Can you make a difference?
RSB offers volunteering opportunities for those who can offer a few hours a week and would like to help Scottish Borders’ families.
No formal qualifications are required but volunteers need to be reliable, non-judgemental, understanding and emotionally resilient.
Travel costs are offered.
We offer two types of volunteering roles: Contact workers and Client Support workers.
Contact Workers
Contact volunteers work alongside staff in our Child Contact Centres in Eyemouth, Galashiels, Hawick and Kelso. The Centres operate on Saturdays and help children to keep in touch with family after divorce or separation. It is a sad fact that within two years of parental separation, as many as one third of children lose contact with one of their parents. Our Centres play a vital role in helping families stay in touch and our dedicated team of volunteers help make this possible.
What personal qualities do contact volunteers need?
• The ability to remain neutral and be non-judgemental
• Emotional resilience to deal with potentially distressing situations.
• Flexibility and sensitivity – knowing when to be pro-active in helping parents to establish a relationship with a child and when to hold back
• Integrity
• Reliability
• Respect for others in difficult and emotional circumstances.
• Trustworthiness and respect for the confidential nature of our work.
• Understanding of the needs of separated families
What do contact centre volunteers achieve?
• They make it possible for children to see their non-resident parents in a situation removed from conflict.
• They make a difference to families’ lives.
• They help to reduce the number of children who lose touch with their non-resident parent when families break up.
What do contact centre volunteers gain?
• Ability to use their own life skills and experience.
• Learn new skills and gain experience.
• Meet other like-minded people.
• Support toward paid employment, if that is what they wish.
• A sense of achievement.
Client Support Workers
Client Support volunteers undertake reception duties and work alongside Practitioner staff to welcome clients who come to counselling, mediation and other appointments in our Galashiels Centres on Friday mornings and Monday and Tuesday evenings. Often clients can be nervous when they first arrive and Client Support volunteers help them feel at ease while ensuring confidentiality.
What do client support volunteers do?
• Work within RSB’s Client Services Centres in Galashiels.
• Help the practitioners prepare the centre for clients.
• Welcome clients to the centre.
• Ensure confidentiality and as much privacy and anonymity as possible
• Direct clients around the building, as needed.
• Accompany clients to the door as they leave.
• Help the practitioners tidy and secure the building.
What personal qualities do client support volunteers need?
• Flexibility, sensitivity and confidentiality
• Integrity and reliability
• Respect for others in difficult and emotional circumstances.
What do client support volunteers achieve?
• They help put clients at ease, especially if it is their first visit.
• Support the work of the practitioners.
What do client support volunteers gain?
• Ability to use their own life skills and experience.
• Time to read or study in between client arrivals and departures.
• Support toward paid employment, if that is what they wish.
• A sense of achievement.
If you are interested to find out more please contact us- details below.