic to be able to work with such a
‘I believe that we provide essential support to
dedicated group of like-minded women.’
the women who use our services, and I am proud
of our high standards of delivery.’
Registered charity number 1179871
Volunteer Email & Helpline Worker Role Description Who we’re looking for
Where: Usually central Cambridge however due to Covid-19 volunteers We especially welcome applications from Black & minoritised women,
are currently providing support remotely disabled women and LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) women.
Duration: Ongoing, ideally for 18 months+ We welcome applications from anyone who is non-binary or has a complex
gender identity in which they identify partly as female and feel comfortable
When: After initial training period: volunteering within a service run for women by women.
Shifts: Wednesday 7-9.30pm, Thursday 7-9.30pm &
Sunday 10am-12.30pm Women 18 years+
Monthly reflective practice: Monday 6-7.30pm or
Tuesday 6.30-8pm Empathetic, non-judgemental & good listeners
Commitment: After initial training period: Self-aware & emotionally resilient
Ideally 3 email/helpline shifts per month (we operate a Excellent communication skills
flexible rota)
1 reflective practice session per month Interested in discussing and understanding rape & sexual violence,
meetings once every 4 months
and its impacts on women and girls
regular ongoing training
regular one-to-ones Able to maintain confidentiality & anonymity
Responsibilities: Able to work independently using initiative & be part of a team
Share CRCC’s values
Provide emotional support to women and girls over the phone and email,
using counselling skills, the empowerment model, empathy, and an Able to meet volunteer commitment
understanding of sexual violence and its impacts
Regularly reflect on your practice with other volunteers
Follow CRCC policies and procedures around data protection Due to Covid-19 and our responsibility to the wellbeing of our volunteers,
Attend reflective practice, volunteer meetings and ongoing training we are currently looking for women who also:
Maintain confidentiality and anonymity
‘As a volunteer I get to spend my time in a meaningful
way, contributing to a cause I really care about.’
Have previous relevant experience, for example providing support Duty of Care:
to survivors of sexual/domestic violence, working with other forms CRCC has a duty of care to ensure the safety and well-being of our volunteers at
of trauma, or providing mental health support all times. Many of our volunteers are themselves survivors of sexual violence who
now support other survivors, although we don’t discuss our own personal
experiences of rape and sexual abuse with the women and girls we work with. We
Have access to a private, confidential space to volunteer from that would however ask prospective volunteers who have personal experience of rape
isn’t their bedroom and sexual abuse to think about how acting as a volunteer email and helpline
worker and hearing other women and girls’ experiences and feelings around
Please be aware that if you have previously accessed support from CRCC, for sexual violence will affect your own emotional health and ongoing recovery
your own wellbeing, we ask you to wait 12 months before applying. process, and whether you yourself have been able to access the support you
need. It is important that we look after ourselves first.
Accessibility:
CRCC is on the ground floor with one step up, however we are not currently If you have accessed Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre support services yourself in the
using our office. Please contact us with any questions about accessibility. past, such as counselling or our email support, we ask that you wait 12 months
CRCC will contribute to out-of-pocket expenses (ie childcare costs and after finishing receiving support, before applying to volunteer with us. Beyond this,
reasonable travel expenses) to enable women to volunteer with us. your readiness to volunteer on the helpline and email support service is down to
your discretion and ours.
Anonymity:
Email and Helpline Workers don’t tell anyone other than close friends and Leaving CRCC:
family that we volunteer for Rape Crisis. This is to preserve confidentiality We understand that your circumstances may change, however to help us run a
and reduce the chance that women will be put off from using our services reliable and sustainable service for survivors, we ask that you confirm that you
in case they speak to someone they know. If you make an application, please are intending to be in Cambridge for at least 18 months, and will provide us with
ask your referees to keep this information confidential. at least 2 weeks’ notice of your intention to leave CRCC if your circumstances do
change.
Volunteer commitment:
Please be aware that as a small organisation it costs us a lot of money to If you have any questions or concerns or would like to discuss your circumstances,
train volunteers, and we rely on trainees becoming committed volunteers in please get in touch with us: volunteering@cambridgerapecrisis.org.uk
order to keep our support services running. If you are not able to meet the
volunteer commitment, please think carefully about applying for the role.
‘I really value all the training and learning
opportunities we have, as well as the friendships
I have formed with other volunteers.’Registered charity number 1179871
Core commitment
Training Schedule January 2021
Training Session Date Time Support & Ongoing
Optional
Introduction & Reflective Practice Tues 19th Jan 6.30-9pm Opportunities
Rape Sat 23rd Jan 10am-4pm Monthly
Childhood Sexual Abuse Sat 30th Jan 10am-4pm group
reflective
Suicide, Self-Harm & Eating Disorders Sat 6th Feb 10am-4pm practice Mentoring
& peer
Ritual Abuse & Dissociative Identity Sat 13th Feb 10am-4pm support
Disorder Regular
Prostitution & Supporting Young th
Sat 27 Feb 10am-4pm ongoing
Women training
Email Support Sat 6th March 10am-4pm
Black and Minoritised Women & Sexual Sat 13th March 10am-4pm Support &
Violence ongoing
The Criminal Justice System Sat 20th March 10am-4pm Regular
training / one-to-
LGBT+ Women & Sexual Violence Sat 27th March 10am-4pm opportunities ones
Quarterly
Policies & Procedures Tues 13th April 6.30-9pm volunteer
meetings
All training sessions will take place on Zoom.
Please note that trainees are expected to attend all of the sessions.
There will be some additional reading/viewing each week.
Volunteer
Socials newsletter
‘The training was very intense, but a great
experience. It prepared me well for the helpline.’Registered charity number 1179871
Application and Training Process
Application form & equal opportunities monitoring form
returned to volunteering@cambridgerapecrisis.org.uk
Successful shortlisted applicants invited to informal online interview
All applicants will be notified within two weeks
Successful applicants will be invited to attend training
Trainees complete the training During training we will also:
programme, including: Follow up your references
Online training sessions Make an enhanced DBS
Reading & viewing material check
Role play & email practice Provide support
Observing online shifts
Successful trainees are evaluated, and discuss starting to volunteer on
the helpline, email support service, or both
Successful new volunteers are provided with a volunteer
handbook, induction, mentoring, reflective practice and support
Anyone who does not complete this process successfully is
welcome to reapply in the future.You can also read
