Witness Service Outreach Volunteer (Essex)

Aboutthe WitnessService

The Witness Service provides free,independent support to anywitnessgiving evidence in criminal courts in England and Wales-both for the prosecution and thedefence.

Our trained staff and volunteers help people understand what to expect before, during and after a trial, and offer practical and emotional support every step of the way, so witnesses can give their best evidence.

The Witness Service also supports bereaved familymembers, andfriends and family who areaccompanyingwitnesses in court.

Why join the Witness Service now

This is an exceptional opportunity to help us ensure a smooth transition and shape a high-quality, high-impact and trauma-informed service-so every witness feels informed, supported and more confident in court.

Witness Service Outreach Volunteers provide support towitnesseswhen they are attending court, as well as pre-trial and post-trialhelping them to feel safe and informed.You will providesupport to both prosecution and defence witnesses.

Why volunteer with us?

• Make a difference- you willvolunteerdirectly withwitnesses.

• Gain skills and experience- you will receive trainingon how to providepractical and emotionalsupport.

• Join our community- you will be part of a large communityof over2000 volunteers and staff.

• Beyond your role - attend one or our many events/webinars and joinone of oursixEquality, Diversity & Inclusionnetworks.

Whatdowe ask of you?

• Be 18 years of ageor over.

• Be able to volunteer for at least1 dayper week, for at least 12 months.

• Undertake training- this includes virtualtrainingdaysas well as completing online learning modules.

• Undertake anEnhancedDBSwith Child Barred Listcheck& be part of the DBSUpdateService.

• Be able to provide two satisfactory references.

• Have an active email addressthat you are comfortable usingin order toengage with VS communications.

Expenses

All Victim Support volunteers are entitled to out-of-pocket expenses incurred whilst volunteering, including travel and lunch.

Diversity Matters

• VS strives torepresentthe diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating anenvironment where all staff andvolunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.

• VS is also a Disability ConfidentEmployerand we provide a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.

• We arehappy to make reasonable adjustments to support you through the application process.

Want to find out more?

If you have any questions or would like to find out moreabout this role, please contact