Volunteer

We usually recruit for volunteers twice a year in the Spring and early Autumn.

All volunteering opportunities are advertised here on our website or on social media.

We are currently recruiting for Helpline Volunteer Support Workers and Assistant Administrator Volunteers.

Helpline Volunteer Support Worker

SARSAS Office (Central Bristol)

To provide support to people who have experienced rape and/or sexual abuse at any time in their lives.  To answer calls on the SARSAS helplines providing emotional support and signposting information. To complete admin as necessary for the role.

To apply for this position, please read the Helpline Volunteer role description  and complete the SARSAS Volunteer application and Equality & Diversity-monitoring-form.

Assistant Administration Volunteer

SARSAS Office (Central Bristol)

4 – 6 hours per week, for a minimum of 6 months (usually between 9 am and 5 pm).

To support the SARSAS team with a range of essential administrative duties. To support SARSAS to ensure that the service continues to be delivered at a high quality standard to survivors of sexual violence & abuse.

To apply for this position, please read the Assistant Administrator Volunteer Role  and complete the SARSAS Volunteer application and Equality & Diversity-monitoring-form.

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.

Why do you volunteer at SARSAS?

“I believe all voices should be heard.”

“I volunteer as I want to help provide support for those who have been sexually abused or raped. SARSAS ensures that I am trained so that I can provide the best service possible” Esther

“Sexual violence and abuse is something that affects so many of us.  In school I was never told what was okay.  I want to let other survivors know that it’s their body and their choice.” Mary

“I’m angry and it gives me a positive way to channel that rage. When we stand together we are an awesome, monstrous regiment of women” Esther

What do you get out of volunteering with SARSAS?

“A genuine sense of making a difference. Also, the warmth, camaraderie and great support from SARSAS and the team I work with. It’s a ‘family’, all signed up to the same, shared values, everyone there for each other.

Oh, and great socials!!” Alison

“We have such a wonderful group of women on the shift.  We support each other during the calls and love what we do.  We share our highs and lows.  I always leave on a high.” Jen

“A friend of mine said to me “Don’t you want to give yourself a pat on the back for the good stuff you do?” But it’s not about that. It’s about knowing that the service user has felt able to make a connection with the person at the other end of the phone and that that could be integral to their recovery and sense of being in the world.” Lyn

“Being with amazing women who are passionate about what they do. Being there for survivors, speaking to people in different stages of trauma.” Mary

“I am welcomed onto every shift by a ‘check in’ with the shift supervisor and other volunteers. How are we?, what’s going on for us today? This is a space to be heard and to settle. The helpline opens and I can then anticipate a variety of calls from survivors,

relatives or friends of survivors or professionals. The calls can be about signposting to other organisations, starting the process of the survivor being assessed for SARSAS services and of course a place where survivors and relatives can just call to be listened to, to be believed and supported in how they are feeling in that moment.

We are continually reminded to take breaks and look after ourselves, to observe our own responses to the impact of sometimes horrific stories. We end a shift with a check out, a place to share experiences and name what may be difficult for us.

To do a role like this you have to feel there is someone to listen to you and your variety of emotional responses. To be a volunteer at SARSAS to me means support. I can do the role because I am held. So part of my ‘day in the life of a SARSAS Volunteer’is to experience support so then I can effectively support others.”Fleur