SARSASGet involvedVolunteering

Volunteering

Volunteers are at the heart of the work that we do. They provide thousands of hours of crucial and highly skilled support to survivors and our organisation every year.

There are a number of ways that you can get involved with supporting people affected by rape and sexual abuse. These range from offering emotional support and trauma information to victim-survivors through to administration, fundraising, campaigning, and being involved in decision making.

Volunteering with us provides you with the opportunity to develop your skills and experience, meet new friends and be part of a passionate team committed to ending gender-based violence.

We understand that there are many different reasons why you might give your time to SARSAS. We will explore these with you so we can support you on your volunteering journey with us.

We value our volunteers as part of our team and can offer you a thorough induction, ongoing support, additional training and development opportunities, and clinical group supervision.

You don’t necessarily need to have experience in support work or working with sexual violence and abuse to volunteer – your personal qualities, views, and commitment to supporting victim-survivors are more important. Our comprehensive training will equip you with the knowledge to build on your skills and experience.

For more information on volunteering at SARSAS, read our frequently-asked-questions.

Volunteering opportunities

We usually recruit volunteers twice a year in the Spring and early Autumn. All volunteering opportunities are advertised on our website and on social media. Keep an eye on our website and social media to keep up-to-date with any opportunities.

If you’re interested in our Helpline and Live Chat volunteer role, please email volunteer@sarsas.org.uk and we can let you know when we next open recruitment.

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Frequently asked questions

What volunteer roles do SARSAS offer?

• Helpline Volunteer Support Worker
• Volunteer Fundraiser
• Volunteer Fundraising Ambassador
• Volunteer Communications Officer
• Trustee

What is the role of the Helpline Volunteer Support Worker?

Helpline Volunteer Support Workers answer calls on the SARSAS helpline and provide emotional support and signposting information to people that have experienced rape or sexual abuse at any time in their lives. The helpline is current run remotely, but is based in Central Bristol. Volunteers will be offered the option of providing remote helpline support or coming into the Bristol hub.
The helpline is open to any caller, regardless of gender-identity. We ask that callers are 13+.
You don’t need any specific qualifications or experience to volunteer on our helpine. All that we ask is that you have:
• Good communication skills
• An empathic, non-judgemental, non-discriminatory manner
• Good timekeeping and are reliable
• Good level of English
• Good emotional wellbeing.

What is the role of a Live Chat Volunteer Support Worker?

Responding to live chat requests (and providing text support) from anyone who has experienced sexual violence or abuse. The role is similar to that of a helpline volunteer. Live chat is currently operated remotely with the option to run from the Bristol of Taunton office.
To become a live chat volunteer, you need to have completed SARSAS volunteer training and feel confident to move over to live chat. A further training session is provided at this stage.

What is the role of Volunteer Fundraiser?

Volunteer fundraisers support the Fundraising and Communications team by organising a range of community engagement events for example – tea, coffee and cake events, pub quizzes, fun days and other similar events. Skills that are important for this role are:
• Good written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Good organisational skills
• Creative and enthusiastic
• Friendly, reliable, approachable and a confident team player.

What is the role of a Volunteer Fundraising Ambassador?

To support the SARSAS Fundraising and Communications team with a range of community engagement roles under supervision. Deliver presentations about the work of SARSAS to community groups and organisations in order to provide more fundraising opportunities for our cause.
To to be a Volunteer Fundraising Ambassador, you need:
• Good written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to network with local community groups and organisations
• Willing to travel through your local area
• Friendly, reliable, approachable and a confident team player.

What are the requirements of all the volunteer roles?

• To commit to the time specified in the specific volunteer role description
• Attend initial induction training
• Complete admin and paperwork relating to the role
• Attend ongoing training
• Attend monthly group supervision as required by the role
• To undertake a DBS check.

What do SARSAS provide volunteers?

• Induction & training specific for the volunteer role
• Informal support from the SARSAS team, volunteers and the Volunteer Manager
• Monthly volunteer group supervision with external supervisors for support and administration roles
• Training & ongoing professional development opportunities
• Opportunities to attend conferences and organisational away days
• Social events
• References for future jobs and volunteering
• SARSAS will cover reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

What else could I get out of volunteering with SARSAS?

• Support people who have experienced sexual violence to cope and recover
• Learn new skills
• Gain experience for related roles and courses
• Develop awareness around sexual violence and abuse
• Opportunities for further training and expanding knowledge
• Opportunities to be involved in other projects at SARSAS that could include helping to deliver sexual consent workshops or holding a stall at an event
• Be part of a dedicated and passionate team raising awareness and campaigning against sexual violence.

What are the possibilities of getting paid work afterwards?

Some of our volunteers have moved on to paid roles within SARSAS. Others have found roles with partner organisations in the voluntary and sexual violence/domestic abuse sector. We are happy to provide you with a reference once you have volunteered with us for 3 months.

Do you offer counselling placements?

Yes, we recruit counselling placement students a couple of times a year. If you’d like to be added to a list of interested people for when we next recruit, please email: recruitment@sarsas.org.uk

What other opportunities do you offer?

There are opportunities to join our Trustee Board where you are involved in the governance and management of the organisation. Trustee roles are advertised on the SARSAS website.
We sometimes have volunteers that offer a particular skill for a time limited project e.g. in fundraising, research or film. If you feel that you have specific skills that could support the work of SARSAS please contact us to discuss this further.

I am a victim-survivor of rape/sexual abuse and would like to volunteer with SARSAS.

We welcome applications from people with direct or indirect experience of rape or sexual abuse. We will always discuss with you whether you are at a stage in your personal recovery where you are able to support others.
Our policy is that if you are currently in support or will be accessing support from SARSAS for rape or sexual abuse, that there is a break of 6-12 months after the support has ended before you start volunteering. Working with sexual violence and abuse can be triggering and your wellbeing is as important to us as the wellbeing of the people we support.

I have additional support needs. Who can I speak to?

If you have any additional support or access needs, please contact the volunteer manager on volunteer@sarsas.org.uk.

I am not available to volunteer at the moment. Is there any other way I can support SARSAS?

Yes there are lots of ways to support SARSAS. You could:
• Follow us on social media and share and like our posts. Facebook Twitter Instagram
• Spread the word about our work and campaigns
• Donate
• Fundraise for us
• Learn about sexual violence

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In this section

Older lady on the phone and writing with a pen

A day in the life of a helpline volunteer

Hear from one of our awesome volunteers about what she does on a helpline shift.

Volunteering with the communications team

A comms volunteer talks about their experience at SARSAS and why you should get involved too.

Volunteer voices

Our volunteer team talk about why they volunteer for SARSAS and what it means to them.

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