Widen your Safety Net through volunteering
Have you ever thought about volunteering? If you are interested in making a difference to the lives of people affected by domestic and sexual abuse, Safety Net has a wide range of volunteering opportunities - and one of them might be perfect for you!
Our Volunteering Coordinator Wendy Kirkbride is attending the West Volunteer Fair being held by Cumbria CVS on Tuesday 7th June, at Carnegie Theatre, Workington. The event takes place between 11am - 12.30pm. Why not drop in and have an informal chat with Wendy, to find out more?
There are many ways in which you can volunteer with Safety Net. These include:
Befriending: supporting our clients on a 1:1 basis to encourage them to access community services and develop their support network, as part of their recovery from the trauma of abuse.
Running groups and activities: from coffee and crafts to walk and talk there are lots of different ways to help and support our recovery community and build relationships.
Fundraising: this can include on an individual level or as part of a corporate team.
Promoting Safety Net at community events: including handing out promotional material and talking about what our charity does.
Sharing knowledge and skills: if you have expertise in a certain area, you may wish volunteer this in terms of Legal/Financial etc or to hold a workshop with our clients or undertake 1:1 mentoring sessions.
Here are some testimonials from current volunteers about the difference their placements make to their lives:
Lili volunteered for Safety Net as leader of the Women’s Coffee and Craft group. She says: “Whilst volunteering, I’ve met lots of amazing and unique people who are all part of the supportive community at SafetyNet. I’ve loved every Coffee and Craft session we’ve had and feel really thankful for the brilliant work that Safety Net does.
“I’ve found that the volunteering not only benefits clients, but the volunteers! I looked forward to every session and I always left with a smile on my face and my mood uplifted!”
“From the more practical side, I learnt all about planning and managing group sessions and engaging clients who were at times nervous and shy. I will take everything I’ve learned forward and cherish the time I spent volunteering with them.”
Mike volunteers as a Befriender and also volunteers for our Men’s Group. He first came to Safety Net to receive our services as a client. Now he volunteers with our charity to give back to others and as part of his own recovery.
He says: “Volunteering at Safety Net allows me to become part of the net that caught me in my free fall. Helping others also reminds myself of the importance of self care and what I need to do myself to succeed and survive.”
Another volunteer, Ali Le Jeune, runs our Women’s Coffee and Crafts Group. She says: “Volunteering with Safety Net stretches my brain, challenges my assumptions and keeps my social understanding up to date. It gives me something to be proud of even when my physical illness means I cannot work for money.”
“As an ex client, it also has given me the ability to realise that I have started to heal and I can truly inspire others (something I was convinced was impossible before).
Volunteering can bring a wealth of benefits, including:
Training and development opportunities.
Personal and Professional development.
Experience and skills which can be added to your CV/CPD Record
Improved confidence and self esteem.
Doing something that fits with you values and beliefs
Playing a pivotal role in providing a vital service and contributing to a key and unique organisation
Improved confidence and self-esteem.
We always work closely with volunteers to ensure they undertake placements that work for them and fit in with their goals and life commitments.
Interested? Pop along to see our Volunteer Coordinator Wendy Kirkbride at the West Volunteer Fair on Tuesday 7th June, at Carnegie Theatre, Workington. Wendy will be there between 11am - 12.30pm.
Alternatively, you can contact Wendy by emailing wendy@safetynetuk.org at any time.
