Helping where help is needed

As situations vacant go, some of these are a little bizarre.

Not your average nine-to-five office jobs, certainly, and the pay is terrible, but there's plenty more where they come from.

Salisbury's Volunteer Centre in Salt Lane is the equivalent of the Job Centre, but without the possibility of a pay packet at the end of it.

What you get instead is a wealth of possibilities, the chance to use your current skills or develop new ones helping where help is desperately needed, and the opportunity to make a difference.

Not that it is by any means a one-way street.

Many of the volunteers who find a match within the "jobs" listed on the centre's database often get huge benefits back in terms of renewed energy, improved stamina, increased self-esteem and raised confidence.

Carole Jefferson-Brown, the centre's information worker, says that people volunteer for different reasons.

"Some are looking for a change of career - maybe social work or conservation work and they want to trial it, others are retired with time to spare and some have lost confidence after a long term illness.

"It's a big step from that to employment and with volunteering they can take on reduced hours and build stamina and self-esteem at the same time."

Most people picture voluntary work as very worthy - working with the old and infirm or people with physical or mental disabilities, serving in charity shops, or fundraising for good causes.

There is no question that these activities are core elements of voluntary service but in truth these are just the tip of the volunteering iceberg.

Underneath is a broad spectrum of sits vac that will almost certainly offer something for everyone with some time to spare. Perhaps you'd like to work with young people - the youth offending service in Wiltshire is looking for people who can mentor youngsters, be present at police interviews or sit on a youth referral panel.

Or you could be an instructor with the army cadet force in Bulford or give advice and counselling to young people in Fordingbridge on a range of topics from drugs and addiction to sexual health.

There is an urgent need for more drivers - people prepared to put their time and their vehicle at the disposal of those who are unable to get out and about.

You might find yourself driving someone to the shops or going to the shops on their behalf, picking up prescriptions, or helping people get to appointments with doctors, dentists, opticians and hospitals or to spend some time at a day centre.

If you are an outdoor person, Walking for Health needs walk leaders to lead groups of people keen to improve their health through regular exercise on organised walks in the Salisbury area.

If time is limited and you are unable to make a regular commitment, there are one-off events like the Wessex Walks on May 7 which needs check point marshals and road-crossing officials.

You can volunteer at the Trussell Trust's Food Bank, or you can volunteer to give up food altogether for 24 hours to help raise money for World Vision UK.

"There are so many opportunities from the clerical to the practical, indoors and outdoors," says Carole.

Animal lovers can choose from helping to rescue wildlife for the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital in Newton Tony, helping toads cross the road in Alderbury and Little Durnford in early spring or helping out at Wilton Riding for the Disabled.

A visit to the Volunteer Centre in October helped fill the void in Cynthia Munro's life.

She had to part with her own dog when she moved to Salisbury, but now she walks 12-year-old Mutley every day for neighbour Sheila Webb.

The two women, who live just round the corner from one another in Salisbury, were put in touch via the Cinnamon Trust, which matches up potential dogwalkers with owners.

"I was really at a loss without a dog of my own," says Mrs Munro (80).

"After 22 years of dogwalking, I desperately missed my daily dog walk.

"Mrs Webb has arthritis and couldn't exercise Mutley, so she was hugely relieved when I came along."

The Trust has around 300 volunteers on its books and around 250 organisations looking for voluntary help - as much or as little time as you can give.

"People like to volunteer, but don't want a regular commitment," says Carole.

"Volunteers can say what they can commit to - it can be as little as once a week or once a fortnight and might just be for a couple of hours.

"It's better to volunteer for what you can do, and not try and do too much."

nIf you are interested in finding out more about volunteering, contact Carole Jefferson-Brown on 01722 421747.

Support for witnesses
GOING to court as a witness or as the victim of a crime is a daunting proposition. It's particularly worrying if you have no idea what to expect.That's where someone like Beverley Helps comes in. Beverley is a volunteer with the Witness Service, an offshoot of Victim Support, the charity set up to help people cope with the fallout of a crime.The Witness Service operates at both Salisbury Crown Court and Salisbury Magistrate's Court. The service is there to provide emotional and practical support to anyone who needs it whether they are victims, prosecution or defence witnesses, or families and friends of those called to appear.Professional witnesses such as police officers, medical advisors and forensic scientists or professional supporters like social workers and carers can also access the service should they wish to do so.But it needs more people like Beverley to operate as effectively as it would like.Salisbury and Devizes Witness Service Co-ordinator Linda Luetchford explains: "We are looking for people of all ages and backgrounds who are prepared to be non-judgmental."Witness support volunteers look after witnesses both before and after their court appearance, and can accompany the witness into court if requested."Nobody tells witnesses beforehand what's going to happen in court."We look after them from the minute they walk through the door," says Linda."People don't know what to expect and think that court is all about what you see on the television."The witness service, which is confidential and free, is there to make a court visit as painless as possible, but inevitably reliving a traumatic situation in the witness box triggers emotional responses."Often a year has gone by since the crime and these people have to come back and relive it and that can be quite traumatic," says Beverley Helps. "You have to cope with distressed witnesses, which can be quite difficult."Often they don't want to be there and they are resentful and fearful."The ability to listen without taking sides, giving opinions or making judgements is crucial.The service likes to draw its volunteers from as broad a spectrum of age and background as possible, but while age, gender, and background are immaterial, some qualities are essential."You have to be able to listen and empathise," says Beverley, who lives in Pewsey."You have to be a people person or you are wasting your time."And you have to be extremely discreet and not discuss evidence."Beverley became involved 18 months ago. A minimum commitment of two days a month is required, although willingness to do more is very welcome.No formal qualifications are necessary, nor is legal knowledge, as training in given, but all volunteers have to go through a stringent selection process and have to be police checked. If you have some time to spare and are interested in finding out more about becoming part of the witness service, you can telephone Linda Luetchford on 01722 336646.